Virginia

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | North Carolina | Pipelines | Virginia

Big Green Files Lawsuit to Block FERC Authorization of MVP Southgate
April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

On Tuesday, seven radicalized Big Green groups filed a court challenge to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) authorization for Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, to construct the MVP Southgate gas pipeline. The petition for review, filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Appalachian Mountain Advocates, and Sierra Club in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit), asks the court to vacate the amended certificate of convenience and public necessity issued by FERC in December 2025. Read More “Big Green Files Lawsuit to Block FERC Authorization of MVP Southgate”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide VA | Virginia

Va.’s Energy Czar Spent Months Trying to Block Gas-Fired Plant
March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

Last year, MDN warned readers that the newly elected, incoming governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, is a radical left Democrat (see Va. Dems Jazzed to Push Unreliable Renewables, Block Data Centers). And indeed, she’s proven to be exactly how we described her. Not only is she pushing to re-enroll the state in an obscene carbon tax (the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI), but she just appointed Josephus Allmond as her Chief Energy Officer. Who is Allmond? An attorney with the uber-radical Southern Environmental Law Center. Allmond has led the opposition to the proposed Tenaska Expedition Generating Station (gas-fired power plant) in Fluvanna County, Va., speaking against it at local planning commission meetings and conducting community-activist training seminars. He essentially calls the project racist. Read More “Va.’s Energy Czar Spent Months Trying to Block Gas-Fired Plant”
AI | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Ashburn, VA Landowners Offered $4.4 Million/Acre for Data Center
March 25, 2026March 25, 2026

Last week, MDN told you about one landowner in Luzerne County, PA, who became an overnight millionaire after selling his small farm to a company planning to build a data center on the land (see NEPA Landowner Sells Small Farm to Data Center for $17.8 Million). While northeastern PA is trying to become a data center corridor, there is already an established data center corridor in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. A new data center is being proposed for Data Center Alley in Loudon County, Virginia, and the developers are offering an eye-popping $4.4 million *per acre* to landowners to sell their land to them. Wow! Read More “Ashburn, VA Landowners Offered $4.4 Million/Acre for Data Center”
Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Virginia

Virginia SCC Approves “Racist” VNG Compressor in Chesapeake
March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

Despite a “public outcry” (of 13 people), the Chesapeake City (Virginia) Council voted 6-3 last July to approve a compressor station for Virginia Natural Gas (see Chesapeake City Council Approves Va. NatGas Compressor Station). The proposed site is already zoned industrial and has other VNG operations already in place. It’s not like it’s being constructed in the middle of a neighborhood. However, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) hit the pause button on the project last August, to give the commission extra time to sift through the barrage of incoming lies that this compressor station is racist (see Virginia SCC Hits Pause on VNG Proposed Compressor in Chesapeake). It took six months, but the SCC released a final order on Tuesday approving the VNG compressor station project. Read More “Virginia SCC Approves “Racist” VNG Compressor in Chesapeake”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pipelines | Regulation | Virginia

Antis File Lawsuit to Challenge Va. Permit for MVP Southgate Pipeline
February 26, 2026February 26, 2026

Several Big Green groups, including the Sierra Club, Wild Virginia, Appalachian Voices, and the Center for Biological Diversity, have filed a legal challenge against a permit issued by Virginia for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Southgate extension. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approved a water permit for the project in January 2026. Big Green radicals argue that the pipeline “threatens” 138 streams, wetlands, and regional drinking water supplies. It’s the typical lawfare tactic used by the left to stall work on projects, hoping to delay them long enough that the builder (EQT in this case) gives up. Or if the builder won’t give up, they have to pay double or triple the price to construct it. That’s the game the radicals are playing. Read More “Antis File Lawsuit to Challenge Va. Permit for MVP Southgate Pipeline”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Virginia

Radical Groups File Lawsuit to Block Dominion Va. Peaker Plants
February 25, 2026February 25, 2026

