Cumberland residents urge delay, transparency and protection of farmland ahead of Dominion hearing

During the general citizens’ comment period, several Cumberland residents raised objections to proceeding with the Dominion proposal without fuller public disclosure.

Robert Charles (identified by address) said the county received Dominion’s fiscal analysis only in redacted form and asked how the commission could rely on information that hides key inputs. He pointed to a claim in Dominion’s materials of "$500,000,000 over 36 years" and expressed concern that supporting data were redacted from public view.

Other residents raised safety and land-use concerns. Kevin Trimmer said he feared explosive hazards from large volumes of fuel stored on-site; Angela Jeffries, whose family has lived on local property for centuries, said she and neighbors feel like a "dumping ground" for large projects. Betty Myers and Al Lowe questioned whether promised revenues materialize and urged the commission to study health and environmental costs carefully.

Katie Hoffman formally asked the commission to tell Dominion to delay the proposal to allow "more public input" and to ensure the process respects the county’s agricultural and rural-residential designations. Several speakers asked for clearer answers about how the plant would get water and natural gas, who would pay for infrastructure, and whether approval would open the county to broader industrialization.

Commissioners acknowledged the comments and said staff negotiates permit conditions with legal counsel; no formal decision on the Dominion application was made in the meeting.