Special Issue: LynnRMitchell.com writers, guests discuss Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Today at LynnRMitchell.com, we are looking at the Atlantic Coast Pipeline issue that has stirred opinions both for and against in Augusta County and elsewhere. Posts from guest writers and regular contributors include Augusta County supervisors, citizens, information from Dominion, and an editorial cartoon.

Supervisor Tracy Pyles, Supervisor David Karaffa, former Supervisor Nancy Sorrells, well-known local farmer Joel Salatin, political cartoon from Kurt Michael, and more.

Here is the list of articles in today’s Special Pipeline Issue.... (See links to all authors here)

What if Dominion Virginia Power ran high speed internet with Atlantic Coast Pipeline?

What if the proposed natural gas pipeline running through Augusta County and beyond had fiber optics buried along with.... (Read more here)

Augusta County residents organize against pipeline

By David Karaffa
Supervisor, Beverley Manor District, Augusta County

Saturday, September 6th, saw a great number of Augusta County residents at the Verona Government Center. The topic of discussion was the Dominion Virginia Power Natural Gas Pipeline that ... (continue reading here)

Power begins returning to Fishersville, Stuarts Draft

As power began returning to residents in Fishersville and Stuarts Draft, Dominion Virginia Power updated information:

NEW UPDATE TO SHARE: Phased power restoration has begun. We anticipate having all services restored by 4 p.m. Thanks, again, for your patience while our crews work to get everyone's power back on.

Remember to stay safe: If street lights are out, treat them as four-way stops. Stay layered in the cold temperatures and check on family and neighbors to make sure everyone's OK. Bring those pets inside, too.

Dominion Virginia Power provides updated info for those without power

As Dominion Virginia Power worked to restore power to thousands of customers in Waynesboro, Fishersville, Stuarts Draft, Crimora, Greenville, and other locations throughout the Commonwealth, they provided updated information:

12:25 p.m. The latest update from Dominion Virginia Power:

UPDATE: Our crews are working hard to get everyone restored as quickly and safely as possible. Because of the cold, we will begin restoring your power in phases to ease load on the system. You can also help! Unplug appliances and turn off lights so as power gets restored, no additional outages will occur. We always recommend you leave on one light, so you will know when your power's back.

Be safe in these cold temps: Dress in layers – multiple lightweight layers will help keep you warmer than one bulky layer. Please check on any elderly family members or neighbors. Bring outdoor pets inside, if you can.

Thanks and stay safe!

Earlier from Dominion Virginia Power:

11:30 a.m. We have experienced an equipment failure at a transmission substation near #Waynesboro, resulting in power outages to 19,000 Dominion Virginia Power customers and 13,000 coop customers.

To help restore power, we're asking all customers without power to leave on one light and turn off all other lights and major appliances, including heat pumps.

This will help us restore power and prevent customers from experiencing any additional outages when we begin restoring power.

We expect it will be early afternoon before power begins being restored. Thanks to everyone for your patience!

Stay warm out there.

Thank you, Dominion Virginia Power

Wise County Chamber of Commerce thanks power company

A letter to the editor in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch from the Wise County Chamber of Commerce said it all. Questions about carbon emissions, air quality, and Dominion Virginia Power's impact on the Wise area environment from their new coal-powered plant have been properly answered. The new power plant will not only provide for the energy needs of the area but also provide for the financial needs of the local economy.

Dominion Virginia Power has applied, complied, and been licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the Virginia Air Board, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

While Dominion Power has worked to provide clean energy to fuel homes and businesses, radical environmentalists have continued with their negative 1960s "no we can't" attitude while avoiding how they would provide power for the future. They need to get their heads out of the sand and realize that energy companies have moved ahead with 21st century technology while many environmentalists have remained "stuck in the future," 1960s style with threats of constant lawsuits to shut down the project.

As the Chamber of Commerce wrote:

Efforts to delay the project could result in energy shortages in the commonwealth in the future and lead to an increase in construction costs."

Here's hoping the envionmentalists will mind their own business and leave Wise County alone ... but I'm not betting on it.