VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A group protested against proposed natural gas pipelines on Thursday afternoon outside of Dept. of Environmental Quality.
This is the second protest, following another one on Wednesday afternoon. The Chesapeake Climate Action Network says they want to see the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline projects stopped. "These harmful pipelines for fracked gas would cause the destruction of entire mountain ridgetops, threaten citizens’ property rights, and harm valuable drinking water resources -- in addition to exacerbating climate change," the group says.
Proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline would run from West Virginia to Greensville County with an extension into Chesapeake. Dominion Energy says the pipeline is necessary to meet the growing energy needs of the region. The permitting process is still continuing.
Paulette Johnson says the pipeline would go through her property in Suffolk. "My property is beautiful," she said. "[The pipeline] destroys the beauty that I have."
Mountain Valley Pipeline
The Mountain Valley Pipeline would run from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia. The project is also still waiting for approval.
Gov. McAuliffe has expressed support for the pipelines for their ability to create jobs in the Commonwealth and he says they will reduce energy costs.
Aaron Ruby, a spokesman for Dominion Energy says the Atlantic Coast pipeline would help improve the economy in Hampton Roads. "If we want to grow, if we want to attract new industries, create new jobs, we need new infrastructure and that's what the Atlantic Coast pipeline is," he said. He says the pipeline will be safe and is going through an extensive permitting process. Dominion Energy is hoping construction will begin later this year.
