Twelve political activists arrested yesterday for a protest that blockaded the entrance to Dominion Resources corporate headquarters will face trial July 29 in Richmond General District Court.

All could face time in jail -- up to 12 months each for obstruction of justice and up to six months each for impeding a rescue vehicle -- as well as potential fines of $2,500 and $1,000 on the respective charges.

The activists, representing Blue Ridge Earth First!, also may face a demand from the city for restitution to cover the cost of police, fire and rescue personnel at the protest.

"I have no doubt that the city will be asking to recover the money, whether by criminal penalties or civil action remains to be seen," Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring said today.

The protest blocked Tredegar Street at Dominion's gate beneath the Lee Bridge and caused a traffic jam at morning rush hour that reached to Powhite Parkway.

Herring said he would seek jail time for the protesters but acknowledged the hazard of providing a further political platform. "There has to be a proper balance between the constitutional rights of expression on one hand, and public order and property on the other," he said.

All but one of the "Tredegar 12" were appointed lawyers by General District Judge Thomas O. Jones. One, 22-year-old Marley Green of Harrisonburg, did not qualify for a court-appointed lawyer because of his income.

Green was the most visible player in yesterday's protest. He dangled in a climber's harness from the pedestrian footbridge to Belle Isle for more than two hours, while four other protesters blocked the street with their hands locked into containers of hardened cement.

Earth First! spokeswoman Hannah Morgan said today that an attorney has offered to represent Green without charge. Morgan also called on the city to drop charges against protesters who were arrested in a support role, after obeying police orders to move out of the roadway.

The protest was aimed primarily at Dominion Virginia Power's plans to build a 585-megawatt coal-fired plant in Wise County. The utility announced late yesterday that it has begun construction of the plant, after securing state air pollution permits.

Thomas E. Farrell II, Dominion chairman and chief executive officer, also said yesterday that the utility will attempt to build a third nuclear reactor at its North Anna power plant in Louisa County. The Earth First! protest also targeted Virginia Power's plans for expanding North Anna.

"We didn't meant to cause any harm to the city," Green said in statement released by Morgan. "We felt the action was a necessary step that had to take place. Contact Michael Martz at (804) 649-6964 or mmartz@timesdispatch.com.