The Virginia Clean Economy Act (HB 1526 and SB 851) was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam in 2020. The bill establishes a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS), which mandates that the two utilities in the state, Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Electric Power, produce 100 percent renewable electricity by 2045 and 2050, respectively.[1] It also sets energy efficiency standards. Utilities that fail to comply with the RPS will pay into a fund that, in-part, goes toward training historically disadvantaged communities for employment in the clean energy sector.[1] As it was originally written, the bill would have included joining RGGI (the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) of Northeastern US states, but that provision was pulled out and passed in a later bill.[2]
The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) was introduced to the VA State House by Representative Rip Sullivan[1] and the VA State Senate by Senator Jennifer McClellan.[3] Altogether, the VCEA had 31 patrons in the House and Senate, combined. At the time of the bill's passing, Virginia was one of 15 states to have a Democratic majority in the state House, Senate, and Governorship. It ultimately passed with 53-Y, 45-N, and 1-A in the House and 22-Y to 18-N in the Senate.
Environmental Coalitionedit
Virginia is a state physically threatened by climate change in its eastern coast, and economically threatened by climate action in its western mountains. Gaining support from a wide range of interests therefore required diverse engagement strategies. The Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Advanced Energy Economy, Southern Environmental Law Center, and other environmental organizations came together as a coalition to gain grassroots support as well as technically write the bill. In early 2020, partner organizations organized a lobby day, and a report commissioned by Advanced Energy Economy informed the structure of the bill.[4]
Opinions on the Billedit
There is some opposition to the bill from both the political Right and Left. There is a concern that the bill will increase rate-payer electricity prices, in large part due to a last-minute bill change, which raised the price of Dominion’s offshore wind project—a price that will fall on rate payers.[5] A report from Advanced Energy Economy, however, estimated that over the course of the bill’s life, Virginia families will actually gain $3,500 and that several thousand jobs will be netted.[4]
Politicsedit
Parts of the state are threatened by sea level rise and environmental justice concerns, yet it also has strong ties to the fossil fuel industry. Passing the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) in this purple state is a model for making nation-wide climate legislation. In the years before the bill passed, several climate activism organizations built grassroots support for clean energy such that when the legislative bodies and governorship were held by Democrats in 2020, the grassroots base could quickly mobilize to pass a renewable energy standard. It was the nation's first legally binding, 100% renewable energy standard passed by any state,[6] but the 2021 election of Republican Glenn Youngkin as Virginia's governor and the return of the state House of Delegates to the Republican Party has raised questions for the bill's longevity.[7] Given that the state's senate remains in Democratic control, market forces are pushing for renewable development, and strong regulations protect the bill, there is little the governor-elect will be able to do to derail the clean energy progress in the state.[6] Even still, the bill and clean energy development in Virginia will be important to watch for clues about national clean energy regulation in the future.
^ abGreenLink Group (2019). "Virginia' Energy Transition: Charting the Benefits & Tradeoffs of Virginia's Transition to a 100% Clean Grid" (PDF).
^Play, Power. "Inside the Utility Company Lobbying Blitz That Will Hike Electric Bills". ProPublica. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
^ ab"Va. GOP targets clean energy law, but rollback options are limited". Energy News Network. 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
^"Now that Republicans control the House of Delegates, will the Clean Economy Act be revisited?". WVTF. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
May 04, 2024
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This article may be written from a fan s point of view rather than a neutral point of view Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality and to make it neutral in tone November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message The Virginia Clean Economy Act HB 1526 and SB 851 was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam in 2020 The bill establishes a renewable energy portfolio standard RPS which mandates that the two utilities in the state Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Electric Power produce 100 percent renewable electricity by 2045 and 2050 respectively 1 It also sets energy efficiency standards Utilities that fail to comply with the RPS will pay into a fund that in part goes toward training historically disadvantaged communities for employment in the clean energy sector 1 As it was originally written the bill would have included joining RGGI the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative of Northeastern US states but that provision was pulled out and passed in a later bill 2 Contents 1 Passing the Bill 1 1 Environmental Coalition 1 2 Opinions on the Bill 2 Politics 3 ReferencesPassing the Bill editThe Virginia Clean Economy Act VCEA was introduced to the VA State House by Representative Rip Sullivan 1 and the VA State Senate by Senator Jennifer McClellan 3 Altogether the VCEA had 31 patrons in the House and Senate combined At the time of the bill s passing Virginia was one of 15 states to have a Democratic majority in the state House Senate and Governorship It ultimately passed with 53 Y 45 N and 1 A in the House and 22 Y to 18 N in the Senate Environmental Coalition edit Virginia is a state physically threatened by climate change in its eastern coast and economically threatened by climate action in its western mountains Gaining support from a wide range of interests therefore required diverse engagement strategies The Sierra Club Appalachian Voices Chesapeake Climate Action Network Advanced Energy Economy Southern Environmental Law Center and other environmental organizations came together as a coalition to gain grassroots support as well as technically write the bill In early 2020 partner organizations organized a lobby day and a report commissioned by Advanced Energy Economy informed the structure of the bill 4 Opinions on the Bill edit There is some opposition to the bill from both the political Right and Left There is a concern that the bill will increase rate payer electricity prices in large part due to a last minute bill change which raised the price of Dominion s offshore wind project a price that will fall on rate payers 5 A report from Advanced Energy Economy however estimated that over the course of the bill s life Virginia families will actually gain 3 500 and that several thousand jobs will be netted 4 Politics editParts of the state are threatened by sea level rise and environmental justice concerns yet it also has strong ties to the fossil fuel industry Passing the Virginia Clean Economy Act VCEA in this purple state is a model for making nation wide climate legislation In the years before the bill passed several climate activism organizations built grassroots support for clean energy such that when the legislative bodies and governorship were held by Democrats in 2020 the grassroots base could quickly mobilize to pass a renewable energy standard It was the nation s first legally binding 100 renewable energy standard passed by any state 6 but the 2021 election of Republican Glenn Youngkin as Virginia s governor and the return of the state House of Delegates to the Republican Party has raised questions for the bill s longevity 7 Given that the state s senate remains in Democratic control market forces are pushing for renewable development and strong regulations protect the bill there is little the governor elect will be able to do to derail the clean energy progress in the state 6 Even still the bill and clean energy development in Virginia will be important to watch for clues about national clean energy regulation in the future References edit a b c LIS gt Bill Tracking gt HB1526 gt 2020 session lis virginia gov Retrieved 2021 10 19 Legislative Information System lis virginia gov Retrieved 2021 10 19 LIS gt Bill Tracking gt SB851 gt 2020 session lis virginia gov Retrieved 2021 10 19 a b GreenLink Group 2019 Virginia Energy Transition Charting the Benefits amp Tradeoffs of Virginia s Transition to a 100 Clean Grid PDF Play Power Inside the Utility Company Lobbying Blitz That Will Hike Electric Bills ProPublica Retrieved 2021 10 19 a b Va GOP targets clean energy law but rollback options are limited Energy News Network 2021 11 09 Retrieved 2021 11 22 Now that Republicans control the House of Delegates will the Clean Economy Act be revisited WVTF 2021 11 16 Retrieved 2021 11 22 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Virginia Clean Economy Act amp oldid 1218990599, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
