Category: Energy
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The Californication of Virginia
by Kerry Dougherty Does anyone really think fewer gas mowers will make a difference? More importantly, is it the role of government to tell citizens what they must use to trim their fescue? Of course it isn’t. Why should we in Virginia care? Because we’re just one car back on California’s crazy train. During the…
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Electric Vehicles May Be Worse for the Environment than Gasoline-Powered Ones
by Hans Bader Electric vehicles require enormous damage to the environment just to produce their batteries — 250 tons of mining is required for a single battery, according to Real Clear Energy. Switching to electric cars would require a radical expansion of mining across the world, and the minerals for the car batteries will be…
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Voters Will Decide Virginia’s Future Direction
by Derrick Max In two weeks, the people of Virginia will decide on two competing visions for the future of Virginia. Will they elect a General Assembly favoring Governor Glenn Youngkin’s more freedom-oriented policy vision, or will they elect a General Assembly returning the Commonwealth to the statist policy vision of former governors Terry McAuliffe…
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The High Stakes in Virginia’s Very Close Nov. 7 Election
from Liberty Unyielding Virginia is holding a very close election. The last day to vote is on Tuesday, November 7. If you live in Virginia, you can also vote early, at specified locations, on Monday through Friday, from September 22 to November 3, or on Saturday, October 28 or November 4. Voters are almost evenly…
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NY Ratepayers Better Protected Than Virginia’s
By Steve Haner The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) last week told several offshore wind developers it would not approve changes in their state contracts, putting several planned ocean turbine projects into jeopardy. The story is important for its contrast to how Virginia faces the same future.
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Why are the Poor Still Paying for Dominion Wind?
by Steve Haner Virginia’s new electricity bill subsidy program for customers of Dominion Energy Virginia has cleared its final hurdle at the State Corporation Commission and will begin enrolling participants in time for this coming winter. It is largely following the schedule previously outlined. In a final order issued October 13, the Commission set the…
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Is a Séance with Yogi Berra Dominion’s Source of Insight?
by Bill O’Keefe According to lore, Yogi Berra is supposed to have said, “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” Dominion must have had a séance with Yogi and just learned that piece of wisdom because until its latest filing with the SCC it maintained that it would…
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Miyares Seeks Dismissal of Suit to Save RGGI
By Steve Haner Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) is defending the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board’s decision to exit a multi-state carbon cap and tax compact as within the regulatory agency’s authority. He has also claimed to the circuit court hearing an appeal of that decision that the plaintiffs were not affected by the action…
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Principles for Virginia’s Energy Future
By Steve Haner First published this morning by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. Energy is our economy. Energy is the basis of wealth and a comfortable life. As Virginia chooses a new set of legislators to wrestle with the old and new energy issues facing the Commonwealth, here is a review of some…
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Giant Utility Rejects Net Zero Power; Big Fight Follows
by David Wojick Dominion Energy, Virginia’s big electric utility, is telling the state it does not foresee complying with the 2045 net zero power target in the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA). The preferred option in Dominion’s latest Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) retires no fossil-fueled power generators, other than the few old ones that are…
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Did Assembly Trim Dominion Bills $7-$14? No.
by Steve Haner When the Virginia General Assembly passed a complicated electricity regulation change a few months ago, the Richmond Times-Dispatch parroted as fact this Dominion Energy Virginia claim in a front-page paragraph: The compromise on electric bills — in legislation that passed nearly unanimously — would bring an immediate $6 to $7 cut in…
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Cheers to the Man in Plaid
by Jon Baliles One of Richmond’s great characters and personalities has decided to step away from spotlight that he occupied and managed so well for years (and always with a smile) after enduring incredibly long days and nights, rainouts, major league talent, loyal fans, a street art festival, a crumbling office, broken political promises, and…
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Legislature Moves To Fill Power Vacuum It Created
By Steve Haner State Senator Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon, showed today that he had something which the State Corporation Commission now lacks – a quorum. Surovell and the other legislators will gather in Richmond tomorrow to address the state budget but are expected once again to fail to fill the two vacancies on that vital…
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TJI To SCC: Keep Dominion Gas Plants
The following has been submitted to the State Corporation Commission via the public comment portal it has established for Dominion Energy Virginia’s pending 2023 Integrated Resource Plan. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy Senior Fellow Stephen D. Haner. Dominion Energy Virginia is acting reasonably and prudently by planning to maintain most…
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Politicians Back Interest-Heavy Fuel Debt Payoff
By Steve Haner Several Virginia legislators have encouraged the State Corporation Commission to allow Dominion Energy Virginia to convert a $1.3 billion unpaid fuel debt into a ten-year revenue stream for the utility, adding up to $370 million in additional costs onto its customers. The SCC will open a hearing Tuesday on the utility’s pending…