Guest Opinion: Proposed natural gas center is 'common sense'
Since being elected Delegate, I have always considered legislation through an entrepreneurial lens. My husband, Butch, and I own three auto repair shops in Chesterfield which employ 30 Virginians. In the comings months, Butch and I are opening a new brewery that will employ an additional 20 employees and brings additional revenue and investment into Chesterfield County.
That experience and responsibility inform my perspective by keeping me focused on the most effective, efficient, and responsible path forward for our Commonwealth and the constituents I’ve been elected to represent. It is from that perspective that I consider energy policy and initiatives.
Over the past several years, Virginia businesses and families have steadily increased their energy consumption. To meet this demand, Virginia utilities must plan ahead so that when our hospitals need power, businesses need to operate, and Virginia citizens flip on their light switch, there is power behind it.
Virginians understand the importance of a responsible transition to cleaner sources of energy generation. As a business owner, I understand that to do so successfully, policymakers must continue to pursue a thoughtful approach that doesn’t put security, reliability, and job creation on the back burner. Such an approach would put clean energy progress in great peril.
I have the privilege of representing portions of Chesterfield County in the House of Delegates, and my constituents in Chesterfield are concerned about Virginia’s energy future. I am glad that Dominion Energy is working to meet future demand in alignment with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2022 Energy Plan and is creating jobs by building the Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center.
The construction of this new natural gas hub, which will house four “always ready” turbines, is another step towards ensuring Virginians have reliable and affordable energy sources.
Dominion calls the facility a “peaker” plant that provides power during peak demand periods such as extreme winter or summer days. This helps ensure we’re using diverse, clean energy sources day-to-day while maintaining the ability to ramp up generation if we need it.
When Governor Youngkin introduced his energy plan, he said, “We need to recognize that a clean energy future does not need to come at the cost of a healthy, resilient, and growing economy.”
I agree. Growing clean energy technologies like nuclear, wind, and solar while ensuring our energy supply meets demand through natural gas sources is common sense.
Since the plant would only be turned on when we needed it, the plant is also a cost-effective and efficient way to ensure the lights stay on.
Many Virginians will remember the cold snap last December that caused utilities in neighboring states to implement rolling blackouts. While we were fortunate in Virginia to largely avoid blackouts then, the threat of extreme weather is never-ending and an element that we must always prepare for. That’s why it is essential to have tried-and-true technologies, like the natural gas turbines at the future plant, that can be deployed at a moment’s notice.
Beyond enhancing electric reliability, the facility's construction would bring hundreds of good-paying jobs to the region and provide millions in state and local tax revenue. During the construction phase alone, the project would create 226 new jobs and generate $10.9 million in wages and benefits for the community. Once fully operational, the center would continue to make a significant economic impact, as it is projected to create $24.9 million annually in economic output and $142.6 million in new tax revenues over the course of the facility’s lifetime.
As a business owner and mother, I am glad Virginia takes an innovative approach to address our energy needs further. With the right leadership, the commonwealth will continue to see more reliable, affordable, clean energy generation and job and economic growth. I look forward to seeing the Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center plan come to fruition.
Del. Kim Taylor represents the 82nd House District, which stretches from Dinwiddie to Surry counties. The opinions expressed in this article are her own.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Guest Opinion: Proposed natural gas center is 'common sense'
