Education

Stephen D. Haner
February 9, 2022

By 2050 Virginia’s transition to wind and solar power under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) could add almost $200 a month on average to a residential electric bill.  Previous estimates of the consumer cost of dumping all fossil fuels from power generation have focused on the next ten years...

F. Vincent Vernuccio
February 1, 2022

With several localities in Virginia having passed ordinances allowing government unions a monopoly on representing public employees, the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy today released results of Mason-Dixon poll commissioned to measure certain provisions commonly contained in those ordinances. Those provisions are unpopular with Virginia voters.  The results may...

Stephen D. Haner
January 31, 2022

The highest priority on a Virginia energy reform agenda proposed a few weeks ago was restoring State Corporation Commission oversight over decisions on massive renewable energy investments.  Under current law, the General Assembly has basically dictated billions of dollars in such future investments, responding too often to donor demands. Several...

Christian Braunlich
January 28, 2022

As National School Choice Week 2022 concludes, the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy today released results of a polling question demonstrating the overwhelming popularity of Virginia’s sole education choice program. Support is particularly strong in the state’s Black community. The question, contained in a poll about current General Assembly...

Stephen D. Haner
January 25, 2022

New Governor Glenn Youngkin has now submitted his tax cut proposals to the 2022 General Assembly in the form of bills and budget amendments, and if all his campaign pledges are adopted it will be the most significant tax cut in the state’s recent history. “There is one vital thing...

Stephen D. Haner
January 24, 2022

The high consumer cost of Virginia’s forced conversion to a fossil fuel free economy remains unpopular with Republican and Independent voters, but is supported by many Democrats, a recent poll revealed. Even Democrats, however, dislike a new carbon tax that is now targeted for repeal. Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public...

F. Vincent Vernuccio
January 22, 2022

As a handful of localities push to give government unions a monopoly over public employee contracts, lawmakers in Richmond are looking to protect public employees around the state. Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, has introduced a suite of bills to help protect the rights of public employees, promote union democracy and...

Stephen D. Haner
January 20, 2022

“The Department of Energy, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, shall analyze the life cycle of renewable energy facilities, including solar, wind, and battery storage components. The analysis shall assess the (i) feasibility, costs, recycling and salvage opportunities, waste strategies, and liability for the decommissioning of materials; (ii)...

Stephen D. Haner
January 18, 2022

Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) will proceed to remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative carbon tax compact by the same route Virginia entered it:  He will push to repeal the underlying regulation. As with much else in his promised “Day One” agenda, it will actually take time.  What he...

Stephen D. Haner
January 7, 2022

Dominion Energy Virginia’s November announcement that its proposed offshore wind project has jumped almost 25% in cost to $10 billion, with years to go before construction even starts, has put Virginia’s energy policy and its response to claims of climate disaster on the front burner for 2022. Dealing with these...