The General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8 for a planned “short session” that runs through Feb. 22. PEC has co-authored several white papers that form the framework of the Virginia Conservation Network’s legislative priorities.
General Assembly
Find out more about what we are tracking during Virginia’s annual legislative session.
Dominion Energy Integrated Resource Plan projects historic rate increases for Virginia ratepayers while subsidizing the world’s wealthiest companies
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filed by Dominion
Energy with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (“SCC”) this week projects a more than 100
percent increase in electricity usage in the next 15 years, primarily driven by the explosive and
uncontrolled growth of data centers.
Call for State Action on Data Centers Gets Louder
During the 2024 General Assembly session, Virginia legislators failed to take action to address the concerns raised by residents and environmental groups about the proliferation of data centers.
In the Driver’s Seat on Parking Lot Solar
Since Virginia is still at the beginning of its energy transition, now is the perfect time to rebuild our energy system in a way that is just and fair to all Virginia residents and ratepayers. Toward that end, PEC has taken the lead in aggressively exploring the viability of parking lot solar in Virginia.
A Mixed Bag at the General Assembly
This has been a very busy, and challenging, legislative session.
Bills and Budget Amendments Post-Crossover
Now at crossover, some notable progress has been made on a few key priorities of the environmental community.
Data Center Legislation in the 2024 Virginia General Assembly
Numerous pieces of legislation related to data center reform were introduced as part of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly Session. Unfortunately, the majority of the bills were defeated or carried over to the 2025 Virginia General Assembly Session.
Take Action: Protect Local Government Accountability
We need your help opposing House Bill 1459 (Owen), which will be voted on by the full Counties, Cities and Towns Committee this Friday morning at 9 a.m.
Three Advocacy Priorities That Need Your Attention
Since the General Assembly began its 2024 session, the newly-opened General Assembly office building and the Capitol have seen frenetic activity, day in and day out. Many bills that were introduced in January have now seen numerous amendments and text changes, with some being passed over and others being voted out of committee and onto the House or Senate floor for action.
Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition
This growing coalition is made up of more than 50 environmental, conservation, historic preservation, and climate advocacy groups, as well as representatives of communities and neighborhoods across the state of Virginia.
Together, we are urging localities to adopt strong local protections and pushing for our state lawmakers to require transparency around and track the cumulative effects of data center development on Virginia’s electrical grid, water resources, air quality, and land conservation efforts, and to institute several common-sense regulatory and rate-making reforms for the industry.
It is thanks to the work of this coalition in spreading the word, mobilizing public support, and working directly in communities that we are starting to see real progress and reform at the local and state level. We encourage you to learn more about the threat of data centers on our communities and natural environment in Virginia at www.pecva.org/datacenters. Also check out the many resources available on the coalition partner webpages below.
Interested in joining the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition, or have more questions?
Coalition Members
Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
American Battlefield Trust
Center for Biological Diversity
Chesapeake Bay Program
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Chesapeake Legal Alliance
Citizens for Fauquier County
Clean Virginia
Climate & Clean Energy Working Group of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Coalition to Protect Prince William County
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Coalition to Save Culpeper
Crow’s Nest Research Center
Data and Society
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Friends of the Rappahannock
Goose Creek Association
Henrico Conservation Action Network
HOA Roundtable
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground
Loudoun Climate Project
Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
Manassas Battlefield Trust
Maryland Legislative Coalition – Climate Justice Wing
Moms Clean Air Force
National Parks Conservation Association
Nature Forward
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
The Piedmont Environmental Council
Potomac Conservancy
Preservation Virginia
Prince William Conservation Alliance
Protect Catlett
Protect Fauquier
Rappahannock Tribe
Save BrenMar Coalition
Save Rural Loudoun
Scenic America
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action
Virginia Conservation Network
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
Virginia Native Plant Society
Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area
Waterkeepers Chesapeake
…and more, including 20+ HOA and community representatives
Contact
Julie Bolthouse
Director of Land Use
[email protected]
(540) 347-2334 ext. 7042