‘No decision is lightly made’: Fluvanna approves controversial gas plant despite community opposition

Fluvanna County, Virginia, officials have approved a controversial gas plant permit for the Nebraska-based company Tenaska, following hours of debate and strong community opposition. On Wednesday, March 18, the county's Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to greenlight the $2.2 billion project, known as "The Expedition Generation Station." This decision overturned an earlier 3-1 rejection by the planning commission, which had deemed the proposal inconsistent with the county's comprehensive plan. The proposed 1,540-megawatt facility, intended to meet growing electricity demand from data centers in Virginia, will occupy over 400 acres near Scottsville. Proponents, including Board of Supervisors Chair John M. Sheridan, highlighted projected tax revenues exceeding $250 million and improved grid reliability, with the plant categorized as a critical energy project by regional operator PJM. Opponents, including the grassroots organization Fluvanna Horizons Alliance, voiced serious concerns about increased pollution, noise, and the plant's impact on long-term community health and the county's rural character. Residents emphasized potential harm to over four million people, including those in Lake Monticello, citing fears for children's respiratory health due to emissions from a proposed 230-foot smokestack. Despite the county's approval, those opposing the gas plant still have avenues to challenge the project at the state level. The project must secure additional permits from entities such as the State Corporation Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality before construction can commence.