Spring Warms up with Fiery Actions against Dominion's Dirty Energy Policies

This spring, CCAN sprung into action to challenge Dominion Virginia Power, Virginia’s largest monopoly power company and #1 climate polluter.
The action kicked off in early May, when over 150 protesters gathered in front of Dominion’s shareholder meeting in Glen Allen to protest Dominion’s proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline and other dirty energy investments. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a planned 42-inch fracked gas pipeline threatening to cut through Virginia, and riling up resistance all along its route from West Virginia to North Carolina. Following the meeting, 19 students from the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition (VSEC) pedaled off to ride the proposed route of the pipeline, talking to front-line communities about why they oppose the project along the way. When the riders arrived in Richmond, they joined with local city activists to illuminate a special message during Dominion’s premier green-washing event of the year.
Read on for a photo recap of all of the action. As spring gives in to summer, the actions against Dominion’s dirty energy polices continue with screenings of Won’t Pipe Down, a documentary about the pipeline and those fighting it, and “Music for the Mountains,” a concert event hosted in Nelson County.
With Virginia climate activists, pipeline fighters, and the media alike shedding increasing light on Dominion’s dirty energy pollution, this summer will be the perfect time to keep turning up the heat!
May 6th, 2015 – At Dominion’s annual shareholder meeting, a huge crowd turned out to express opposition to Dominion’s dirty energy investments and dirty politics. Buses full of pipeline fighters from communities in Augusta, Nelson and Buckingham county joined the protest to get their voices heard. While the energy was high on the outside of the meeting, Dominion executives faced opposition inside as well. Six out of the eight shareholder resolutions presented demanded the company to take action on climate change.

May 9th, 2015 – The Atlantic Coast Pipeline Resistance Ride begins in Augusta County, Virginia. The students from VSEC rode a total of 235 miles along the proposed route of the pipeline before converging at a rally in Richmond, Virginia.

May 13, 2015 – The student activists stopped along their bike route to talk to those living on the front lines of the pipeline fight. Jack Wilson shows the riders his beautiful property in Nelson County that is threatened by the pipeline. Like Wilson’s story, the students met others along the path and gathered their stories, which reaffirmed the cause they rode for.

May 15th, 2015 – Student activists rally in Richmond, Virginia before starting on a Critical Mass bike ride to Dominion’s green-washing event Riverrock, the biggest outdoor festival in Richmond hosted annually by Dominion Power.

May 15th, 2015 – On the way to Riverrock, the riders stopped at Dominion’s headquarters in Richmond, where they circled the plaza outside donning bright blue No Pipeline t-shirts.

May 15th, 2015 – A “light brigade” of activists spells out a special message for Dominion, as a packed crowd below enjoys one of Riverrock’s nighttime concerts.

May 16, 2015 – Anti-pipeline activists go into the crowds at Dominion’s Riverrock to give out information, petition and take over Dominion’s event hashtag #SeenAtRiverRock.

In the lead up to all of this grassroots action, CCAN and anti-pipeline allies united to deliver 5,000 petitions to Governor Terry McAuliffe urging him to rescind his support of the pipeline. CCAN activists also submitted over 500 public comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in April. Through the comments, we urged federal regulators to conduct a thorough environmental review that considers the full climate-disrupting impact of the fracked gas the Atlantic Coast Pipeline would carry — as well as the environmental benefits of NOT building it at all.
With Virginia climate activists, pipeline fighters, and the media alike shedding increasing light on Dominion’s dirty energy pollution, this summer will be the perfect time to keep turning up the heat — with your help!

Next Actions

July 2nd – CCAN sponsors a screening of Won’t Pipe Down, a short film telling the story of the people and places caught in the path of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, on July 2nd in Richmond, Virginia. The viewing is followed by a panel with a group of grassroots organizers fighting the pipeline. Join us Thursday July 2nd at 7pm for an active movie night!
July 18th – Pipeline fighter groups Friends of Nelson County and Friends of Augusta are coming together to host a music event on Saturday, July 18th in Nelson County. Join neighbors from across the Commonwealth to enjoy “Music for the Mountains,” a festival raising funds to fight the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Join us Saturday July 18th at 3pm for a fun grassroots event!