Residents of a majority-Black enclave in Chesapeake, Virginia, say a $90 million compressor station approved July 15 will add yet another source of pollution to an already industrial corridor.
Lauren Hines-Acosta reports for Bay Journal.
In short:
- The Chesapeake City Council voted 6-3 to rezone an industrial tract so Virginia Natural Gas can build a backup compressor station intended to keep gas flowing on the coldest 20 days of the year.
- Company officials tout an electric motor, captured blowdown gas and projected lifetime emissions of 131 metric tons of CO₂ — levels low enough to avoid a state air permit — yet 82% of nearby residents are people of color already facing disproportionate environmental burdens.
- Opponents may file comments with the State Corporation Commission until Aug. 5, ahead of an Aug. 14 hearing; if approved, the facility would add about $1.96 a month to household bills and allow retirement of an older propane plant in 2026.
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