Environmental groups call on Virginia DEQ to deny air permit for Chesterfield power plant
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Several environmental groups have spoken out against Dominion Energy's plans for a power plant in Chesterfield, calling on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to deny the plant's air permit and prevent future construction.
According to a release on Tuesday, Oct. 28, community groups including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), have submitted formal comments to the DEQ urging a denial of Dominion's air permit for the Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center.
If approved, the plant would be located at 500 Coxendale Road in Chester. The groups cited environmental justice concerns as the power plant "poses a grave threat to the health of nearby communities."
PREVIOUS: Dominion Energy announces relocation of proposed Chesterfield gas plant
The proposed 944-megawatt fossil fuel power plant would produce 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) and more than 81.8 tons of particulate matter (PM), according to the DEQ.
PM is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. According to a release by SELC, fine PM with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) has been linked to premature death, asthma and cardiovascular disease, among other serious health risks.
The DEQ said nearly 154 tons of PM2.5 will be emitted from the plant every year, though it noted that the expected effect on local air quality will be "no significant deterioration."
According to the release, the groups said pollution emitted from the plant could cause an average of 6.7 premature deaths and over 14,600 illnesses annually in the region. This could result in $88.5 million in annual health costs for surrounding communities.
To move forward with construction, Dominion has to obtain an air permit from the DEQ along with a certificate from the State Corporation Commission.
Community members have also spoken out against the plant several times — most recently at a public briefing hosted by the DEQ on Aug. 7.
Friends of Chesterfield, a local environmental group, filed an appeal with the county in November 2024 to challenge the plant's permitting process.
In 2020, lawmakers passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act that overhauled the commonwealth's approach to clean energy. The bill directed Dominion Energy to reduce its carbon emissions and close all power plants that emit carbon by 2045.
