Participants call on company to “stop the madness” and make rapid move to renewable energy sources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2012
CONTACT:
Beth Kemler, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org, 202-641-0955
Jamie Nolan, jamie@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-396-2022
RICHMOND – In pouring rain, 200 activists encircled the Dominion Virginia Power headquarters in downtown Richmond today, calling on the company to stop keeping Virginia’s energy policy in the 20th century. Dubbed the MARCH to end Dominion’s Power MADNESS, the event aimed to shine a light on Dominion’s policy of blocking clean energy legislation and projects from coming to fruition in Virginia, while keeping ratepayers locked into climate-polluting fossil fuels.
“Dominion generates literally ZERO megawatts of wind or solar power in Virginia,” said Mike Tidwell, Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “What’s more, they have created a system where they get a $76 million reward for meeting the inadequate renewable energy laws that they helped to write.”
Dominion’s huge political influence is a major factor in Virginia’s energy portfolio. In addition to Dominion’s own failure to embrace renewable energy, the company has taken strong measures to prevent other companies from harnessing Virginia’s solar and wind resources.
“If we’re going to stop the worst impacts of climate change, we need a massive shift to clean, renewable energy. Dominion’s long-term plans are keeping us locked in to the dirty fossil fuels that got us into this mess,” stated Phil Aroneanu, U.S. Campaign Director with 350.org.
According to Dominion’s 2011 Integrated Resource Plan, its official 15-year plan submitted to state regulators, the company plans to continue developing fossil fuel power plants and essentially ignoring renewable energy for the foreseeable future. Analyzing the numbers in the plan shows that Dominion plans to expand renewable energy’s slice of its generation mix from just 2.4% to a tiny 2.8% by the year 2026, despite rising fossil fuel costs.
Concerned citizens journeyed to Richmond from all over the commonwealth, wanting to make their voices heard. “Dominion’s CEO Tom Farrell may have millions that he could spend to personally protect himself from the consequences of global warming but average Virginians don’t,” said Cathy Strickler, founder of Climate Action Alliance of the Valley, a group based in Harrisonburg. “I spent eight weeks in Biloxi, Mississippi cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina so I’ve seen the devastation that extreme weather can cause. We need to make a rapid shift to clean energy sources and Dominion is dragging its feet.”
The rally included activists of all ages. “It’s inspiring to work alongside so many wonderful people, all of whom want to see renewable energy thrive in Virginia,” said Emily Sherman, a junior at University of Mary Washington and member of the core of the student group Virginia Alliance for A Cleaner Environment. “For the sake of our future and that of generations to come, young people want to see Dominion move forward with concrete plans to develop wind and solar power now.”
The company’s pattern of behavior shows that executives seem to regard wind and solar power as an unwelcomed challenge to its regulated monopoly, rather than a business opportunity. Despite ads featuring wind turbines, Dominion generates no wind or solar power for its Virginia customers.
Solar: Dominion recently took legal action against a small solar company building a project for Washington and Lee University. Dominion’s lobbyists also opposed a bill that would have given more access to solar panels to non-profits in its service territory, like churches and schools. As a result, the bill, HB 129, died in the Senate Commerce and Labor committee.
Wind: Dominion openly opposes the proposed Atlantic Wind Connection offshore wind power transmission spine. On developing offshore wind power itself, Dominion sends contradictory messages. This Monday, the company proposed to the federal government that it be allowed to lease Virginia’s entire offshore federal “wind energy area.” On the other hand, the company’s 2011 Integrated Resource Plan dismisses offshore wind power as too expensive and shows that over the next 15 years, it plans to increase renewable energy’s slice of its generation mix from 2.4% to just 2.8%, which suggests no large-scale projects.
Fossil Fuels: Dominion’s plans include many new massive fossil fuel-burning power plants. A 1,300 MW natural gas-burning plant in Warren County was approved by state regulators in early February. Only weeks later, CEO Tom Farrell stood beside Governor Bob McDonnell to announce a proposal for another massive natural gas-burning power plant. The press conference had the air of announcing a project that had already been approved, despite the fact that regulators had yet to review the plant or its impact on ratepayers. Meanwhile, Dominion is not on track to meet goals for energy efficiency, considered by many advocates to be the cheapest form of energy generation.
The MARCH to End Dominion’s Power MADNESS was supported by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 350.org, Greenpeace, the Virginia Alliance for a Cleaner Environment, CREDO Mobile, Friends of the Earth and the Alliance for Progressive Values.
For more information, visit www.endpowermadness.com/.
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