Welcome to Virginia Conservation Network’s review of Climate & Energy Policies from the 2022 General Assembly session. This session, VCN tracked over 200 pieces of legislation and took a position on 122 bills. This year, changes in state leadership kept the conservation community on the defensive as we fought to protect our clean energy and climate policy progress we have made over the last few years. VCN opposed 32 pieces of legislation, and thanks to the highly-coordinated, strong advocacy from our partners we are proud to see 29 of those opposed bills defeated. Despite the increased opposition compared to previous years, VCN and our partners continued to advocate and support the development of strong conservation policy. Of the 80 bills which VCN supported, 33 bills are headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law! To see the status of all of VCN’s tracked legislation and the policy outcomes, see our updated Bill Tracker.

VCN advocated for 24 pieces of climate & energy policy this session. Virginia’s climate progress was on the line, but the conservation community successfully held off attempts to roll back the Clean Economy Act, RGGI, and Clean Car Standards, defeating a majority of our opposed bills. 

It is a disservice to all Virginians that this session was spent defending sound policies rather than advancing our clean energy transition. While we expect to continue defending these policies, we will continue to advocate to strengthen our position in combating the effects of climate change that are already ravaging our state’s coastal communities, and generating extreme weather patterns that are wreaking havoc and racking up high dollar recovery and rebuilding costs in every corner of the Commonwealth. 

See all positions and the outcomes of these bills in our Climate & Energy Bill Tracker below.

DEFENDING CLIMATE & ENERGY POLICY

Defending RGGI

HB73 (Ware), HB118 (Freitas), HB892 (Kilgore), HB1301 (Kilgore), SB398 (McDougle), SB532 (Stuart)

RGGI revenue funds flood resiliency and energy efficiency projects throughout the state of Virginia. Image credit: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which Virginia joined through the 2020 General Assembly session, is a critical climate policy which reduces greenhouse gas emissions while providing funding for families to ensure flood resiliency and energy efficiency in homes.

With incredible advocacy by our Partners, we have successfully amended or defeated a long series of bills which would undermine Virginia’s participation in RGGI! Clean energy & climate policy helps all Virginians by creating jobs, infusing local economies with investment, cleaning up the environment and making the air we breathe healthier. By defending RGGI, Virginians can continue to benefit from the programs and policies put in place to address and protect our state from the worst effects of climate change.

However, the work is not done. There are a handful of bad amendments in the budget that would repeal or impact RGGI. Read more about RGGI and each of the bills in our Bill of the Day post.

Defending the Virginia Clean Economy Act

HB74 (Ware), HB894 (Kilgore), HB1326

Another series of bills set out to attach another key climate policy we passed last year: the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Our Partners once again successfully defended our climate policy; HB74 was defeated and the remaining bills were amended to no longer directly threaten the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

Decreasing our Reliance on Gas

HB558 (O’Quinn), SB565 (Surovell)

VCN opposed bills which prevent the Commonwealth from transitioning away from natural gas. The bills are flawed attempts to reduce methane emissions, but they lack consumer & environmental protections needed while empowering the gas industry to construct infrastructure with no required environmental benefit. Unfortunately, both bills passed. However, VCN and our Partners will continue to advocate for energy independence from the fossil fuel industry in order to lower our energy pollution and decrease the cost of energy for our residents.

SUPPORTING CLIMATE & ENERGY POLICY

Rooftop Solar at Hark Vineyards in Earlysville, VA. Image credit: Sarah Stryker

Solar-Ready Roofs

HB471 (Simonds), SB290 (Favola)

With support from the Sierra Club, VCN advocated for legislation to ensure that solar-ready roofs are part of the planning process of new public buildings – allowing buildings the option to add clean, cost-saving energy to their rooftops. We are disappointed to see both bills defeated. However, developing  on-site renewable energy in otherwise unused space will continue to be a priority climate & energy policy for the Virginia Conservation Network.

Ensuring Access to Essential Services

HB664 (Kory), HB1054 (Shin)

Virginia currently has among the weakest utility disconnection protections for customers of any state in the south and southeast, even during times of crisis or extreme weather events. Expanding utility disconnection protections for Virginians ensures life-saving access to those who need gas, electric, and water services the most.

With lead support from the Virginia Interfaith Power and Light, VCN advocated for legislation to protect Virginia utility customers by limiting the ability of electric, gas, and water utilities to disconnect customers from critical services during extreme weather events, during periods of crisis, or in the case of serious medical conditions. We are disappointed to see both bills defeated, but will continue to fight for access to essential services for Virginia.

More 2022 General Assembly Policy Reviews

See policy reviews for our other issues areas from the 2022 General Assembly session below: