No Energy Corridor in Fluvanna: Require Full Cumulative Impact Review
State and Federal Regulators
We need your input. Let’s keep making our voices heard.
The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors has approved a second large gas power plant proposed by Tenaska, doubling industrial-scale development into a residential area alongside homes and farms.
Extensive public comment and more than 1,384 petition signatures showed strong community opposition. While the Board approved the project, many residents made clear they do not support it.
During the public review, the Planning Commission found the project was not in “substantial accord” with the County’s Comprehensive Plan under Virginia Code § 15.2-2232, citing concerns about location, character, and extent. The Board of Supervisors later voted to override that determination, citing revenue projections.
The decision is not final. State and federal regulators will decide what happens next. Your input now will help shape how our community responds in this next phase.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will evaluate air and water impacts and whether the project meets legal standards. The Virginia State Corporation Commission will decide whether the project is needed and in the public interest. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will assess impacts on wetlands and waterways under federal law.
We continue to have serious concerns and believe our community’s health and environment must come first.
An independent analysis using EPA data and established modeling tools evaluated the proposed plant and projects measurable increases in air pollution and associated health impacts, including an estimated 1.7 to 3.3 additional premature deaths each year and $27 to $50 million in annual public health costs. The study also found these impacts would extend far beyond Fluvanna County, affecting more than 4 million people across Virginia and surrounding regions, with the greatest cumulative burden on downwind communities.
No independent analysis has evaluated the combined impacts of operating two large facilities together, leaving a critical gap in understanding the full impact on the community.
There are also concerns that the full scope of the project was not clearly presented, limiting the public’s ability to fully understand what was being approved.
State and federal regulators will soon decide whether this project moves forward. Public input will play a critical role in that decision.
Add your name now to help shape what happens next.
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
State and Federal Regulators
From:
[Your Name]
We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders, respectfully request that state and federal regulators conduct a full, transparent, and evidence-based review of the proposed gas plant expansion in Fluvanna County before any permits or approvals are granted.
While the project has received local approval, it cannot proceed without additional review and authorization from state and federal agencies. These decisions will determine whether the project moves forward and must be based on a complete and accurate understanding of the project, its necessity, and its full range of impacts.
We ask regulators to:
• Fully evaluate cumulative impacts.
Assess the combined impacts of multiple facilities operating in close
proximity, including effects on air quality, water resources, and
community health.
• Require a clear, independent demonstration of need.
Determine whether this project is necessary based on credible
evidence, including consideration of alternatives and long-term costs.
• Ensure complete disclosure of the full project.
Evaluate all associated infrastructure, including pipelines,
transmission lines, water use, and the use of previously restricted
land, as part of a single, complete project.
• Protect environmental and community resources.
Fully assess cumulative impacts to air, water, wetlands, and
surrounding communities, including both local and regional effects.
• Provide meaningful public participation.
Ensure clear, accessible opportunities for public input, including
hearings and sufficient time to review complete information.
This project has significant implications for public health, environmental protection, and long-term costs to residents. Based on the information currently available, there are substantial gaps in the record and unresolved questions regarding both need and impact.
No permit or approval should be granted unless and until a full, transparent, and evidence-based review clearly demonstrates that the project is necessary, that its impacts are fully understood, and that it serves the public interest.
Sincerely,
[Signatories]