OPINION:
Dominion Energy has long been a major supporter of Mount Vernon. As such, it was disheartening to see a complete falsification of the purpose of one of our energy infrastructure projects and its potential impact on this historic icon and nearby community (“When energy and commercial development clash,” Web, June 7).
The well-documented truth is that our Eastern Market Access (EMA) project is being built to meet the growing regional need for a cleaner, reliable and competitive source of energy. It will increase local access to natural gas, not export it overseas.
And the project will not be visible from Mount Vernon, even from the cupola atop George Washington’s home. The project’s one significant new structure, a compressor station, will be almost three miles away — tucked into a wooded area across the Potomac River.
Most egregious, perhaps, is the op-ed’s accompanying illustration, showing Mount Vernon in front of a steel mill, not a compressor station. No such scene will exist in reality.
I do agree with David Keene when he writes, “Natural gas is cleaner and in today’s world cheaper than coal, oil, wind and solar. Our air and water are cleaner today because gas is replacing other carbon-based fuels.”
EMA will bring natural gas to Washington Gas Light for its customers to warm their homes, cook meals and run businesses, and to Mattawoman Energy to generate electricity for the region.
We have a high regard for Mount Vernon, the community and the environment. We have had regular communications with its stakeholders. We chose the compressor station site after careful consideration to minimize local impact while meeting the operational need.
There are no easy answers to fulfilling our nation’s energy needs, but we feel confident this project helps meet that need while protecting Mount Vernon and nearby residents.
DIANE LEOPOLD
President and CEO
Dominion Energy Gas Infrastructure Group
Richmond, Va.
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