It's Earth Day, and this year we can celebrate it, not just observe it. In March Virginia joined the growing list of countries, states, and cities setting dates and plans for 100% renewable energy, and more.
Gov Northam signs clean energy bill in dramatic transition for Virginia amid dispute over customer costs — Utility Dive
UPDATE: April 13, 2020: Gov. Ralph Northam signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act on Monday, setting a goal for 100% clean energy by 2045.
It will happen long before then. What matters now is not the date proposed, but the removal of obstacles.
Dive Brief:
- The Virginia Clean Economy Act, which enjoyed wide support from environmental and clean energy groups, cleared both chambers and was sent to the governor's desk on Friday.
- The package presents a Democratic-led path to ambitious climate goals, and many clean energy advocates are lauding the effort as an example for other states. However, analysis from the State Corporation Commission has the leading utility in the state, Dominion Energy, collecting approximately $50.8 billion more from its customers due to the provisions.
SCC is, of course, made up of holdovers from previous Republican administrations.
- Advocates for the bill have criticized the state regulators' estimate, saying the calculations don't take into account the benefits of the energy efficiency, renewables, energy storage and other initiatives mandated through the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act requires the state's biggest utilities to deliver electricity from 100 percent renewable sources by 2045, sets a timeline for closing old fossil-fuel plants and mandates gains in energy efficiency.
The bill text, with legislative analysis.
Under the mandatory RPS [Renewable Portfolio Standard] Program, Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power are required to produce their electricity from 100 percent renewable sources by 2045 and 2050, respectively.Under the mandatory RPS Program, Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power are required to produce their electricity from 100 percent renewable sources by 2045 and 2050, respectively.
The measure requires the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt regulations to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from certain electricity generating units in the Commonwealth and authorizes the Board to establish, implement, and manage an auction program to sell allowances.
The measure also requires, by 2035, American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia to construct or acquire 400 and 2,700 megawatts of energy storage capacity, respectively.
Mar 6, 2020 — The Virginia Clean Economy Act cleared its last hurdle in the General Assembly this week when both the House of Delegates and the Senate agreed to a final version that reflected the more aggressive House timeline.
Ten things to know about the Clean Economy Act
- The VCEA has been crafted to achieve an energy policy goal — weaning Virginia off carbon — not to fundamentally reshape the state’s energy system.
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The House and Senate have passed two different versions of the bill that must be reconciled, with the House taking a more aggressive tack on reductions. [Done]
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Both versions of the VCEA clear the way for a new burst of solar, wind and energy storage construction by Dominion and Appalachian Power…
and more
The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) will transform Virginia's energy economy. The bill codifies a roadmap to a. 100% carbon-free electricity grid and ends ...
Wednesday, Apr 22, 2020 · 12:06:45 PM +00:00
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Mokurai
Thanks to Stonykill for sharing this over in Good News.
Virginia to Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have passed legislation that would allow Virginia to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program under which Virginia energy generation plants will steadily reduce carbon emissions. Under SB 1027 and HB 981, fifty percent of the funds generated by participation in RGGI—estimated at $100 million annually—would be used for energy efficiency programs to help low-income families. Forty-five percent would go to the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund to assist communities in addressing recurrent flooding. The remaining five percent would fund the costs of administering the program.