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Category: Energy / Environment

Fate of Dominion Gas Plant Depends On Which Experts, Models the SCC Believes 

The State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) decision on whether Dominion Energy can build a new natural gas-fired power plant will depend on which expert or set of experts it believes, and which of the many computer models that dominate the testimony it judges best predict Virginia’s energy future. Dominion has filed testimony to the SCC from […]

This Week Proves Again Wind and Solar Cannot Take the Heat

Once again, a spell of hot weather has proven that our economy and comfort depend on hydrocarbon fuels. As you can see from these simple pie graphs from the PJM regional energy market, two-thirds of the electricity sustaining Virginia on a recent hot afternoon was produced by natural gas, oil and coal.  One graph shows […]

Legislature Warned Again of Electricity Shortage

Here we go again. As the 2025 election year heats up and warnings rise about electricity shortfalls this summer, the legislators behind Virginia’s coming ban on hydrocarbon electricity are pretending they see the problem.  A May 22 headline out of a recent legislative meeting on energy claimed that “Democratic leadership signals willingness to reexamine Virginia Clean Economy Act.” The […]

‘Green’ Energy Mandates, Profit Demands Drive Dominion Price Hikes, Not Data Centers

The pending price increase for electricity from Dominion Energy Virginia is higher than the 14% jump reported by the news media which basically parroted company releases. Should all of Dominion’s rate applications at the State Corporation Commission be approved, residents and businesses will pay about 20% more. The 1,000-kilowatt hour monthly bill used for illustration (smaller than many households […]

What Did FERC Do Last Week? Only Change the Course of Energy Policy

The new chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission used the Trump Administration’s order to have agency employees report their activities as a chance to show off. Late last week the chairman issued a four-page letter of accomplishments on behalf of his staff, a list that might be a good month, not a good week, at some […]

Energy Customers Deserve to Know What Clean Energy Mandate is Costing Them

Until October of last year, customers of Dominion Energy Virginia could see at least some of the higher costs created by the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) detailed on their electric bills. Look at the recent bill and all that transparency is gone and the VCEA costs are now hidden. Compliance with the Democrats’ signature law […]

Doubling Down on Virginia’s Terrible Energy Policies

The Questions Not Asked: What Does This Cost? Will Electricity be More Reliable? The Virginia General Assembly has approved a long list of bills to double down on its previous commitment to ending the use of hydrocarbon fuel in Virginia. It ignored warnings from the regional electricity marketplace, the Virginian who now chairs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission […]

Making the Virginia Clean Economy Act More Expansive, Expensive and Onerous

The 2024 General Assembly ended with a promise from its majority Democrats to review and perhaps revise the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), which mandates the end of hydrocarbon electricity. The revisions are now pending at the 2025 General Assembly and are uniformly bad. One positive development this session has been an increased and more honest focus […]

How a New State Panel Might Take Control of Local Zoning Permits for Solar Farms

The 2025 General Assembly is expected to consider another proposal to create a state-level approval process for certain large renewable energy projects, overriding local zoning authority. Based on recent public debates about the proposal, it is facing severe headwinds. Similar bills were proposed and failed in 2024. The legislative Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (CEUR), newly energized […]