Dominion seeks SCC approval for proposed Chesterfield gas plant

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Dominion Energy recently filed with Virginia’s State Corporation Commission (SCC) for approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to build and operate a new 1,000 megawatt gas plant, the proposed Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC).  

The gas plant is at the heart of a local battle to avoid even more air pollution in Chesterfield, an area already burdened by years of pollution from coal and gas plants. It also will be the first new gas buildout for Dominion in years, at a time when the utility is required to transition to carbon free energy sources. 

Dominion originally proposed building the fossil fuel facility at the James River Industrial Center, but last summer said it would build at the existing Chesterfield Power Station. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is also currently evaluating Dominion’s air pollution application for the gas plant. Local community members are continuing to challenge the County’s zoning determination, most recently at the Chesterfield County Circuit Court. 

SELC staff attorney Rachel James released the following statement following this week’s filing.  

“Adding more pollution to an already overburdened community is unacceptable, especially when there are clean energy alternatives that can meet the energy and capacity need the gas plant is meant to serve. I hope the SCC will consider all the consequences that come with proposals that double down on costly, polluting power plants, including and especially the health and environmental impacts.”