ICYMI: FERC’s Overeagerness for Fracked Gas Leads to Approving Tree Clearing Before State Permits are Granted

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Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org

Washington, DC -- On Tuesday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted Dominion Energy approval to begin chopping down trees for a super-polluting fracked gas compressor station, despite Virginia not having approved permits for the project. Dominion has planned to construct the compressor station in the Union Hill neighborhood of Richmond, which is predominantly African American, and is necessary in its plans to construct the much maligned fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board will meet to hear public comment and vote on the permit for the compressor station November 8 and 9.

In response, Sierra Club Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign Representative Joan Walker released the following statement:

“Yet again, FERC is rushing ahead to placate corporate polluters seeking to impose deadly and dangerous fracked-gas projects on communities that don’t need nor want them. There is no reason that Dominion should’ve been given the green light to chop down trees, just as there is no reason why the Atlantic Coast Pipeline should be allowed to move forward.”

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