Once a reliable conservative state, Democratic-led Virginia embracing EPA carbon regulations

Most coal-producing states have opposed the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rules to cut carbon-dioxide emissions from existing power plants 30 percent by 2030 and have joined a lawsuit to fight the rules. But not Virginia. Once a state that relied heavily on coal, Virginia "has been moving away from coal-fired electricity for the past decade, and the effects of climate change—particularly along the Atlantic coast—already has its attention," reports Katherine Bagley for InsideClimate News as part of the series Coal's Long Goodbye.

"In Virginia, coal still dictates the economy in some southwestern parts of the state; one of the nation's largest energy companies, Dominion Resources, is headquartered in Richmond; and the nation's largest coal export facility is on the coast in Norfolk," Bagley writes. "Until recently, coal accounted for nearly half of the electricity generated in the state; now it's less than a quarter." While Dominion hasn't vocally opposed the rule, the company "has argued that natural gas, wind and solar are not yet reliable enough to replace coal." Officials and environmentalists say getting support from the energy sector will be key in complying with rules.

One of the reasons Virginia is moving away from coal is a political shift in the state. Once considered a conservative state, Virginia now has a Democratic governor, two Democratic senators and the state twice voted for President Obama, Bagley writes. Attempts by the state's Republicans lawmakers to block EPA rules didn't go anywhere during the last legislative session. (Dominion photo: Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center coal plant)

The state's "move away from coal has also been shaped by economic forces," Bagley writes. "With coal values plummeting and pollution regulations increasing, 11 coal-fired power plants have shuttered their doors, converted to natural gas or biomass or announced plans to close or convert since 2008, according to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign. Nuclear energy and natural gas now dominate the state's power sector."

"Experts say Virginia is already 80 percent of the way toward its proposed target of reducing emissions 38 percent by 2030," Bagley writes. "Environmentalists argue expanding renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency should make up the remaining 20 percent. State officials said it will be more complicated than that, but possible."

Another reason is that climate change has been more apparent in Virginia than in neighboring coal-producing states Kentucky and West Virginia, Bagley writes. "Virginia Beach has experienced approximately 30 inches of sea level rise since 1880, according to the state's Department of Environmental Quality—nearly four times the global average and the second highest in the United States, behind Louisiana." (Read more)

Va. board OKs permits for coalfield power plant

"The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board has approved air emissions permits for the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in St. Paul, clearing the last remaining major hurdles before construction can begin," Keith Strange of The Coalfield Progress reported at 6:16 p.m. The board approved "two air permits, one based on the use of the most stringent control technology available and the other based on minimizing the impact the plant will have on the surrounding environment.The permits, however, bear little resemblance to the proposal submitted by Department of Environmental Quality officials last week." (Read more; subscription may be required)

Strange writes in a separate piece, "Much of the back and forth stemmed from a letter written by National Park Service environmental engineer Don Shepherd last week--after the public comment period on the permit ended--speculating that the plant could harm the George Washington National Forest and suggesting the consideration of different technology at the plant. But Rob Feagins, the DEQ air manager, pointed out repeatedly that federal authorities have given the nod for the plant, saying it complies with existing regulations."

Controversy abounds over proposed construction of the $1.8 billion, 585-megawatt coal-fired power plant by Dominion Virginia Power, the state's largest electric company. The demand for the plant comes from "Northern Virginia's air conditioners, laptop computers and other electrical devices," David Fahrenthold writes for The Washington Post. "The utility has been met by strong opposition, however, fed by a region-wide hostility to new power projects and a national backlash against the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with coal. On Tuesday, people in a high school auditorium argued a question that would have seemed ridiculous to their grandparents: Should coal be burned for power in Virginia coalfields?" To read more, click here.

"The debate touches core issues affecting all Virginians, including global warming, fossil fuels, air quality, mercury contamination, economic development, state energy needs, jobs and social justice," Scott Harper writes for The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk. "Almost every politician and local official from the remote, financially depressed region endorses the project, expected to generate electricity for at least 50 years," Harper writes. Dickenson County Board of Supervisors Chairman Donnie Rife "told the board it has the future of the entire region in its hands," Strange writes. "Coal is Southwest Virginia," Rife said. "Coal is Appalachia. There would be no way I could stand up here before you if I didn't think Dominion will be one of our best companies. I'm proud they're coming here to use our product."

