Challenges to Wise Plant to Persist

Though Dominion Virginia Power began construction of a coal- fired power plant in Southwest Virginia last week, those opposed to the $1.8 billion facility continue to fight it.

The Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition, which represents five environmental groups, said in a news release that “the campaign to halt construction of the Wise County plant has just begun.” The groups are Appalachian Voices, the Sierra Club, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

“Construction is meant to take four years … so we are working to get the courts to stop it as soon as we can,” said Sarah Rispin, a staff attorney for the SELC, which is representing the groups in legal challenges to the power plant permits.

Dominion spokesman Jim Norvelle said he would not speculate on legal arguments.

Originally published by Media General News Service.

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