Methane pipeline

Re “Residents of historically Black neighborhoods on Norfolk’s southside concerned about proposed floodwall project” (March 15): I was not surprised to read the above article. Too often, the concerns of our Black residents are overlooked when it comes to new infrastructure projects. The same thing is happening — but far, far worse — with the “Virginia Reliability Project,” which is more of a “Virginia Ripoff Project.”

The VRP is a 49-mile pipeline project between central and southeast Virginia to dig up the pipe and replace it with one that would quadruple its capacity to send unsafe, planet-warming methane gas through our localities. “Within 1 mile of the pipeline’s route, more than half the population are communities of color and nearly half the population live below the poverty line,” according to the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Thirteen public schools and one hospital are within 1.5 miles or less of the route, including Hillpoint Elementary in Suffolk, just 300 feet from the pipeline’s path,” the organization reported.

Since when is it OK to put our children at risk for a pipeline we don’t need? Not only do we not need it, but this pipeline would worsen our climate and air quality. Black and brown communities have long been the dumping ground for toxic, polluting fossil fuel infrastructure, and it’s far past time to change that dynamic. I hope our regulators reject the “Virginia Ripoff Project” as soon as possible. Learn more at chesapeakeclimate.org.

— Carolyn White, Suffolk