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Residents urge board to protect county water as supervisors approve study tied to Dominion project
Summary
After multiple public comments about a proposed Dominion Energy power plant, the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors approved up to $150,000 for an engineering study of water and wastewater infrastructure — contingent on a reimbursement agreement with Dominion, board members said.
The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize up to $150,000 for an engineering study of water and wastewater infrastructure related to a proposed Dominion Energy power plant, with county staff and legal counsel saying the county will not spend funds until a reimbursement agreement is executed.
The motion, read by the chair and discussed at length, directs staff to proceed with the work scope presented by Timmons Group. A board member (speaker 10) told the meeting: "we're not gonna cut them a check until Dominion agrees that They will reimburse us the cost associated, with those studies." The motion was seconded and received affirmative votes from board members recorded during the meeting.
The study drew sustained public comment. A resident (speaker 2) told supervisors the project could use "800,000 gallons per day" and warned against tying county water infrastructure or rights-of-way to Dominion’s contracts: "Our water should be under the county's control, and no 1 else should have their fingers on it." Other commenters urged the county not to shoulder long-term costs or liabilities for private industry infrastructure.
Supporters and some supervisors said the study is intended to gather facts before making a final policy decision. One board member said the county had sought reassurances from legal counsel and that Dominion would reimburse study costs before the county cut a check. County staff emphasized that the appropriation and work are contingent on executed agreements and any required contract terms.
Board members and staff said additional public engagement and technical meetings with Dominion representatives would continue. The chair encouraged attendees with technical questions to talk directly to project staff during scheduled stakeholder sessions.
The board did not adopt any permanent water agreements at the meeting; it approved funding for an engineering evaluation conditioned on separate reimbursement and contract approvals. The timing for the study and any subsequent decisions will depend on execution of those agreements and the engineering findings.
