Energy + Environment
Virginia board votes to reject changes to hound hunting regulations
Regulations guiding hunting, one of Virginia’s oldest traditions, will remain unchanged after the Board of Wildlife Resources voted 6-3 against two proposals to update the state’s right to retrieve law. The right to retrieve law lets deer and bear hunters go onto other people’s property to get their dogs, which hunters use to scare up […]
Insurance payments to repeatedly flooding Va. properties continue to rise
When it comes to protecting against flooding, the National Flood Insurance Program is increasingly underwater in Virginia, especially in Hampton Roads. A new analysis and online tool created by the Natural Resources Defense Council reveals that nearly 7,000 Virginia properties had repeated claims for flood damage over 10 years. And the program, administered by the […]
Federal government sends Virginia $10 million for Route 58 repair after Hurricane Helene washout
The United States Department of Transportation announced Friday that it’s sending $10 million to the Virginia Department of Transportation to “restore and reopen” a one-mile stretch of Route 58 in Washington County that was washed out when Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in the Southwest Virginia region. “Hurricane Helene’s devastation affected communities in multiple states, including […]
Despite recent rain, farmers in Virginia struggle with effects of summer drought
Morgan Slaven runs a sheep farm in Augusta County, where her family has been across different operations for seven generations, now with her nieces pitching in. This year, Slaven was grateful because of her “off farm job” to generate income after drought conditions, presenting back to back years of challenges ahead of this year’s harvest […]
Dominion Energy pairs solar with honey bees to preserve agricultural land
Dominion Energy’s 1.6 MW Black Bear Solar project in Buckingham County is now partnered with Mountain House Apiaries, using Italian honey bees to maintain the land around the solar arrays while benefiting the local agricultural community. The project falls under the category of agrivoltaics — another way to label pairing solar panels with agricultural uses […]
Amazon announces deal with Dominion Energy to develop a small nuclear reactor
Amazon announced Wednesday that it entered into an agreement with Dominion Energy to pay for the development of a small modular reactor as the utility explores building one at its North Anna Power Station, an existing traditional nuclear power plant in Louisa County. At its second headquarters in Arlington, Amazon also announced an agreement with […]
Dominion pushes for renewables, more natural gas in latest long-term plan
Virginia’s largest utility, Dominion Energy, on Tuesday filed an update to its long-term electricity generation plan showing the majority of energy it expects to produce will come from renewable sources. Dominion’s revamped, non-binding Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) looks 15 years into the future to detail how power will be provided and calls for an “all-of-the-above” approach that […]
‘Right to retrieve’ legal challenge dismissed as state considers new rules
Three Virginia residents’ legal challenge to state code tied to one of Virginia’s oldest traditions, the “right to retrieve” hunting law, has been dismissed, as, just ahead of deer hunting season, state officials will soon consider changes to the measure that allows hunters to go onto private property to get their dogs. James Medeiros, of […]
Virginia, utilities accepting applications for heating bill assistance
Although the tried and true Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for warmer temps and less snow this winter season, cold weather is on the way. The state and utilities throughout it are now accepting applications to help pay for residents’ heating bills. The Virginia Department of Social Services offers the energy assistance program, which includes […]
As Virginia’s SCC prepares to tackle the data center surge, it can learn from Ohio
Energy use is skyrocketing across Virginia with the proliferation of new data centers, but as it turns out, we are not alone. Across the country, the rise of artificial intelligence and its voracious demand for power has prompted tech companies to locate new data centers wherever they think they can secure the necessary land, energy […]
Fewer than 200 Southwest Virginians remain without power post-Helene, Youngkin says
Recovery efforts in Southwest Virginia following Hurricane Helene remain a priority for Gov. Glenn Youngkin as government resources continue to aid states affected by the storm’s devastation, including North Carolina, and soon Florida, where an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane is predicted to make landfall Wednesday night. Speaking to reporters in Richmond on Tuesday, Youngkin […]
Virginia develops workforce as demand for electrification grows
This is the final story of a five-part series about Virginia’s transition to electric vehicles that examines the government’s role in the process, the private industry’s status, the development of charging infrastructure in the state, EVs’ impact on the electric grid, and how the commonwealth’s workforce may be influenced by the growing industry. As the […]