Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Dominion’s 15 year energy plan draws nearly 50 concerned Virginians outside SCC HQ




As Dominion Virginia Power presented its 15-year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)[1] to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) on Tuesday, angry Virginian’s testified before Dominion representatives and SCC officials, asking the latter to reject Dominion’s 15-year energy plan[2], while close to 50 concerned Virginian’s gathered outside of the SCC headquarters to demand “clean energy now”.[3]

In a response given to the Associated Press prior to the SCC hearing, Dominion emphasized that the 15-year plan is not set in stone and is revised every two years to reflect differences in assumptions, market developments, load growth, and other issues.

Continuing its “green” public relations efforts, Dominion cited its proposed 30 megawatts of solar power on leased commercial rooftops. Dominion also noted its efforts to gain leases to construct wind farms off of Virginia’s coast.

But for a company that has tremendous expertise and capital resources, Dominion seems woefully slow to construct clean forms of energy that could save lives and reduce the financial burdens of energy generation for Virginians.

As if we needed another reason, there are also thousands of jobs that stand to be created in Virginia from an offshore wind industry alone.

As Del. Joe Morrissey pointed out in an interview during the energy plan hearing, “By adding solar and wind, we’re going to be adding jobs.” In a letter delivered by Morrissey with the signatures of 13 fellow Virginia legislators, a study is cited that estimates up to 10,000 jobs could be created in Virginia’s offshore wind industry.

But as Dawone Robinson of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network pointed out, “We want to see a commitment from the largest utility in the state of Virginia to a multi-purpose approach that also includes offshore winds.” That is, Dominion needs to actually make concrete commitments and moves towards expanding Virginian’s clean energy portfolio, and soon.

Until Dominion makes these concrete commitments and moves towards clean energy in Virginia, they can expect to see more angry Virginians calling them out for destroying our futures for a larger profit margin. Dominion serves the people of Virginia, not the other way around.

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