Updates on VCN Priorities
Restoring the regulatory power of the SCC and saving ratepayers billions (HB1132). Since 2015, Dominion Energy has overcharged its Virginia customers by more than $1.3 billion and Virginians now pay the 7th highest residential energy bills in the nation. High bills are harming Virginia’s businesses and families – according to the Virginia Poverty Law Center, 75% of Virginia households have an unaffordable energy burden. Next year, Dominion is scheduled to have its first rate case since 2015, which will be the State Corporation Commission (SCC)’s first and only opportunity to examine Dominion’s overcharges during the “rate freeze” and set its rates at a level that is fair to both the utility and its ratepayers moving forward. This rate case is extremely important, but recent laws have severely curtailed the SCC’s power to ensure that rates are fair and to compel Dominion to lower rates or issue refunds if it is found to be overcharging customers. This bill is the last chance for the General Assembly to restore the SCC to its proper, historic regulatory authority before the 2021 rate case.
ACTION: SUPPORT HB1132.
The wheels on the (electric) bus go round and round (SB988 and HB1140). Several bills in the legislature intend to transition the Commonwealth’s school bus fleet from diesel to electric. Currently, Virginia has 17,000 school buses and studies have shown the level of diesel exhaust within a school bus can reach six times the levels found outside the bus. Electrifying the fleet would result in avoiding more than 144,000 tons of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of taking 27,851 cars off the road. Great work by Environment Virginia on this effort.
ACTION: SUPPORT SB988, HB1140, HB585, and SJ32/HJ131.
Bi-partisan support to oppose offshore drilling (SB795). Sen. Lewis’ bill removes outdated language that expresses Virginia’s support of offshore drilling. The bill passed the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee with a bi-partisan vote, 11-3. Offshore drilling is a threat to tourism, seafood production, national security, and is opposed by 25 Virginia localities (the Commonwealth has also requested its removal from the federal Oil and Gas Leasing Program). We’ll be keeping an eye on HB706 (SB795‘s companion), SJ56, and HJ61 as they progress through committee. Huge props to the offshore drilling workgroup who has been building public support for this for years.
ACTION: SUPPORT SB795, HB706, SB795, SJ56, HJ61, HB643, HB644, and HB646.
Codifying the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice (HB1042/SB883). In 2017, Gov. McAuliffe created Virginia’s first advisory council for environmental justice with Executive Order 73. However, the creation of councils through executive order means they must be reestablished under each administration. HB1042/SB883 seeks to codify the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice, ensuring consistency and funding for the council to provide recommendations with the input from environmental justice communities. Funding for the council will also allow for communication with the public, with a focus on low-income communities and communities of color. Funds can be used to cover the costs associated with accessible meeting spaces, travel assistance, expert consultation, independent studies/analyses, staff/facilitator time, and grants to communities to identify their environmental justice concerns and priorities. Lots of great work went into this, including VCN board member Kendyl Crawford with Virginia Interfaith Power and Light.
ACTION: SUPPORT HB1042/SB883.
Bill Positions
Virginia Conservation Network publishes bill positions every week. These positions have been voted on by our Legislative Committee, comprised of leading environmental organizations in the state, and our board of directors. They are intended to reflect the positions of the broader conservation community and are updated every Friday.
To view this table online with talking points, visit vcnva.org/bill-tracker.