New report projects numbers of deaths due to proposed gas plant 

RICHMOND, Va. — Today SELC released a report from Dr. Christopher Tessum, Disproportionate Impacts of Proposed Emissions from the Chesterfield Gas 

Plant, that shows the potential impacts fine particulate matter (“PM2.5”) emissions from Dominion Energy’s proposed gas plant in Chesterfield would have in Virginia.  

The Tessum report, prepared at SELC’s request, finds that PM2.5 emissions from the proposed gas plant project would cause 80 deaths in Virginia over the expected 36-year life of the plant. The increased risk of death caused by the project would be 150% higher for Black residents versus other Virginia residents. The risk would be approximately 75% higher for residents of environmental justice communities and fenceline communities than average. 

Broadly, the report describes an analysis of potential health burdens arising from the proposed gas plant’s PM2.5 emissions and any resulting disproportionate impacts that is relevant to the analysis the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is required to conduct under the Virginia Environmental Justice Act.  

“The Chesterfield community has long stated their concerns that this proposed plant will have dire health impacts in the near and long-term. This analysis demonstrates the validity of these concerns and highlights how critical it is for DEQ to undertake a thorough environmental justice analysis.” said SELC Staff Attorney, Rachel James. 

DEQ will hold its final public hearing on the Draft Permit October 8 and is accepting written comments until October 23. 

Read the report: Disproportionate Impacts of Proposed Emissions from the Chesterfield Gas Plant