Roanoke Gas customers are concerned about an almost 11% rate hike.
Customers believe that Roanoke’s Gas investment in the Mountain Valley Pipeline has urged people to participate in a planned protest at 1 P.M. outside of Franklin Plaza today.
Since customers are supposed to wait until June to register their complaints with the SCC, this protest will give them the opportunity to express how they feel about the fossil fuel industry.
Customers want Roanoke Gas to stop investing in unneeded infrastructure projects by divesting from the banks they believe funded this new year hike.
Some customers are also boycotting local banks, they claim that banks are providing direct loans to the Mountain Valley Pipeline through Roanoke-based RGC Midstream.
Preserve Salem Coordinator Cynthia Munley says she sees the increase as wasteful.
“So we don’t want to pay for it. We don’t think we need this project, the gas isn’t needed, we are already well-supplied with gas for a good 20 years,” she said.