Conservation Policy Updates: Week 2 of General Assembly
Bills that Aim to Weaken Virginia’s 100% Clean Energy Policy
Embracing sustainable living with a family’s affordable, net-zero energy house. Photo by Kenneth Kelly.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) is transitioning Virginia’s energy mix to a low-cost, reliable, carbon-free grid by 2050. Passed in 2020, the policy both reduces the power sector’s extensive pollution burden and spurs innovation and economic growth. Once fully implemented, the VCEA will create more than 13,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.
This transformational shift is critical and necessary for public health, the environment, and the economy.
Clean Energy Policy Repeal Bills
Threat Level: High. A series of bills attempt to roll back our climate progress by either weakening the VCEA itself or increasing Virginia’s dependence on fossil fuels:
(Del. Ware) Exempts “energy-intensive trade-exposed” (EITE) industries from paying for the transition to a clean energy economy.
(Sen. Hackworth) Classifies coal mine methane as renewable energy. Companion to HB1643.
(Del. O’Quinn) Prevents building electrification in the Commonwealth, preventing all public entities from moving away from natural gas, and is part of a nationwide strategy supported by the American Gas Association. It undermines Virginia’s transition to a clean energy economy and future. Virginia rejected this policy in 2022, and we should continue to do so this session.
(Del. O’Quinn) Removes the requirement to retire biomass-fired facilities by December 31, 2028, and delays retirement requirements for fossil fuel power plants. Companion to SB1231.
(Sen. Lewis) Removes the requirement to retire biomass-fired facilities by December 31, 2028, and delays retirement requirements for fossil fuel power plants. Companion to HB2026.
(Del. Wilt) Strengthens utilities’ ability to employ fossil fuel generators beyond anticipated retirement dates, forces constant re-litigation about if current generators should remain online (frustrating essential energy planning processes), and advances false narrative about unreliability of clean energy resources. Companion to SB1125.
(Sen. Hackworth) Strengthens utilities’ ability to employ fossil fuel generators beyond anticipated retirement dates, forces constant re-litigation about if current generators should remain online (frustrating essential energy planning processes), and advances false narrative about unreliability of clean energy resources. Companion to HB21360.
(Del. Byron) Defines advanced nuclear technology, a.k.a. Small modular reactors (SMRs), as renewable energy.
(Del. Kilgore) Defines hydrogen derived from fossil fuels and nuclear power as renewable energy.
Keeping Streets Safe for People Who Walk & Bike
Bicyclist on the Capital Trail. Photo by Angela Hollowell.
People who walk and bike are facing all-time high fatalities, up 34% this year statewide for pedestrians, even though most are following all appropriate safety measures. Making walking and biking safer and more accessible is good for our communities and the environment.
We oppose re-enacting “jaywalking” citations because it is not an effective method to improve traffic enforcement and unfairly blames people who walk and bike for their own deaths.
Walking & Biking Bills
Bike Walk RVA and the Virginia Bicycling Federation took the lead in supporting legislation that reduces transportation fatalities for those who choose to walk and bike. These policies include:
(Del. Sullivan) Decreases conflict between bicyclists and pedestrians by discouraging sharing the sidewalk, and Increases safety for bicyclists getting a head start before drivers. Leading Pedestrian Intervals have shown up to 60% safety improvement for pedestrians, and they are increasingly installed by VDOT and localities. Clarifies, simplifies, and legalizes riding in two-way bike lanes that only have pedestrian signalization, such as Franklin St. in Downtown Richmond Companion to SB847.
(Sen. Favola) Decreases conflict between bicyclists and pedestrians by discouraging sharing the sidewalk, and increases safety for bicyclists by getting a head start before drivers. Leading Pedestrian Intervals have shown up to 60% safety improvement for pedestrians, and they are increasingly installed by VDOT and localities. Clarifies, simplifies, and legalizes riding in two-way bike lanes that only have pedestrian signalization, such as Franklin St. Companion to HB1589.
