Mount Vernon, Dominion To Find New Compressor Station Spot

MOUNT VERNON, VA—The reported threat to George Washington's view is no more. Dominion Energy and Mount Vernon announced they will find a new location for the compressor station originally set to go three miles across the river from the estate.

"We are working with Mount Vernon to evaluate alternatives to our current plans for Charles compressor station and to resolve the matter amicably," said Dominion spokesperson Karl Neddenien in an emailed statement to Patch.

Mount Vernon stated on its "Save the View" campaign page more information will be shared as the two parties work toward a solution.

Mount Vernon, the privately run estate preserving George Washington's home on the Potomac River, had launched its campaign to move the compressor station and discourage future industrial development across from the estate. The station would have been behind Piscataway National Park on the Maryland side across the Potomac River from Mount Vernon.

Leadership of Mount Vernon had claimed the stacks or emissions would be seen from the estate. Dominion said the stacks would have been 50 feet—not visible above the trees as demonstrated by a balloon floating test.

The decision comes after Mount Vernon was named a 2018 endangered place by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A spot on the list has proven to be a tool for rallying public support to save historic places. Out of the nearly 300 places have been on the list over 31 years, fewer than five percent of the sites have been lost.

The station would have been on land Dominion already owns and allowed Washington Gas Light to send natural gas to Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland homes and the rest to the future Panda Mattawoman Energy Project. It is part of Dominion's is Eastern Market Access Project.

Image via Visit Alexandria