PublicDomainPictures / Ken Kistler

Clean energy advocates have a message for Dominion Energy: the Atlantic Coast Pipeline isn’t worth it.

A coalition of nearly 80 local and nationwide groups launched a campaign calling on Dominion Energy to abandon their controversial project ahead of the energy company’s annual shareholder meeting on May 8.

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline would transport natural gas 600 miles from West Virginia, through Virginia, and into North Carolina. Dominion now claims that the construction will cost $8 billion, with operations beginning in early 2022. At present, the pipeline is less than 6% complete.

“New legislation and legal challenges have rendered the completion of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline unrealistic,” an ad taken out by the group in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Washington Post says. “It is time Dominion Energy walks away from the project for good… The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is no longer justified as Virginia transitions to a carbon-zero economy by 2045.”

Two separate petitions with thousands of signatures opposing the pipeline were also delivered to Dominion executives.

The proposed pipeline, which has also faced legal setbacks stemming from its disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, is at least $3.5 billion over budget. It’s also about two and a half years behind schedule and has been downgraded by creditors.