Welcome to VCN’s 2027 Common Agenda, the most comprehensive overview of Virginia’s environmental policy landscape. A collection of papers written by, vetted through, and voted on by VCN’s 170+ Network Partners, this briefing book explains the Commonwealth’s environmental policy background and potential opportunities for clean water & flood resilience, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, climate & energy, and good governance.
Our Common Agenda is published annually and widely circulated to policymakers, educational institutions, civic leaders, environmental advocates, and the public. No matter which of those categories you fit in, VCN looks forward to working with you on the topics in this book.
Our Common Agenda
CLEAN WATER & FLOOD RESILIENCE
- SAFEGUARDING WATER SUPPLIES
- RETHINKING WATER WITHDRAWALS
- IMPROVING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT & REDUCING RUNOFF
- RECONNECTING RIVERS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY & CONSERVATION
- ENFORCING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
- CLOSING THE WASTEWATER GAP
- REDUCING FLOOD RISK
- SUPPORTING WETLANDS PROTECTION & RESTORATION
- LIVING SHORELINES FOR COASTAL RESILIENCE
- STOPPING PFAS POLLUTION AT ITS SOURCE
- PFAS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
- PLASTIC POLLUTION & PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
- PLASTIC-TO-FUEL: A FALSE SOLUTION
LAND & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
- SETTING A STRONG LAND CONSERVATION GOAL
- HEALTHY SOILS, OUR COMMON WEALTH
- SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE
- EXPANDING ACCESS TO VIRGINIA’S OUTDOORS
- PROTECTING WORKING LANDS
- HISTORIC & CULTURAL RESOURCES
- CONNECTING HABITATS, PROTECTING COMMUNITIES
- RESILIENT AND HEALTHY FISHERIES
- RESTORING FRESHWATER MUSSEL POPULATIONS
- REVERSING VIRGINIA’S TREE CANOPY DECLINE
- PREVENTING HARMS FROM INVASIVE PLANTS
LAND USE & TRANSPORTATION
- DATA CENTER SITING & TRANSPARENCY
- LAND TAXATION IN VIRGINIA COALFIELDS
- TRANSFORMING TRANSPORTATION
- MODERNIZING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- TRANSFORMING PASSENGER RAIL
- ACCELERATING VIRGINIA’S TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC CARS
- HOUSING & SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
- BLAZING TRAILS FOR RECREATION & TRANSPORTATION
- ADVANCING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
CLIMATE & ENERGY
- CHARTING VIRGINIA’S CLEAN ENERGY PATH
- VIRGINIANS WIN WITH THE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE
- ADDRESSING DATA CENTER ENERGY DEMAND
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS ENERGY AFFORDABILITY
- RESPONSIBLE OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT
- ACCESSIBLE & AFFORDABLE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
- DEPLOYING LARGE-SCALE SOLAR WHILE PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES
- GETTING STORAGE ON THE GRID
- PREVENTING NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE
- PREVENTING PIPELINE HARMS
- RECLAIMING COAL MINES
GOOD GOVERNANCE
- VIRGINIA’S NATURAL RESOURCE AGENCIES UNDER STRESS
- EXPANDING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
- TRIBAL LEADERSHIP TO MEET VIRGINIA’S CLIMATE CHALLENGES
- PROTECTING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES
- CURBING MONOPOLY UTILITY POLITICAL INFLUENCE
- PJM REFORM
- UTILITY REFORM FOR AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY
