RICHMOND, VA -- Today, 18 Virginia legislators announced they sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking the Commissioners to issue a stop work order for the fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). The letter cited the project’s cost, environmental impact, and lack of need as reasons to halt construction and reassess its justification. 22 legislators from North Carolina sent a similar letter to FERC in May asking for a stop work order while it reassesses the need for the ACP.
Specifically, the letter mentions:
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“the pipeline’s now $7.8 billion price tag would be passed on to captive ratepayers under the developers’ plans”
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“the pipeline developers have never demonstrated public need for the ACP”
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“a growing body of evidence that the developers have overstated the demand for gas”
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“the ACP is facing numerous legal challenges”
In response, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Director Kate Addleson released the following statement:
"The fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline threatens Virginia’s air, water, climate, and communities and its construction should be stopped immediately. The Sierra Club Virginia Chapter applauds these legislators for standing up to polluting corporations like Dominion Energy that are putting their profits over people. Dominion’s tight grip on Virginia politics has been well-documented and these legislators deserve tremendous credit for standing up for their constituents against Dominion’s influence.”
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