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Virginia went all in on solar. Then its powerful utility changed the rules.
Four years ago, Fairfax County announced a landmark clean energy plan to install solar panels on more than 100 buildings including schools, community centers and government facilities. But progress on that goal — which the county estimated would save $60 million in utility costs over 25 years — has stalled after the state’s biggest utility imposed expensive grid connection requirements that solar proponents say make those midsize projects not viable. Fairfax had completed six projects before Dominion Energy changed the requirements for midsize solar in December 2022. Since then, the county has downsized two projects to fall below the requirements’ parameters, while five others — including a police station, stormwater complex and library — are on hold.
Fauquier County planning commission greenlights 93-acre solar farm near Bealeton
A 93-acre solar farm proposed for southern Fauquier County has cleared a hurdle that tripped up similar projects before it. The Bealeton Solar Center — a utility-scale solar farm halfway between Bealeton and Remington — got a boost last week when the county planning commission decided unanimously that it aligns with the county’s comprehensive plan.
Schapiro: For Levar Stoney, do more opponents mean more opportunities?
The day after announcing that the city of Richmond had, for the first time, received Wall Street’s highest-possible credit rating — triple-A, a distinction that speaks to the strength of the local economy and could save taxpayers millions of dollars in interest on debt-backed bonds for a glittery replacement to the Diamond baseball park — Mayor Levar Stoney traveled to Bristol, in the rural southwestern corner of Virginia, where jobs are scarce and Democrats scarcer. Appearing with a political pal, former Mayor Neal Osborne, the trip was an exercise in self-promotion by Stoney, who — concluding that he would lose a one-on-one fight for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger — is now running for lieutenant governor ...
Yancey: Trixie Averill, one of most influential political leaders in western Virginia, dies
Trixie Averill, who went from a self-described “little ol’ housewife” from Vinton to one of the most important political leaders in the western part of the state, died Saturday after an extended illness. She was in her mid-70s. Averill never held elected office. Her highest office within the Republican Party was a brief stint at 6th Congressional District chair, but Averill’s influence could not be measured by a resume. Rather, Averill was part of a class of often little-known political activists who hold great power within their respective parties because of their ability to muster support for their favored candidates.
VCU won’t directly pay its athletes, though new state law allows it
Virginia Commonwealth University will not directly pay its student-athletes, the school’s athletics director said recently, even though a new state law allows the university to do so. “We will not bring the collective in house, nor will we pay the kids directly as of right now,” said Ed McLaughlin, the university’s athletic director. McLaughlin expressed hesitancy to dive headfirst into an aggressive new state law that allows colleges to directly pay their players. ... VCU developed this plan over the past few months. Then on Thursday, the college sports landscape shifted when the NCAA announced it had settled three antitrust lawsuits and will pay current and past athletes $2.8 billion for name, image and likeness, or NIL, revenue they have been denied.
Loudoun superintendent proposes closing school on four days for teacher training
Responding to backlash over a plan to start school two hours late on 16 days during the upcoming year to accommodate state-mandated teacher training, Loudoun County Public Schools has developed a new proposal. The new plan calls for school to be closed for teacher training on October 4, Nov. 4, Jan. 28, and June 16 during the 2024-25 school year, according to Superintendent Aaron Spence.
Troubled Southwest Virginia draws promise of help from Youngkin, lawmakers
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced plans for an economic development initiative in Southwest Virginia, a region still struggling with the loss of the coal industry and where Democratic House Speaker Don L. Scott Jr. (Portsmouth) has also mounted a new push to address lingering problems. Youngkin unveiled his “Accelerate Southwest Virginia” initiative last week at an economic forum at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Though he was short on specific policy offerings, Youngkin touted a list of state-funded improvement projects ...
English: Benefits of offshore wind for Virginia taking shape
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, approved in January by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, will consist of 176 wind turbines nearly 30 miles off the coast and power up to 660,000 Virginia homes with clean, reliable energy. The project will bring with it economic growth and jobs to Virginia Beach and throughout the commonwealth, now and for years to come. And while the project has entered its less-than-exciting construction phase and conversation surrounding the project continues, we must continue to keep the long-term benefits and opportunities presented by offshore wind top of mind.
Loudoun allocates $2M to guaranteed-income pilot program for low-income residents
The Board of Supervisors voted 6-2 May 23 to allocate $2 million for a pilot “economic mobility” program for low-income county residents. Proposed by Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling), the program would distribute monthly payments to residents at or below 30% of the area median income. In Loudoun County, 30% AMI is $32,550 for a one-person household or $46,450 for a family of four. Recipients would be able to use the funds for groceries, rent, paying down debt, or anything else they need, Saines said ...
Southwest region offers alternative location for data centers
This region could be poised to recruit data centers, once thought to be almost solely enmeshed in Northern Virginia’s economic eco-system, according to speakers at Thursday’s Southwest Virginia Economic Forum. It was a recurring theme during the event held at UVA Wise, as Gov. Glenn Youngkin, economist Christine Chmura and Del. Israel O’Quinn, R-Bristol, were among those noting a paradigm shift in the business model after some Northern Virginia localities opposed locating additional data centers in an area that has the world’s highest concentration.