On February 17, 2021, the Sierra Club York River Group sponsored a virtual meeting on two important environmental topics for our region.
Joy Oakes, with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), talked about the infamous Dominion Energy transmission line that now crosses the James River near historic Jamestown. Already built and electrified in 2019, this eyesore was unnecessary and potentially harmful to the environment. This is a true David vs. Goliath struggle, with concerned citizens as David, and big money corporate interests as Goliath.
In a DC court ruling, the NPCA demonstrated the need for an environmental impact statement. But Dominion Energy did not wait for this ruling, and instead rushed to build the monstrosity, despite the fact that the stated need for the powerline was exaggerated, and there were better alternatives on the table (including rebuilding/improving older existing lines). This rush to build is a common tactic used by environmental polluters like this. They figure: once it is built, it’s too late to stop it. Ms. Oakes tells us it is not too late. David can still defeat Goliath (the monstrosity could be dismantled). But it will take concerted efforts of environmentally-minded citizens. Please visit “Advocacy in Action: Justice for Jamestown” to see what you can do to help.
Lynn Godfrey, the Virginia Sierra Club Outreach Coordinator, spoke about the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). This is another unnecessary project being pushed forward by big money interests, with little regard for the environment or the lives of ordinary people who stand in its path. The MVP is a 42-inch line that will carry fracked gas from West Virginia, through Virginia, into North Carolina. It is already being built. The "Mountain Valley Watch" has been monitoring the construction to date. There have been hundreds of water protection violations and millions of dollars in fines already. As a part of the massive MVP project, proposed compressor stations (https://nomvpsouthgate.org/index.php/compressor-stations/) will threaten the health of people living nearby.
Do we really need these fracking pipelines? The growth in pipeline capacity is outstripping shale gas production. And fossil fuel energy sources like this are known to be bad for the environment and our health. Clean energy alternatives exist. Fracking, including its pipelines and infrastructure, add to greenhouse gas emissions, have disproportionate impact on communities of color, decrease property values, fragment forested areas, contaminate groundwater, and negatively impact tourism. A comment-writing workshop specifically for fighting against the MVP Lambert Compressor Station is being held on March 4, 2021. To register for the workshop, go to: MVP Lambert Compressor Station Comment Party.