The growth of data centers has seen Virginia’s power demand grow. In line with that demand Dominion Energy is seeking to open additional natural gas-powered generators at an existing facility in Chesterfield, just south of Richmond. But the public gets to weigh in first, and there’s a myriad of opinions on the matter.
A massive hotel meeting room in Chester was packed to the gills Monday evening as those for and against a new power generation facility in neighboring Chesterfield provided public comment before Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality.
Among them was Kevin Battle. He grew up and still lives within miles of the existing power plant that could be upgraded to meet surging power demand. He also helped build some of the original facility as a member of the Boilermakers union. He hopes the state’s environmental board will grant the air permit required to not only add to the state’s power system but also give him work…