Dear Friends and Coalition Supporters,
The recent Dominion Energy Vint Hill Expanded Substation open house on July 10th was quite an eye opener, but not necessarily in a good way.
You can watch the Press Conference here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16g99jHrQ1/
The speakers were:
Elizabeth Ward – PWC Sustainability Commissioner, MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MS ChE from NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Jean Beard – Chair for the Prince William Conservation Alliance
Delegate Ian Lovejoy – House District 22
Data center demand brings first gas substation to Nokesville | News | fauquier.com
“The downside is that sulfur hexafluoride is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”
“Utilities employ safeguards to keep the gas from leaking but some can escape during manufacturing, installation and maintenance of equipment, the EPA website says.”
“Leaks from sulfur hexafluoride will be the gift we leave to our descendants — not (just) our grandchildren. Not (just) our grandchildren’s grandchildren,” Ward said.”
“Dominion Energy says there’s no other gas it could use in the substation and that the operation will be safe.”
“…Aisha Khan, a Dominion Energy spokesperson, in a statement said “Safety is the foundation of how we design and operate our facilities, and we build to the highest industry standards.”
“Europe is phasing out the gas, and California has already started to ban it on certain equipment, Ward said. This would be the first substation of this type in Prince William County.”
“Dominion Energy does not yet have an estimate for how much the substation will cost because it is still “conceptual,” Khan said.
The price will be paid by all Dominion and NOVEC customers, according to Virginia law.”
“Jean Beard, chair of Prince William Conservation Alliance, which has been critical of the rapid growth of data centers in Prince William County and the infrastructure required to power them, said such projects are all the result of just one industry.”
“The substation may be framed as routine or necessary, but make no mistake, it’s driven by the energy demands of massive, energy-intensive data centers, and Dominion is scrambling to keep up,” Beard said. “Our localities have approved far more data centers than our current electrical grid can support.”
One would think, at their own open house, Dominion Energy representatives would have done their homework, preparing them for some pretty basic questions.
You can watch here to experience for yourself what it’s like being at one of these dog and pony shows:
https://youtu.be/TlneTfo9ook?si=7QaqJNPWITMjyMuk
Here is what should stand out to you.
- The Dominion Rep has no answer to cost estimate for this very expensive Gas Insulated Substation, and yet they are ready to submit to the SCC?
- When asked what experience does Dominion Energy have with this type of substation, the Dominion Rep very confidently replies, “Daves Store Substation.”
You know what should concern you, and every other resident in Virginia who must trust Dominion Energy, our monopoly utility?
They were 100% wrong about Dave’s Store Substation as an example of their experience. How do we know this?
Watch this video and you will be shocked.
Data center Dave’s Store GIS substation: “It’s a pile of dirt”
https://youtu.be/FTynqsCEX98?si=pwmgJ-73uRYnq-H-
In addition to Dave’s Store NOT being operational, or even remotely close to up and running, no one we have spoken to in the county knew Daves Store Substation was a Gas Insulated Substation; and apparently Dominion Energy doesn’t either, because on the project page, there is no mention of it being anything other than a typical Air Insulated Substation.
This Vint Hill Expanded Gas Insulation Substation application must go before the PWC Planning Commission. Stay tuned for details.
We demand to have credible AND reliable answers to these very important questions.
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