Emily Pomilio, Energy Generation, (480) 286-0401, emily.pomilio@sierraclub.org
Doug Jackson, Gas Pipeline, (202) 495.3045, doug.jackson@sierraclub.org
RICHMOND, Virginia – The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) hosted a hearing on Dominion Energy’s refiled 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) today, which laid out a long-range forecast of electricity demand and how the monopoly utility intends to meet that demand.
The SCC rejected the 2018 IRP in its entirety, for the first time ever, primarily due to Dominion’s overinflated load forecasts which would’ve required doubling the amount of gas plants necessary to meet energy needs and a failure to fully include efficiency investments required by the legislature to help families and businesses save energy.
Half of Dominion’s revised plans submitted in March incorporated state limits on climate pollution from power plants like those finalized by the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board last month. Those that accounted for the carbon limit were modeled as “least cost” options for ratepayers and included the retirement of the Chesterfield and Clover coal plants by 2023 and 2025, respectively.
Kate Addleson, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Director responded with the following:
"The State Corporation Commission’s primary responsibility is to make sure Virginia families and businesses get the affordable clean energy future they’ve voted for. While the scenarios in this plan show that replacing coal plants is the least-cost way to reduce climate pollution, Dominion needs to show how it will deliver more energy savings and clean, renewable energy for Virginians in the years ahead. Virginians know that increased renewable energy means lower bills, local jobs, healthier communities, reliable energy, and a stable climate.
“The SCC judges need to make sure that all future plans from Dominion account for the Commonwealth’s new limits on climate pollution, and the full benefits of energy efficiency, solar and storage. ”
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