Hello, I'm back again with an update on what our friends at Dominion Power are up to these days. To summarize, Dominion's annual shareholders' meeting is tomorrow, April 27th, in Boston . . . not South Boston, VA but Boston, MA. Yes, I found this strange as well, but apparently with all the opposition to their recent actions they wanted to skip town. Also, I strongly recommend that everyone read this article from today's Washington Post regarding Dominion possible circumventing state approval to build their prosed transmission line across the state.
Here is a diary my organization, Virginians for Sensible Energy Policies (VSEP) posted on Daily Kos with the latest info and asking our friends in the Boston area to help out. If you know anyone in the Boston area who would support our efforts, please spread the word. Thanks.
In a shady attempt to avoid opposition to some big environmental issues, Dominion Virginia Power has moved its annual shareholders meeting to Boston. Although Dominion is headquartered in Richmond and usually holds its meetings in VA, they decide to skip town this year. My organization, Virginians for Sensible Energy Policies (VSEP) hopes some good Bostonians out there will be able to help us by attending a rally tomorrow, Friday April 27th across the street from the board meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel (510 Atlantic Ave.) from 8:45-11am. Given Dominion's presence in New England as well as VA and NC, this affects us all.
At the meeting, Dominion's shareholders plan to address two major issues.
The first issue would require Dominion to report on its efforts to reduce carbon dioxide. I have mentioned these statistics in a previous diary, but they are worth repeating. Dominion is the 20th largest polluter in the S&P 500 emitting roughly 33 million metric tons of carbon annually. That means that if Dominion were a country it would rank 34th in the world in terms of pollution! So while corporations such as ExxonMobil are consciously taking steps to decrease their negative impact on the environment, Dominion isn't doing much at all and they have refused time and time again to report any headway with regard to alternative energies.
The second issue deals with property rights. As covered in the Washington Post today, Dominion wants to construct a series of 500,000 volt power lines across Virginia. Shareholders want to assess how Dominion can use federal eminent domain powers to bypass the state approval process. As you might guess, Dominion has faced enormous opposition to the proposal from citizens, environmental groups, county officials and property owners. Dominion has not demonstrated the need for these power lines and until they do, we will continue to say No Power Towers.
As I noted, Dominion's pollution doesn't just originate in Virginia, but in New England as well. In 2004 Dominion purchased the 1,599-megawatt coal- and oil-fired Brayton Point Station and the 745-megawatt coal- and oil-fired Salem Harbor Station, both in Massachusetts. Dominion also acquired the 495-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas-fired Manchester Street Station in Rhode Island. All signs point to Dominion's plans for more of these coal burning power plants from Ohio to New England.
Dominion has done far too much to destroy our environment and its soaring profits indicate that their Board of Directors really can make a conscious effort to shift the paradigm to focus on alternative energies but are just choosing to ignore the problem.
We invite you to attend the rally tomorrow and tell Dominion no power towers and call on Dominion to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. If you cannot attend the rally, please spread the word to your friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and Dominion shareholders. Thanks in advance.