The far-left Southern Environmental Law Center, representing three radical nonprofits, has appealed the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) approval of Dominion Energy’s $1.47 billion natural gas plant in Chesterfield County. The challenge is the first under both the Virginia Environmental Justice Act and the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Antis argue the 1,000-megawatt facility would disproportionately “harm” marginalized communities through increased pollution and significant health risks, including premature deaths. Critics maintain that Dominion failed to prioritize renewable alternatives or demonstrate a genuine threat to grid reliability, potentially placing unnecessary financial and health burdens on the public. Read More “Radical Groups File Lawsuit to Block Dominion Va. Peaker Plants”
Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Virginia

Va. SCC Reapproves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant
February 17, 2026February 17, 2026

In June 2023, Dominion Energy announced plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes—to keep the lights on because solar and wind are not up to the task. The peakers will use gas from the Marcellus/Utica. Last November, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) finally approved the project (see Va. SCC Finally Approves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant). Three weeks later, in December, the SCC canceled its approval so it could consider an appeal filed by radical green groups (see Va. SCC Unapproves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant). We have a happy outcome of the review. Read More “Va. SCC Reapproves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant”
AI | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide VA | Virginia

Va.’s Democrat Legislature Wants to Raise Data Center Fees by 16%
February 12, 2026February 12, 2026

Virginia Senate Bill 253, introduced by State Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), aims to shift energy infrastructure costs from residents to data centers, potentially saving households a whopping $65 annually. The legislation requires data centers—which account for 20% of Dominion Energy’s sales—to fund their own electrical substations and cover specific “capacity costs.” If the bill becomes law and the proposals in it receive approval from the State Corporation Commission (SCC), the typical monthly energy bill for data centers would rise by about 16%, while the typical bill for residential and other customers would decrease by 3% to 3.5%. Looks like Virginia, with more data centers than any other state in the union, is now closed for data center business. Too bad. Read More “Va.’s Democrat Legislature Wants to Raise Data Center Fees by 16%”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Regulation | Transco | Virginia | Williams

FERC Approves Williams Transco SESE Pipeline Project for VA, NC
February 3, 2026February 3, 2026

Two pipeline kingpins are engaged in a deathmatch with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to get their competing pipeline projects approved. One is Williams’ Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SESE), the other is EQT’s MVP Southgate project (see Update on N.C. Pipe Deathmatch: Transco SESE vs. MVP Southgate). Both projects would be built in the same general area, starting near Chatham, Virginia, and ending near Eden, North Carolina. Both claim they have customers ready to take their gas. In a July 2025 FERC filing, Williams said that its project could easily handle Southgate MVP’s capacity by adding meter tubes and regulation at an existing station. EQT was not pleased with the attempt to undercut Southgate. However, MVP Southgate appeared to have the regulatory momentum when FERC approved a change in the project in December (see FERC Votes to Approve Change of MVP Southgate Route, Capacity). But now, the Williams SESE project has leapfrogged Southgate by garnering a final approval from FERC to build. Read More “FERC Approves Williams Transco SESE Pipeline Project for VA, NC”
Chesapeake Utilities | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Virginia

Chesapeake Utilities to Build NatGas Pipeline to Va. Eastern Shore
January 26, 2026January 26, 2026

Last November, Accomack County, Virginia, secured a $6.5 million state grant to expand piped natural gas to the Eastern Shore, a move aimed at stabilizing the local economy (see Natural Gas via Pipeline for Va. Eastern Shore Gets a $6.5M Boost). The project targets major employers like Perdue Farms, Tyson, and NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. It aims to reverse employment declines and lower energy costs for everyone. Analysts say that natural gas could cost homeowners 57% less than using propane, and industrial users 75% less than using electricity. The new news is that Accomack County has signed a deal with Chesapeake Utilities to build the project. Read More “Chesapeake Utilities to Build NatGas Pipeline to Va. Eastern Shore”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide VA | Transco | Virginia | Williams

Virginia DEQ Approves Water Permits for Transco’s SESE Pipeline
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

