(RICHMOND, VA)—Today the Virginia State Water Control Board approved a groundwater withdrawal permit for the proposed Chickahominy Power Station in Charles City County, Virginia. The plant would lie just over a mile from C4GT, another proposed gas-fired plant.
CBF Environmental Justice Staff Attorney Taylor Lilley issued the following statement.
“Virginia law clearly states that ensuring water for human consumption—meaning water to drink—is the highest priority use for ground water. We are concerned that the State Water Control Board made an exception for what would be the largest fossil fuel plant in the Commonwealth, allowing the proposed facility to take 30 million gallons of water every year.
“Charles City County is largely a rural, low-income, majority African-American community, where many residents rely on wells for drinking water. Now, barely three months after the Virginia General Assembly enacted important legislation on making environmental justice part of all permitting decisions, Virginia must take steps to ensure that this rural Black community will not unfairly bear the burden of hosting two massive fossil fuel plants.
“We will consider all options moving forward to protect groundwater and support the people of Charles City County.”
