Study finds health harms from Vantage VA2 gas turbines

The Piedmont Environmental Council published an independent study by EmPower Analytics Group warning that the Vantage VA2 data center’s eight on-site natural gas turbines could cause substantial health damages and premature deaths.

• PEC commissioned EmPower Analytics Group and found that when operating at maximum permitted emissionsVantage VA2’s eight gas turbines could cause $265 million–$495 million in health-related damages and 17–33 additional premature deaths over the next five years, with emissions reaching more than 2.5 million people across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. PEC notes the study models cumulative impacts and stands by its methodology despite a counter-report from DEQ.
• Background and regulatory context: Utilities (notably Dominion Energy) face overwhelming data-center load requests totaling over 70 GW, and Dominion presented a process that could take up to 25 years for large-load customers to be served. The Vantage site was permitted via a minor source air permit (no public hearing), prompting PEC to recommend: reject on-site gas power near homes/schools; require additional approvals for behind-the-meter gas plants; and treat on-site turbines as standalone electricity-generating facilities requiring thorough public-health review.