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Two pipeline kingpins are engaged in a deathmatch with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to get their competing pipeline projects approved. One is Williams’ Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SESE), the other is EQT’s MVP Southgate project. Both projects would be built in the same general area, starting at the same point near Chatham, Virginia, and ending near Eden, North Carolina. Both say they have customers ready to take their gas. In a July 2025 FERC filing, Williams said that its project could easily handle Southgate MVP’s capacity by adding meter tubes and regulation at an existing station (see Williams’ Transco Tries to Muscle Out MVP Southgate in FERC Filing). EQT was not pleased with the attempt to undercut Southgate. However, since that time, MVP Southgate appears to have the regulatory momentum with both FERC and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (see Update on N.C. Pipe Deathmatch: Transco SESE vs. MVP Southgate). However, as we’ve said, don’t count SESE out just yet. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued two critical water permits for the SESE project in late December. Read More “Virginia DEQ Approves Water Permits for Transco’s SESE Pipeline”
Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Virginia

Virginia DEQ Approves Dominion’s Chesterfield Peaker Plant Project
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

Mixed signals are coming from Virginia’s regulatory agencies regarding a gas-fired project in Chesterfield. In June 2023, Dominion Energy announced plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes—to keep the lights on because solar and wind are not up to the task. In November 2025, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) finally approved the project. But three weeks later, the SCC canceled its approval so it could consider a last-minute appeal filed by radical green groups (see Va. SCC Unapproves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant). However, a day after the SCC withdrew its approval, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) gave its approval for the project. Read More “Virginia DEQ Approves Dominion’s Chesterfield Peaker Plant Project”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Regulation | Virginia

FERC Votes to Approve Change of MVP Southgate Route, Capacity
December 22, 2025December 22, 2025

In 2018, Equitrans Midstream, the builder of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), proposed extending the MVP pipeline (after completion) by an additional 75 miles from the current terminus in Pittsylvania County, VA, to Alamance County, NC, to provide natural gas for heating and electric power generation. The 75-mile extension was called MVP Southgate. In December 2023, Equitrans announced it was significantly changing the project, cutting it by more than half and increasing the amount of gas flowing through it (see Equitrans Slices MVP Southgate Pipe Project From 75 to 31 Miles). Last Thursday, the five commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) officially approved the proposed changes. Read More “FERC Votes to Approve Change of MVP Southgate Route, Capacity”
Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Virginia

Va. SCC Unapproves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant
December 19, 2025December 19, 2025

In June 2023, Dominion Energy announced plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes—to keep the lights on because solar and wind are not up to the task. Three weeks ago, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) finally approved the project (see Va. SCC Finally Approves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant). And just like that, the SCC has canceled its approval so it can consider an appeal filed on Monday by radical green groups. Yes, elections have consequences. Read More “Va. SCC Unapproves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Gas-Fired Power Plant Planned for Southwest Virginia Data Center
December 19, 2025December 19, 2025

Great news about another new gas-fired power plant coming to Virginia—a plant that will use Marcellus/Utica molecules. Red Post Energy Group and Wise Innovation Hub Venture (OASIS) have signed a Letter of Intent to develop power infrastructure for a major technology and data center hub in Wise County, Virginia, in the southwestern corner of the state. Known as the Maverick Project, this phased initiative aims for a total capacity of 600 megawatts, beginning with an initial 100-megawatt phase. Read More “Gas-Fired Power Plant Planned for Southwest Virginia Data Center”
AI | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide VA | Virginia

Va. Dems Jazzed to Push Unreliable Renewables, Block Data Centers
December 11, 2025December 11, 2025

Democrats in Virginia are experiencing political ecstasy at the prospect of reversing four years of common-sense energy policies under outgoing Governor Glenn Youngkin. Gov. Youngkin removed the state from the odious Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) carbon tax scheme. Incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger has pledged to re-enroll the state in the program. Youngkin vetoed bills that would have favored unreliable renewable energy. Now, the Dems will not only have Spanberger as Governor, but hardened leftist Ghazala Hashmi as Lt. Governor, and a strong majority in both chambers of the legislature. They are already planning to reintroduce bills favoring renewables and blocking new data centers. It’s a crying shame what Virginia has done in electing these radicals to lead it. Read More “Va. Dems Jazzed to Push Unreliable Renewables, Block Data Centers”