Planning commission recommends denial of Tenaska's Expedition power plant permit (5–0) after hours of public testimony

The Fluvanna County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 24 to recommend denial of Tenaska's special use permit application for the proposed "Expedition" natural gas–fired electric generation project.

The action followed more than two hours of public comment and technical presentations. The project would add generation capacity adjacent to an existing Tenaska facility on roughly 414 acres in the Cunningham Election District; the applicant has proposed placing approximately 354.8 additional acres into conservation easements and offered mitigation measures including a $5,000,000 good-neighbor fund and up to $5,500,000 for roadway improvements.

Opponents emphasized public health, water and noise concerns. Joseph Solomon of the Southern Environmental Law Center summarized academic analysis that connected the facility's projected particulate emissions to tangible health impacts, saying studies show "no safe level of PM2.5 exposure" and outlining estimated premature-death and economic-damage ranges. Ashley Crocker, a parent who described years of her child's breathing illness, told commissioners: "When I read the Harvard study that projects 180 new cases of asthma in this community from this plant alone... my body remembered exactly what that feels like." Many citizens urged the commission to reaffirm its January finding that the project is not in substantial accord with the county's comprehensive plan.

Proponents and the applicant highlighted jobs, tax revenue and mitigation commitments. Gary Pitts, lead developer for the Expedition project, said the team had provided "more than 15 non required supplemental items" to the county and summarized commitments on sound monitoring, staggered construction shifts, heavy-haul coordination, and conservation easements.

Commissioners debated substantive and procedural issues, including: whether the proposal fits the comprehensive plan's rural-preservation policies; sound and health monitoring standards (the SUP conditions switch from an L90 standard to a 1-hour LEQ with 60 dBA at the project boundary and 50 dBA within 100 feet of a residence); traffic and construction impacts (applicant cited a 48-month construction window, peak delivery counts and commitments to stagger shifts); and water-discharge permitting (applicant said discharge alignment is subject to DEQ permitting and local zoning approval).

After extended discussion a motion to recommend denial was made by Commissioner Kilpatrick and seconded by Commissioner Morgan. The motion carried 5–0. The applicant has appealed the commission's earlier substantial-accord finding to the Board of Supervisors; the Board is scheduled to hear that appeal on March 18.

Next steps: The planning commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors. Any final decision on the SUP will rest with the Board; state permits (DEQ, SEC and other federal approvals) would also be required before construction could proceed.