"The Wise County debate is among a number of fights over energy in the mid-Atlantic region, including disputes over power-transmission lines planned in parts of Maryland and Virginia," Fahrenthold writes. "In all the battles, power companies say the electricity is needed; opponents say the environment costs are too high." Environmentalists say the Dominion plant would intensify polution that, among other things, would decrease the state's air quality and visibility at Virginia's Shenandoah National Park (pictured in photo by Fahrenthold). "Activists also say the Dominion plant would spew toxic mercury that could end up in streams and the Chesapeake Bay," Fahrenthold writes. "They also say that it would drive up demand for descructive mountaintop-removal coal mines. Dominion officials have defended their proposal, saying they will use technologies that keep pollution at a minimum. On the issue of national parks, they say the plant's impacts would fall within federal guidelines."

Ads about proposed Virginia coal plant flood local radio and newspapers as hearings begin

The debate over a proposal to build a $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant in the coal country of southwest Virginia has escalated. The first of two hearings began yesterday and continued today, and advertisements for and against the proposal have dominated local radio and newspapers and appeared on billboards along the region's main highway artery, reports Kathy Still of the Bristol Herald Courier.

"These days, newspaper readers often find full-page advertisements from Dominion Virginia [Power] touting the plant’s positives, including jobs and tax revenue," Still writes. "And local radio waves are filled with commercials also singing the praises of the controversial project. But those who travel along U.S. Highway 58 between St. Paul and Coeburn can’t help but see a large anti-plant billboard across from the planned site for the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, known locally simply as the power plant."

The ad wars continue online with YouTube videos posted by opponents of the plant as well as blog posts attacking the project. The spike in ads coincides with this week's Department of Environmental Quality public hearing on the power plant. The DEQ meeting began at 7 p.m. yesterday at St. Paul High school, and the hearing continued today to give more people the chance to speak. (Read more) There will be another meeting Feb. 19 in Richmond for others who want to speak out. (Read more)

Forest Service says proposed Virginia power plant would threaten wilderness area in North Carolina

The U.S. Forest Service says a proposed power plant in southwest Virginia could reduce visibility and the air quality needed by some plants in a scenic gorge in northwestern North Carolina, reports Keith Strange of The Coalfield Progress in Norton, Va.

At issue are Dominion Virginia Power's proposed Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center and the Linville Gorge Wilderness, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, which some have called "the Grand Canyon of the East." That's an exaggeration, but it's a great place, as we found when we took this photo in June 2006.

Pisgah National Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard said in a Dec. 4 letter "that sulfur dioxide emissions from the plant could have a detrimental effect on plant life in the Linville Gorge," Strange writes. "Hilliard said that the 3,369 tons projected to be emitted annually by the plant would violate the federal Clean Air Act." (Read more)

UPDATE, Dec. 20: Dominion and the Forest Service agreed on mitigation measures, under which Hilliard said the agency's concerns “should be fully addressed to our satisfaction.” (Read more)

Va. legislator rips power-plant foes, newspaper

A state House member in southwest Virginia charged over the weekend that much of the opposition to a coal-fired power plant in the state's coal region comes from outside the region, and blamed one of the region's newspapers for whipping up opposition.

Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, told a crowd of 150 at the Virginia Mining Association's annual meeting "that their support for the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center is critical in the face of vocal opposition to the plant," reports Keith Strange of The Coalfield Progress in Norton.

“A lot of you, and me personally, have been attacked (including by) one of our local newspapers,” Kilgore said. The Progress didn't name the paper, but Kilgore was probably referring to the Bristol Herald Courier, which has published editorials opposing the plant proposed by Dominion Power. (Read more, subscription required)

Coal-plant protesters arrested in southwest Va.

Protesters were arrested yesterday at the construction site of controversial power plant previously covered on The Rural Blog, the Virgina Hybrid Energy Center, a $1.8 billion coal-fired plant in the Appalachian town of St. Paul, Va. Opponents say the plant will harm air quality in the Shenandoah National Forest and want the state to instead focus on renewable clean energies.

Keith Strange of The Coalfield Progress in Norton writes that 11 of the 36 protesters "entered the construction site and chained themselves to steel drums at two gates at the plant, according to the Virginia State Police. Two of those drums featured solar panels that powered a sign reading 'renewable jobs to renew Appalachia.'" They were "charged with unlawful assembly and criminal trespassing, both misdemeanors, ... participating in an unlawful assembly and obstructing justice." Two face additional charges of instigating trespassing.

Construction workers shouted opposition to the protesters, calling them "out-of state treehuggers," and many protesters took umbrage. “It’s not only treehuggers, it’s local people," Jane Branham, a protestor who was not charged, told Strange. "These are the people who live here and we have continually spoken out at Board of Supervisors meetings about the plant." (Read more)