Dominion Energy : Intensifying our Focus on Environmental, Social Justice Concerns

From developing the biggest offshore wind farm in the Americas to providing tens of millions of dollars for minority education, Dominion Energy is transforming itself, its industry, and the communities it serves for the greater good. The details are laid out in the company's newly released Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report.

The report reviews the company's performance and commitments in areas of interest to stakeholders, from safety and environmental management to diversity and employee benefits.

'We live in a period of remarkable industrial, environmental, and social change,' said Thomas F. Farrell, II, executive chairman. 'Our company is not only accepting that change, we are embracing it and leading the way.'

The report sets forth the company's achievements and expectations in key areas. For example, in the past seven years the company has grown its solar investment from zero megawatts to the third-largest portfolio among utility holding companies. It has proposed building the biggest offshore wind farm in the Americas, it has formed the largest agricultural waste-to-energy partnership in the country, and it is committed to an estimated $55 billion in net zero-supportive capital through 2035, including investments in renewable energy, energy storage, and gas distribution line replacements.

Those developments build on the company's strong environmental record, which includes cutting carbon emissions 57 percent since 2005 and methane emissions 25 percent since 2010. Dominion Energy intends to continue lowering emissions until it achieves net zero emissions by 2050.

The company has been equally ambitious in its support for communities, social justice, and racial equity.

In 2019, Dominion Energy contributed $48.5 million to social betterment through energy assistance as well as grants to nonprofits serving human needs, education, the arts, cultural institutions (including $2.5 million for the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C.), and more.

It has committed $35 million over the next six years in support of historically black colleges and universities and scholarships for underrepresented minority students, and it has increased spending with diverse suppliers by more than 90 percent since 2013.

Already ranked among the best employers for women, diversity, and veterans, Dominion Energy raised its diverse hiring rate by 18 percentage points (from 27 percent to 45 percent) from 2013-2019.

'This report demonstrates that we are not just a leader in providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy to our customers,' said Robert M. Blue, president and chief executive officer. 'We are leading the way in environmental and social responsibility as well.'