Virginians to Dominion Energy: Drop the Act

RICHMOND, VA -- WHSV 3 is reporting that Dominion Energy is trying to suppress efforts to thoroughly evaluate construction of its Atlantic Coast Pipeline by claiming the delays will cost taxpayers money - despite the fact that Dominion wants to pass the costs of the pipeline on to ratepayers. Dominion’s statements came as pipeline opponents and elected officials are calling on Gov. Northam to more carefully analyze the effects of pipeline construction on Virginia’s water quality.

Opposition to the pipeline has recently received more attention because elected officials from Del. Sam Rasoul to Sen. Tim Kaine have expressed solidarity with protesters, spoken against pipelines, or raised concerns over the process by which they were approved.

In response, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Director Kate Addleson released the following statement:

"It is absolutely ridiculous for Dominion Energy to act like it is concerned about taxpayer dollars when it wants its customers to pay for the $6.5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline. If Dominion was actually concerned about the wallets of Virginians, it would be investing in the clean, renewable energy more than two-thirds of Virginia’s voters want. Instead, Dominion is passing the costs of an unnecessary and unwanted fracked gas pipeline onto Virginians.

“The costs of addressing the environmental and health consequences of this dirty, dangerous pipeline will fall on the backs of taxpayers. Dominion should drop the act and admit that its rush to build this massive pipeline is about producing profits, not protecting people.”