(Del. Carr) Implements “The Safety Stop,” allowing bicyclists to yield at stop signs (reduces crashes at intersections by 23%), and encouraging bicycling as important to reducing transportation-generated greenhouse gasses. Companion to SB1293.
(Sen. Deeds) Implements “The Safety Stop,” allowing bicyclists to yield at stop signs (reduces crashes at intersections by 23%), and encouraging bicycling as important to reducing transportation-generated greenhouse gasses. Companion to HB1773.
(Del. Carr) Allows cities to lower speed limits by area without signing every street. Fiscally responsible and quick to implement pedestrian safety measures. Companion to HB1939.
(Del. Plum) Allows localities to reduce speed limits on applicable VDOT roads below 25. Companion to HB1785.
(Del. Campbell) Recriminalizes jaywalking. Reversing this previously removed legislation will abandon gains for equitable traffic enforcement and unfairly blames pedestrians for their own deaths. Companion to HB1703, HB1445, SB875, and SB1010.
(Del. Durant) Recriminalizes jaywalking. Companion to HB1380, HB1445, SB875, and SB1010.
(Del. Wyatt) Recriminalizes jaywalking. Companion to HB1380, HB1703, SB875, and SB1010.
(Sen. McDougle) Recriminalizes jaywalking. Companion to HB1380, HB1703, HB1445, and SB1010.
(Sen. DeSteph) Recriminalizes jaywalking. Companion to HB1380, HB1703, HB1445, and SB875.
Keeping dangerous chemicals out of our drinking water, air, food, children’s toys, and ultimately bodies
Lowering exposure and concentration of PAHs & PFAS through legislation is critical to protect our drinking water, soil & crops, livestock, and public health. Photo by Angela Hollowell.
The alphabet soup of forever chemicals are headed to legislators’ desks this session:
- PAHs are cancer-causing chemicals, and human exposure can come through breathing in, ingesting, or absorbing through the skin. PAHs are commonly found in pavement sealants, such as in driveways.
- PFAS, aka “forever chemicals,” are toxic, bioaccumulative, and extremely persistent man-made chemicals.
Keeping PAH and PFAS Out of Our Land Bills
Threat Level: High. Exposure to these chemicals lowers fertility, raises cholesterol levels, and increases the risk of cancer. The Virginia Sierra Club and James River Association are leading support for a series of bills that would:
(Del. Subramanyam) Prohibits the sale or manufacturing of children’s products containing PFAS. The bill exempts products that are used or secondhand.
(Del. Rasoul) Requires prompt testing for PFAS in state waters after the discharge of certain toxic agents and mandatory testing in waste steams involving PFAS-related products.
(Del. Tran) Allows localities to prohibit the use of pavement containing PAHs.
Reviewing Public Utilities’ Rates—But Not Political Campaign Contributions
Photo credit: Lucas Manweiler
Last week we gave you an update on the suite of bills aimed at lowering consumer bills and reigning in utility influence. Here are this week’s updates on where those bills stand:
- The Good: The Affordable Energy Act (HB1604 / SB1321) is bipartisan legislation allowing the utility companies’ electricity rates to be adjusted when customers are being overcharged, and could be heard by committees as soon as next week.
- The Bad: The bill prohibiting public utility monopolies from contributing to political campaigns (SB804) was – once again – defeated by the Senate Privileges & Elections Committee.
- The Ugly: The rate bill being written by Dominion for Dominion’s stakeholders (HB1770 / SB1265) made it through the Senate sub-committee.
Public Utility Bills
(Del. Ware) Restores the State Corporation Commission’s authority to direct Virginia’s investor-owned electric monopolies (i.e. Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company) to lower rates when they overcharge customers in exchange for allowing these companies to have monopolies in their service territories. Companion to SB1321.
(Sen. McClellan) Restores the State Corporation Commission’s authority to direct Virginia’s investor-owned electric monopolies (i.e. Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company) to lower rates when they overcharge customers in exchange for allowing these companies to have monopolies in their service territories. Companion to HB1604.
