A Coal State Looks Towards 100% Renewable Energy

You read that right. Virginia, neighbor to West Virginia’s coal controlled counties and the land of “Old Dominion,” has stepped on board the clean energy train and is aiming to ride it all the way to 100% clean, renewable energy. And fast.

After taking home decisive Democratic victories in the 2017 November elections, with Ralph Northam and a narrow House tie breaker, Virginia has emerged as a new avenue for progressive hope in the U.S.

And so - There is finally a chance to give solar, wind and other clean energies a window into the oldest continuous law-making body in the U.S.

Delegate Sam Rasoul is leading the way to stop all new pipeline projects and transition to 100% renewable energy in Virginia by 2035 with House Bill 1490. TWEET

Rasoul introduced his Off Fossil Fuels bill in a committee hearing, making it the first state-level bill calling for 100% clean energy by 2035 to ever be heard in the United States. 

Of course, the bill didn’t land without opposition. Coal, oil, and gas industry lobbyists lined the hearing, scoffing at the idea of renewable energy in Virginia.

But activists from across the state, as well as solar energy spokespeople, showed widespread and firm support for a clean energy economy.

Now, it’s even more important for us to harness this support to fight dirty energy. 

We’re looking forward and pushing for green innovation, but we also need to keep playing defense.

A utility regulation bill promoted by Dominion Energy has now passed both Chambers of the Virginia General Assembly.

Even though it’s moving quickly, we can still stop it.

In 2015, Dominion got a sweet deal that allowed them to charge exorbitant rates with no oversight from the Virginia State Corporation Commission-- the one utility that was meant to keep them in check. 

And now, they want more.

It's no surprise that now Dominion Energy wants to pass another bill that would unfairly charge hardworking Virginians even more. 

This would cost Virginians billions of dollars more than they have already spent since the egregious 2015 rate freeze and allow Dominion to keep the profits. 

This month, legislators were looking to overturn the egregious 2015 pro-Dominion law to refund overcharges that ratepayers suffered. 

But, Dominion squashed that effort and, instead, worked to get a bill that both the State Corporation Commission and the Virginia Attorney General’s office have deemed unfair to ratepayers that are already owed refunds.

We know the rising tide of progress is in Virginia. Every newly elected House Democrat voted no on this bad deal. 

In the end one thing is clear: It’s time for Virginia to have a serious conversation about where we need to be with our energy. TWEET  

And it's moving away from Dominion's corporate overreach.