Virginia Gas Plant Sparks Environmental Justice Battle

A contentious battle is brewing in Virginia over the approval of a new natural gas plant in Chesterfield County. Three climate and justice nonprofits have filed a notice of appeal before the Virginia Supreme Court, challenging the state regulator's decision to greenlight the Dominion Energy project. The appeal, which will be filed on behalf of the groups by the Southern Environmental Law Center, marks the first challenge under the Virginia Environmental Justice Act and the Virginia Clean Economy Act, both of which were enacted in 2020.

The Virginia Environmental Justice Act aims to prevent disproportionate harm to communities of color and low-income areas that have historically borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution. The law requires regulators to consider the cumulative impact of new projects on these communities and to prioritize environmental justice in their decision-making. The Virginia Clean Economy Act, on the other hand, sets a goal of decarbonizing the state's grid by 2045, unless there is a threat to the reliability of the power supply.

The appeal is significant, according to Emma Clancy, a staff attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. "We think it's significant because there's also a lot of new, really important requirements that were enacted in 2020 that weren't considered by the regulators in this case," she said.

The Dominion Energy project, which would be located in a predominantly African American neighborhood, has sparked concerns among local residents and environmental groups. They argue that the plant would exacerbate air pollution and contribute to climate change, while also undermining the state's efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.

As the appeal makes its way through the courts, a separate story is unfolding in the natural world. The monarch butterfly, an iconic species known for its epic migrations, is facing its own challenges. Every year, monarchs embark on a journey of thousands of miles, traveling from North America to their winter colonies in Mexico. But scientists have long struggled to track the precise paths these tiny creatures take.

Thanks to new technology, however, researchers are now able to monitor the monarchs' migrations with greater accuracy. A tiny tracker, which can be attached to the butterfly's wing, uses Bluetooth technology to transmit data to nearby devices, providing scientists with valuable insights into the monarchs' behavior.

The tracking data has revealed some surprising patterns. Monarchs that hatch in the spring and early summer live fast and die young, with a lifespan of just two to six weeks. But those that emerge in late summer can survive for six to nine months, long enough to migrate thousands of miles and start the return journey north the following spring.

While the plight of the monarch butterfly may seem unrelated to the battle over the Dominion Energy project, the two stories are connected by a common thread: the need to protect the natural world from human activities that harm the environment. As the appeal over the gas plant makes its way through the courts, the fate of the monarch butterfly serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing environmental justice and sustainability in our decision-making.

The outcome of the appeal is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the battle over the Dominion Energy project represents a critical test of Virginia's commitment to environmental justice and climate action. As the state navigates the challenges of transitioning to a cleaner energy future, it must also confront the legacy of environmental injustice that has disproportionately affected communities of color and low-income areas. The fate of the monarch butterfly, and the future of the planet, depend on it.

Sources:

• Appalachian Voices
• Mothers Out Front
• Chesterfield County Branch of the NAACP
• Southern Environmental Law Center
• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
• Living on Earth, public radio's environmental news magazine