(Del. Wilt) Lowers Virginians’ electricity bills by allowing new utility projects to be paid for with utility companies’ customer overcharges instead of adding more Rate Adjustment Clauses (RACs)/riders to customer bills. RACs/riders have accounted for 66% of bill increases. Companion to SB1417.
Lowers Virginians’ electricity bills by allowing new utility projects to be paid for with utility companies’ customer overcharges instead of adding more Rate Adjustment Clauses (RACs)/riders to customer bills. RACs/riders have accounted for 66% of bill increases. (Sen. Suetterlein) Companion to HB2267.
(Sen. Petersen) Prohibits public utility monopolies in Virginia from contributing to the political campaigns and committees of the government officials who are tasked with regulating them.
(Del. Kilgore) Undermines the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA)’s mandate to transition to a low-cost, reliable, carbon-free grid; prevents the State Corporation Commission (SCC) from fairly regulating monopoly profit margins; and destroys customer choice in power supply. Companion to SB1265.
(Sen. Saslaw) Undermines the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA)’s mandate to transition to a low-cost, reliable, carbon-free grid; prevents the State Corporation Commission (SCC) from fairly regulating monopoly profit margins; and destroys customer choice in power supply. Companion to HB1770.
(Del O’Quinn) For Appalachian Power Company: Removes regulation of utility costs, pushes back frequency of rate reviews for electric generation and distribution services, and exempts APCo from filing a triennial Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Companion to SB1075.
(Sen. Ruff) For Appalachian Power Company: Removes regulation of utility costs, pushes back frequency of rate reviews for electric generation and distribution services, and exempts APCo from filing a triennial Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Companion to HB1777.
Big Win! Clean Car Standards Repeal Blocked by Senate Committee
Photo provided by Drive Electric RVA.
All 5 of the Senate Bills to repeal the Clean Car Standards were defeated by the Senate Agricultural Committee! However, the House bills are still being considered.
Clean Car Standards Repeal Bills
(Del. Fowler & McGuire) Repeals the State Air Pollution Control Board’s authority to implement low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards for vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. Companion to SB785.
(Del. Wilt) The bill prohibits the Board from adopting or enforcing any model year standards related to control of emissions from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines.
See Our Bill Tracker
To see all of the bills we’ve taken a stance on for this year’s General Assembly and their status, you can check our Bill Tracker.
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See Other Policy Updates from the General Assembly
Bill of the Day: RGGI Budget Battle
Virginia must rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and is poised to do so through a proposed budget amendment.
Bill of the Day: Paying for Small-Scale Nuclear Reactors
Small-scale nuclear reactors aka "SMRs" are one of the most expensive power projects to build, and several bills this session would allow utilities to push cost risk onto ratepayers.
Bill of the Day: Better Bus Stops
Virginia must continue to invest in transportation infrastructure to provide Virginians with a comfortable, convenient, and safe access to public transit.
Bill of the Day: Statewide Flood Planning
Virginia needs additional capacity to successfully leverage and distribute flood resilience funds to reduce flood risk throughout the state.
Bill of the Day: Advancing the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund
VCN advocates for the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund, securing funding for wildlife corridor and crossing projects, fostering improved habitat connectivity and ensuring motorist safety.
Bill of the Day: Mitigating the Impact of Data Centers’ Explosive Growth
VCN advocates regulating data center growth to assess their impact on natural resources, energy consumption, and public health before development.
Bill of the Day: Addressing Virginia’s Plastics Crisis
VCN is supporting efforts to address Virginia's plastics crisis, improving our understanding of the impact of plastic pollution on our environment and health.
Bill of the Day: Investing in the SAVE Act
VCN is supporting efforts to strengthen energy efficiency across the Commonwealth through the SAVE Act.
Bill of the Day: Simple Solutions for Safer Streets
VCN is supporting efforts to support pedestrian and bicyclist safety, further reducing fatalities on Virginia's roads.
Bill of the Day: Funding Virginia’s Great Outdoors
VCN is supporting efforts to increase conservation and outdoor recreation funding.