The climate crisis isn’t going away. Last month, the world’s top scientists made clear in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that we must transform global society to stop catastrophic climate change over the next 12 years -- or risk irreversible impacts. Science shows we have no space for expanded fossil fuel production or infrastructure, yet Governor Northam is prepared to allow Dominion to increase both fossil fuel production and infrastructure in Virginia over the objections of both the Environmental Justice Advisory Council and Air Quality Board members.

Dominion Energy wants to build a massive fracked gas compressor station for its Atlantic Coast Pipeline in the historic African-American community of Union Hill in Buckingham County, Virginia.

Union Hill is a predominately African-American community that was established by freed slaves at the end of the Civil War. Families have lived and owned property there for generations. Some descendants have moved away, while others are returning to enjoy their golden days in their birth homes. This community is their home, their forefathers fought for this land with determination, integrity and their blood. This land is a part of America’s history! It is part of Virginia’s history. It must be preserved.

The giant 54,000-horsepower compressor station would run 24/7, creating toxic air emissions and near-constant noise pollution, harming the health and well-being of nearby communities.

On Thursday Governor Northam ended the terms of two members of the Air Pollution Control Board in the middle of a high-stakes regulatory decision on Dominion Energy’s pipeline.

Both members – Sam Bleicher and Rebecca Rubin – had raised important issues just a week ago relating to the proposed Buckingham Compressor Station, which Dominion needs to pump gas through its unnecessary and destructive Atlantic Coast Pipeline, including its disproportionate impacts on the majority African-American community of Union Hill. Their removal means they won’t be able to take a final vote in December.

In August, Governor Northam ignored the recommendations of his Environmental Justice Advisory Council calling for a halt to the entire Atlantic Coast Pipeline project due to its disproportional impact on poor and minority communities.

Tell the Northam Administration that putting its thumb on the scale to help an electricity monopoly build an unneeded, destructive, and irresponsible pipeline, is completely unacceptable.

We require a vote of the full board which includes members Bleicher and Rubin. Anything less is manipulation on the part of Governor Northam. At a time when the real and urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is finally being recognized, any part of any permit that greatly increases these emissions for the Commonwealth and is not needed for Virginia's energy is unwise and immoral. Reinstate Bleicher and Rubin or delay any decision on the air permit until the ACP has full permits, now lacking, and has survived several pending valid court challenges. What is the hurry? The only hurry is Dominion's. The only need is greed. Nice try, Governor. Not good enough.