FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 8
CONTACT
Kendyl Crawford, Director, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light
(804) 505-4624, kcrawford@vaipl.org
Virginia Interfaith Power & Light: Air Pollution Control Board Approves Air Permit for the Buckingham Compressor Station
Richmond, VA – Today, the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board voted 4-0 to approve the air permit for the proposed Buckingham compressor station for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP).
As Union Hill residents, people of faith, and water and air protectors waited for the meeting to convene, they broke out in song affirming their commitment to environmental justice: “For Union Hill, I’m gonna let it shine.”
During the limited written comment period leading up to today’s meeting, thousands of caring folks across the Commonwealth called out the environmental racism of Dominion Energy’s proposal to build the compressor station in Union Hill, a historic, predominantly African American neighborhood.
In response, Kendyl Crawford, Director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, released the following statement:
“People of faith across the commonwealth have consistently called out the injustice of this compressor station, and we will continue to answer the higher, moral call to love and care for our neighbors.
The choice of the Air Pollution Control Board and the Department of Environmental Quality to permit the sacrifice of our neighbors’ health and safety for a private company to profit is disheartening.
The approval of this permit and the interference of Governor Northam in the permitting process makes it clear that we need comprehensive policy on environmental justice and to codify the Governor’s Advisory Council on Environmental Justice.”
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About Virginia Interfaith Power & Light: Virginia Interfaith Power & Light is a nonprofit organization that collaborates, as people of faith, to grow healthy communities and advance climate justice through education, advocacy, and worship with over 2,500 supporters across the state. For more information, visit https://www.vaipl.org.