Decision disregards overwhelming public opposition and deepens fossil fuel footprint in historically Black neighborhoods.
CHESAPEAKE, VA — The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved Virginia Natural Gas’s proposed Chesapeake Compressor Station, a project long opposed by residents of nearby historically Black and working-class neighborhoods who have called it a clear violation of Virginia’s environmental justice commitments. The SCC’s order claims that the Commonwealth’s Environmental Justice (EJ) policy had been met, a finding that stands in sharp contrast to extensive community testimony, public comment, and even the Commission’s own staff report.
A 2025 SCC staff report found that 134 of 151 comments filed opposed the project, identifying multiple EJ communities and existing pollution hotspots within the compressor station’s impact zone. The report explicitly warned that approval “may not be reasonable at this time,” given the compounded environmental burdens in the area. The project, part of the larger Virginia Reliability Project expansion, has faced backlash from residents, civic leagues, and faith leaders across Chesapeake. Community members warned that the compressor station will endanger public health through air and noise pollution and safety risks, and exacerbate climate pollution.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network Hampton Roads Organizer, Michelle Ueltschi, released the following statement:
“This decision disregards the voices of hundreds of Chesapeake residents who have spent years saying no to pollution. Calling this facility an example of environmental justice because the compressors are electric rather than gas-powered is a gross distortion of the term. True environmental justice means communities in Chesapeake are not turned into sacrifice zones for corporate gas expansion and valuing community voices that are saying no to any new fossil fuel expansion, no matter how it’s painted. This is a clear example of the urgent need for greater agency accountability and for regulators to truly listen to communities impacted by fossil fuel projects. ”
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
