ENERGY + ENVIRONMENT
A 5-point plan for Virginia’s data centers
None of the sessions at last month’s Virginia Clean Energy Summit (VACES) in Richmond were devoted to data centers, but data centers were what everyone was talking about. Explosive growth in that energy-hungry industry has everyone — utilities, the grid operator, and the industry itself — scrambling to figure out how Virginia will provide enough […]
After Siemens turbine plant cancellation, can Hampton Roads still be a hub for offshore wind?
Detroit is known for automobile manufacturing. San Francisco is known for technology. Hampton Roads hopes to be known for offshore wind development. In 2020, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, an ambitious roadmap to decarbonize the state’s electric grid by midcentury, was signed into law with provisions encouraging the development of thousands of megawatts of offshore […]
A year after devastating winter storm, power plant problems ‘still likely’ in extreme weather
Nearly a year ago, a Christmas weekend storm blasted across the country, forcing utilities to cut electricity to hundreds of thousands of people in parts of the southeastern U.S. after temperatures plunged, demand spiked, large numbers of power plants failed and natural gas supply was strained. As the anniversary approaches of Winter Storm Elliott, a […]
Dominion to test another long duration battery, microgrid capability at Va. State University
Dominion Energy Virginia plans to test another long-duration energy battery storage project, this time for the Multi-Purpose Center at Virginia State University. The use of a long-duration battery is Dominion’s latest step in its testing of the storage technologies, and one that could provide insight on creating microgrids. “These projects could be game changers for […]
Proposed Dominion rate settlement would keep customer base rates stable for next two years
Dominion Energy Virginia customers would see no increase in base rates for electric service over the next two years under an agreement between the utility and ratepayer, environmental and other groups announced Tuesday evening. In addition to maintaining current base rates — the primary component of customers’ electric bills, based on how much power they […]
New federal rule seeks to curb ‘deceptive practices’ in poultry production
Federal ag officials are poised to enact new disclosure requirements for the poultry industry to give chicken growers a better understanding of their potential profits. The changes are meant to address some long-standing complaints by farmers who are contracted by large companies to grow chickens for meat, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said Wednesday. Most […]
Why it’s better to let counties review solar projects case-by-case
A journey through rural Virginia, especially the Southside, will reveal that large-scale solar development is widespread. As of October 2023, around 200 projects have been approved at the county level, totaling over 7,000 megawatts AC (MWac) in electrical generation, and there were 27 projects in commercial operation statewide. Many forthcoming projects are in the process […]
Virginians can apply for state fuel assistance to help with heat costs through Monday
Following the extreme cold temperatures Virginia experienced last year during Winter Storm Elliott, residents concerned about paying heating bills this year can apply for state help. The deadline for residents to apply for fuel assistance is 6 p.m. Monday. The application window typically opens the second Tuesday in October and runs through the second Friday […]
Madison County wildfire spreads to nearly 2,500 acres, including part of Shenandoah Natl Park
A Madison County wildfire that broke out near the community of Syria Oct. 24 has now spread to almost 2,500 acres as state and local firefighters work to contain it. While no structures have been damaged by the blaze to date, Madison County officials have issued a voluntary evacuation for residents north of Finks Hollow […]
As industry struggles, federal, state offshore wind goals could get tougher to meet
Good news or bad news first? Because there was plenty of both last week for the fledgling U.S. offshore wind industry. On Halloween, the Biden administration announced that the nation’s largest planned offshore wind development, Dominion Energy’s 2,600 megawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, received its last major federal approval. The same day, however, Danish […]
Energy tech testbed to develop projects on 65K acres in Virginia’s Wise Co.
A public-private initiative that aims to test out emerging energy technologies on Southwest Virginia lands formerly mined for coal has signed an agreement to develop its projects on 65,000 acres primarily located in Wise County that are owned by a major natural gas and pipeline company. The deal, announced by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office […]
Madison County wildfire expands to 425 acres near Shenandoah National Park
A wildfire that began a week ago on 20 acres in central Virginia’s Madison County has expanded to 425 acres near Shenandoah National Park and is expected to grow while firefighters construct a broader containment line to stop the blaze’s spread. “The objective is to burn out the fuel (leaves, fallen trees, branches, etc.) between […]