The last six months has been a whirlwind of legislative action. The 2020 special session extended into mid-October, creating a mad scramble at its conclusion to prepare for the 2021 regular session. PEC was busy drafting bills and budget amendments, finding sponsors and having the conversations necessary to set up our initiatives for success before the new session began on January 13. The 2021 regular session was eventually extended into a special session that concluded on March 1.
Energy Matters
PEC works toward energy solutions that emphasize efficiency first, use appropriate technologies for the 21st Century and respect the scenic and historic character of the Piedmont.
Utility-Scale Solar
Over the past few years, the declining cost of solar panels, coupled with rising demand for green energy sources has spurred interest in the development of utility-scale solar facilities throughout Virginia. These facilities are often located in rural areas, consume numerous acres (many are well over 1000 acres) and are incorrectly referred to as solar farms. They have many of the same environmental benefits as rooftop solar. However, they more resemble light industrial sites and it is proving difficult at best to protect our natural, cultural, and historic resources from poorly sited facilities.
Webinar: Solarize Piedmont Intro + Q&A with Installers
Staff from PEC and the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) held a webinar on August 18, 2020 to give an introduction to the Solarize Piedmont campaign. We were also joined by the 2020 Solarize Piedmont Campaign’s two solar installers to answer questions from the audience.
Solarize Piedmont Back for a 2020 Campaign
Interested in going solar? We’re excited to announce that Solarize Piedmont, our joint campaign with the Local Energy Alliance Program, is back through the end of the summer. If you’ve been curious about getting a solar system for your home, farm or business, but haven’t priced it out, now is a good time to sign up for a free quote!
Solarize Stories: Alisa Johnson of Oakham Farm
Alisa Johnson, owner of Oakham Farm in Middleburg, spoke about how simple and rewarding her experience with Solarize Piedmont was.
So Many Bills, So Little Time
It is March, a time when most people eagerly await the end of winter and embrace the first signs of spring. For me, the spring also marks the end of long days and nights spent walking the halls and occupying committee rooms in Richmond. The 2020 Virginia General Assembly session concluded on March 12, and by the time you read this, we will all be awaiting Governor Northam’s response to the legislation and budget passed by both houses.
Sign Up for Solarize Piedmont
Get started by filling out our online form to get a free assessment to determine if your home is a good candidate for solar. The deadline to sign up for Solarize Piedmont will be August 31, 2020. There is absolutely no commitment until, and if, you sign a contract with an installer.
Your General Assembly Update
The beginning of spring marks the end of the 2018 Virginia General Assembly session. Well, sort of. In the case of the budget, there was no resolution, which means the fate of conservation funding and the general path forward is still up in the air. To address this, the Governor has announced that a special session will convene on April 11.
One of the bigger issues taking up bandwidth this year was Medicaid expansion. The House’s budget bill included the expansion, while the Senate’s bill did not — this set up a showdown in the budget conference committee. Due to this and other differences, the conferees were unable to come to an agreement, meaning it will be some time before we know what programs will be affected.
More than $1 Million Worth of Solar Installed
The benefits of solar power are multi- fold: it provides peak power close to the demand, energy security, cost savings, local employment opportunities and emission reductions. These benefits are why, for the last three years, we’ve partnered on a Solarize Piedmont campaign with friends at the Local Energy Alliance Program and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.
Now that the 2017 Solarize Piedmont campaign has come to a close (it ran from mid-March through April), we wanted to share the results from these past three years: — Signed Contracts: 41– Dollar Value of Systems: $1,260,005 — Installed Capacity: 395 kW — Locations: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Orange & Rappahannock…
DEQ to Hold Series of Public Hearings on ACP & MVP Pipelines
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is hosting a series of public hearings on the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). These public hearings are designed to seek public comment on the DEQ’s proposed water quality permit (401 Certification).