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Virginia water regulators begin process of identifying PFAS sources
Following a law the legislature passed this year, Virginia’s water regulators are beginning a process to identify sources of chemicals known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” which were found above regulatory limits in drinking water in 28 water systems across the state. The systems include eight from Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, with a smattering of […]
Air regulators awaiting info for Dominion’s proposed natural gas plant
Virginia’s air regulators are awaiting data from Dominion Energy to further process the utility’s air permit request for the natural gas plant they’re proposing to build to meet rising energy needs, as pushback over the location and potential environmental impact of the facility continues. “We are expecting to receive air quality monitoring data … in […]
Judge deems Youngkin’s actions to withdraw Virginia from RGGI ‘unlawful’
Floyd County Circuit Court Judge Randall Lowe ruled Wednesday Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin acted unlawfully by withdrawing Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program aimed to reduce climate changing emissions that has funneled hundreds of millions to the state to deal with the impacts of extreme weather events. In his five page opinion, […]
Energy policymakers convene for Virginia Clean Economy Act summit
Democratic and Republican lawmakers, utilities, energy regulators and other interested parties met in Henrico County Monday to discuss how the state’s growing power needs may be met in conjunction with the goals of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, a 2020 law aiming for zero-carbon emissions by 2050. Since the measure passed four years ago, demands […]
How would Project 2025’s energy implications manifest in Virginia?
Now that President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans have gained control of the Oval Office and both chambers of Congress, the conservative playbook called Project 2025 may be closer to becoming a reality. It includes a chapter whose author has ties to Virginia’s energy laws and regulation creation process, and that calls for major overhauls to […]
Youngkin urges Hurricane Helene survivors to contact officials, shares storm recovery update
Virginia and federal officials are trying to contact Southwest Virginia residents impacted by Hurricane Helene and urging them to complete their applications for recovery funds dedicated to the region, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a press briefing Thursday afternoon. The governor provided an update on the state’s continued recovery from the storm, which hit Virginia […]
Google, Virginia policy makers discuss growing data center demand
Leading tech firm Google, which has invested over $4 billion in Virginia and owns three data center campuses in the northern region of the state, co-hosted a private meeting in Richmond Tuesday alongside the state’s energy department to talk about how electric grid investments can meet data centers’ rising energy needs. Called the Virginia Grid […]
Virginia environmental regulators make info on data center operations more publicly accessible
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality published a new webpage listing data centers’ air permits, the approvals needed for the facilities to run diesel generators as a source of backup power in the event of any power grid outages, statewide. “Since DEQ’s permits are not filed by industry type (i.e., factory or data center), it […]
VDOT awards $22 million in federal funding for EV chargers along Virginia interstates and highways
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced the next round of recipients to receive federal funding to build electric vehicle charging stations along interstates and state highways. The awardings, presented by VDOT to the Commonwealth Transportation Board at its Oct. 22 meeting, total about $22 million for chargers at 35 different locations from 19 different applicants, […]
Sen. Marsden to host summit on Virginia Clean Economy Act next week
The landmark law Virginia passed in 2020 to decarbonize the electric grid is being tested, as energy demand from data centers surges, prompting discussions about how to meet the law’s goal. On Monday, Nov. 18, Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, is hosting a summit in Richmond to talk about that law, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, […]
Hurricane Helene flooded the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, releasing chemicals into the New River
On Friday, Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on the Southwest Virginia region, including flooding the Radford Army Ammunition Plant and causing the release of chemicals in the New River, according to the plant and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. According to a spokesperson for the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, the facility “experienced significant […]
Vindman wins Va.’s 7th Congressional District over Anderson
Nearly 24 hours after polls closed on Election Day, the Associated Press on Wednesday evening declared Democrat Eugene Vindman the winner over Republican Derrick Anderson in Virginia’s hard-fought 7th Congressional District race. Vindman and Anderson earned about 51% and 49% of the vote, respectively. The race had remained too close to call Tuesday after polls […]