There were bright spots and not-so-bright spots in the 2024 Virginia General Assembly session.
Blog Archives
Engaged activists get bipartisan wins in 2024 General Assembly session
TAGS: clean energy cyanide disconnection protections regional greenhouse gas initiative shared solar Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Virginia Clean Economy Act Virginia General Assembly
Crossover: Virginia General Assembly session reaches an important milestone
The Virginia General Assembly has reached the halfway mark — and amid the highs and lows of committee decisions, hundreds of Virginians have helped advocate for critical environmental protections. Thank you for your calls and emails to legislators!
TAGS: Affordable Energy Act Affordable Energy Coalition brightfields cyanide disconnection protections hydrogen metals mining pipelines shared solar Virginia Clean Economy Act Virginia Conservation Network Virginia General Assembly
2024 Virginia General Assembly session is underway!
As the Virginia Assembly opened its 2024 legislative session on Jan. 10, Appalachian Voices held a webinar to lay out our priorities for the session and explain how those interested in these issues can get involved and make a difference.
TAGS: Affordable Energy Act Affordable Energy Coalition brightfields cyanide disconnection protections hydrogen metals mining pipelines shared solar Virginia Clean Economy Act Virginia Conservation Network Virginia General Assembly
Wins and losses in the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session
Even with the short session, Appalachian Voices’ capitol team had a lot to keep track of, with a number of bills we were hoping to convince legislators to support — and quite a few we were hoping to convince them to vote down.
TAGS: Affordable Energy Act brightfields cyanide gold mining regional greenhouse gas initiative shared solar Small Modular Nuclear Reactors utility shutoffs Virginia General Assembly Virginia Power Innovation Fund
Solar developments are bringing energy and jobs to Southwest Virginia
The recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wise Primary School for a new rooftop solar installation was the result of years of effort and the latest marker of success in the effort to diversify the economy of seven coalfield counties in Virginia.
TAGS: GOT Electric Mountain Empire Community College net metering Secure Futures Solar shared solar Solar Workforce Accelerator Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia Wise Primary School
Even as 2022 Virginia General Assembly wraps up, threats of environmental rollbacks continue
With the signing of the budget, the Virginia General Assembly wrapped up a session filled with challenges and disappointments.
TAGS: air pollution control board Andrew Wheeler bipartisan infrastructure law clean energy and community flood preparedness act Coalfield Community Development Program Coalfield Inter-agency Task Force coalfields Department of Housing and Community Development Dominion Energy electric co-ops electric utility Environmental Justice gob Gov. Glenn Youngkin metals mining pipelines regional greenhouse gas initiative shared solar state corporation commission Virginia Clean Economy Act Virginia Energy Virginia General Assembly
Can’t stop, won’t stop! Fighting to protect you and the environment at Virginia’s General Assembly
Virginia’s 2022 General Assembly gaveled in on January 12 for two months of legislative wrangling in the crowded halls of the state capitol! We expect to play defense on protecting pivotal laws that tackle the climate crisis, while pushing for progress in key areas. Don’t sit this one out — we need all Virginia hands on deck!
TAGS: clean energy Clean Water energy justice energy transition Environmental Justice general assembly Governor Youngkin shared solar Virginia Virginia General Assembly
The Sun is Shining on Southwest Virginia’s Growing Solar Industry
Learn about several exciting updates on the bright future for Southwest Virginia’s growing solar energy industry, broken down into four categories: 1) residential solar, 2) commercial solar, 3) utility solar and 4) shared solar!
TAGS: appalachia Appalachian Voices clean energy Climate change commercial solar Electric Utilities Renewable Energy residential solar shared solar Solar Solar Energy solar workgroup Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia southwest virginia swva utilty solar Virginia
Highlights from the Energy Democracy in Action webinar series
Advocates from across the country shared stories of how they gained control over how and where their power is produced during the first two webinars of the three-part Energy Democracy In Action series. Read the highlights and register for the third webinar.
TAGS: climate resilience energy democracy Environmental Justice power purchase agreement shared solar Solar
Bringing Shared Solar to Southwest Virginia
Shared or community solar can be a good way to experience the benefits of solar without a high upfront cost. But customers of Appalachian Power in Southwest Virginia are still prohibited by state law from installing shared solar arrays.
