Dominion Virginia Power’s construction of their $1.1 billion
natural gas-fired power plant was started earlier this week as one of Virginia’s
largest utilities begins its shift toward more natural gas.
By December 2014, the 1,239 megawatt plant is anticipated to
begin delivering power.
One of the major headlines that accompanied the beginning of
construction on the natural gas power plant was unsurprisingly jobs. According
to Cathy Green, spokeswoman of contractor Zachry Industrial Inc.[1],
her company has received 368 applications for construction jobs.
In early 2014, at the peak of construction, up to 900
workers may be employed at the power plant.[2]
After the power plant opens, it will employ about 30 people.
While Dominion has smartly made the “job creation”
sound-bite its first line of offense, what this theme obscures are the jobs
that would be created if Dominion Virginia Power shifted to clean forms of energy
such as wind and solar.
Not only would short and long term jobs be created in
Virginia, our air would be cleaner and presumably our utility rates would
decline after the front end costs of construction had phased out. It’s a win on
every possible front.
Unfortunately for Virginians, Dominion apparently sees
greater profit margins stemming from natural gas. In fact, it is not an
exaggeration to claim that the only motive that drives Dominion is the profit
motive.
The problem is that the profit motive of Dominion’s is only
benefiting Dominion and its shareholders, not the average Virginian.
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