Month: October 2023

The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley is pleased to provide Harrisonburg’s The Citizen with a monthly survey of energy and environmental news stories about Virginia.

With their permission, we are re-posting these pieces here after they appear in the Citizen.

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The link to this piece as first published by the Citizen is HERE.

Statewide Environmental News Roundup for October 2023

Energy

Regulations and Utilities

Last month, we included articles about the General Assembly’s failure to fill two of the three vacancies on the State Corporation Commission (SCC). A former judge, who served temporarily, left for another position leaving only one. Another former judge will step in temporarily. The SCC needs at least two judges to carry out its work.

We previously shared articles about Virginia Beach residents’ opposition to power lines coming ashore from wind farms through their neighborhoods. This concern will affect many coastal and inland communities. “As Chesapeake Bay drainage states and the nation move to fulfill bold commitments to convert to renewable energy in the next few decades, an inconvenient truth has become apparent: It can’t be done without many more transmission lines. Through neighborhoods, along roads and across mountains, the nation’s network of power lines needs to double or triple in the next decade if the clean energy revolution is to succeed, warn the U.S. Department of Energy, scientists, environmental groups and many policymakers.”

There is growing concern about the lack of regulatory oversight of ratepayer costs from utilities’ transmission line growth. An Ohio consumer group has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that “electric customers have fallen into a ‘regulatory gap’ that’s allowed billions of dollars of transmission construction to happen without oversight of need, prudence or cost effectiveness…. [T]he same concern exists across much of the nation, so much so that the commission itself has weighed whether more monitoring of transmission spending is necessary.”

“[T]he Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) published a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (“NOIRA”) concerning amendments to the Small Solar Renewable Energy Projects Permit Regulation (the Solar PBR), 9VAC15-60. The Solar PBR regulation allows solar developers to obtain a state permit to construct and operate solar facilities without obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the … [SCC]. DEQ intends to conform the Solar PBR regulation to Chapter 688 of the 2022 Acts of Assembly to require a mitigation plan detailing reasonable actions to avoid, minimize, or otherwise mitigate impacts to prime agricultural soils and forest lands. This regulatory action would apply to solar projects that disturb more than 10 acres of prime agricultural soils, or 50 acres of contiguous forest lands, and to projects that would disturb forest lands enrolled in a forestry preservation program. However, projects would be grandfathered if the interconnection request is applied for and received by December 31, 2024.”

A Wason Center for Civic Leadership survey “of 800 interviews of Virginia likely voters” found that “a majority (65% to 26%) of Virginia voters also support staying in … [RGGI], a program that enters the Commonwealth into a carbon cap and trade program with other states in the region to reduce carbon pollution. Younger voters also show higher support for remaining in RGGI than voters age 45+ (71% to 62%), while more women prefer to stay in the program than men (70% to 59%).” See opinion pieces below. **

Data Centers, Energy Storage

“Data centers should be further away from homes, schools and national parks. They shouldn’t be allowed to tower over their neighbors and they should be required to be less noisy. Those are among the recommendations three organizations of residents from Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties proposed in an effort to guide local government officials on siting data centers and to avoid negative impact on local residents. Leaders of the groups said they planned to deliver their packet of proposals to their respective county boards immediately.”

“How [a Haymarket-area] project was approved—with little public opposition, little skepticism from county officials, and the acquiescence of the homeowners’ association—is a rich tale. The stew includes apparent misrepresentations or misunderstandings, an agreeable county planning office and resident apathy amid the COVID epidemic. Pointedly, the record shows that key decision-makers mainly fretted about the routing of power lines to the project and missed the elephant in the room—the sheer size of the buildings.” Neighbors to another Prince William data center found its noise levels intolerable and worked with Amazon’s engineers to alleviate the problem. So far, the decibel levels have been halved. “The work is not done. Residents say the screechy part of the noise remains, and Amazon is working on that too.”

“Two families who agreed to sell their properties to a data center developer involved in the controversial Prince William Digital Gateway want out of the deal. Lawyers for both families say their contracts are no longer valid because they include a rezoning date that wasn’t met. The matter is now playing out in federal court…. The court documents also shed new light on the deadlines set in the landowners’ sale contracts and the rush to set public hearings on the rezonings before the end of the year.” “A U.S. district court judge … ruled against [the] two families who wanted out of the deal they made…. The ruling, which says the land sale agreements are valid and landowners have no basis to terminate their contracts, removes a legal hurdle for developers involved in the massive new data center corridor proposed near the Manassas National Battlefield Park.”

“Following four public hearings …, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved rezoning requests for four projects related to data center development. With the rezoning approvals, the county moved closer to joining the data center boom in Virginia as developers move from Northern Virginia to less populated areas in Spotsylvania, Stafford and King George counties.”

The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a new data center in Chantilly “over vocal protests from members of the public…. This recommendation comes after months of discord over the project and amidst a broader debate over data centers in the county. Ultimately, county staff concluded that a data center or warehouse was an acceptable use for the land in question.”

Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Nuclear

“Energy Firms, Green Groups and Others Reach[ed a] Deal on Solar Farms. The agreement could help speed up the development of large solar projects that are often bogged down by fights over land use and environmental concerns.” It remains to be seen what effects the deal will have in Virginia.

“[Bristol Virginia] City leaders are considering a new use for the city’s vexing landfill once all of its issues are eventually resolved: as a possible solar energy site…. [Its] City Council unanimously approved seeking a state brownfields grant that could be the first step toward locating solar panels there to generate electricity.” Augusta County residents are speaking up about a proposed large-scale solar facility near New Hope. “The Stop Big Solar in Staunton group has filed a legal challenge against the project.” Botetourt County supervisors approved a small-scale solar project that is part of “Dominion Energy’s Virginia Community Solar Pilot Program.” “The South Central Virginia Business Alliance held a membership and networking meeting … to attract new local businesses looking to tap into the burgeoning solar sector and get their piece of the pie from projects being developed across Southside Virginia.” See opinion pieces below. ***

“Scheduled to begin offshore construction in 2024, [Dominion’s] Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind [OSW] is a 2.6‑gigawatt offshore wind energy project that will consist of 176 wind turbines located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, three offshore substations, undersea cables and new onshore transmission infrastructure to deliver emissions-free wind power to homes and businesses.” “The first monopiles for the … Wind project … arrived at the Port of Virginia…. In total, … [there will be] 176 monopile foundations that are up to 83 meters long, weigh 1,538 tons and have a diameter of up to 9.5 meters.” Despite anticipated pullback from OSW investors and developers following a New York regulator’s decision about passing costs along to ratepayers, Dominion Energy is apparently planning for its 2^nd “Massive Offshore Wind Farm Off Virginia.”

Fairfax County “hosted the county’s first Climate Action Conference last month…. [Its purpose] “was to give residents ‘all the actionable information and the tools you need to reduce your emissions and save money.’… Low-income households can apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which offers home energy audits and makes necessary improvements and repairs to heating and cooling systems. The improvements are free of charge and may include work on windows and doors, roof repairs and HVAC sealing, thereby improving efficiency and lowering lower energy bills.” Other programs were also highlighted. We previously provided information about this program happening now in the Valley. For Dominion customers there is a “Virginia solar program [that] delivers clean energy to elderly, low-income households. A three-year pilot spurred by 2019 legislation, the Dominion Energy program offers weatherization services and solar panels to qualified customers free of charge.” This story highlights the experience of a Dominion customer in Augusta County who benefited from the program.

“A year ago, the governor said he wants the region [SWVA} to host an SMR [Small Nuclear Reactor]. A study identified [seven] sites across four counties; many are on former coal mine lands, and several are close to population centers…. SMRs are smaller, simpler versions of traditional nuclear reactors that produce about a third of the power produced by the big reactors. They can be … cheaper than constructing a large reactor…. No SMRs have yet been built in the United States …. [S]everal environmental groups have raised concerns about some of the sites, particularly those that are in or near towns and so are closer to homes and businesses. But the biggest complaint has been that so far, the public is being left out of the process.” See opinion piece below. ****

Transportation

The Governor has made known his opposition to a federal regulation, and a Virginia law, that would accelerate the use of EVs. His energy plan objected to the Virginia Clean Economy Act and challenged legislation passed by Virginia in the 2021 session to adopt vehicle emissions regulations set forth by California ….” “West Virginia and neighboring Virginia have joined a 26 state coalition that is challenging a Biden administration rule that seeks to expedite the nation’s transition to electric vehicles. The states are challenging a proposed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule … [to] effectively mandate automakers to shift to electric vehicles.” See opinion pieces below.*

“Virginia’s Community Climate Collaborative (C3) released a new report [“Alternative Fuels for Transit Buses: What’s the Best Option for Your Transit Agency? (Vol.1)] to inform localities on the best alternative fuel options aligned with climate objectives, public health, environmental justice, fiscal responsibility, and service quality…. The report … focuses on three alternative fuel choices — battery-electric buses (BEBs), compressed natural gas (CNGs) buses, and fuel-cell electric buses (FCEBs) — and their ability to meet ridership needs as a sustainable solution for public transit.”

“A new report finds Virginia has “poor” transportation infrastructure in multiple areas .… The report, “Keeping Virginia Mobile: Providing a Modern, Sustainable Transportation System in the Old Dominion State,” was released by TRIP, a transportation non-profit in Washington DC. The report first highlighted how Virginia transportation has improved thanks to past state and federal funding.”

Fossil Fuels

The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) construction continues and so does the opposition and concerns about safety and further destruction. “After years of protests and lawsuits, the natural gas pipeline is almost finished.” This story describes how the lives of those who live near the path are being affected by what it calls “Joe Manchin’s … Pipeline.” Proximity to construction is bringing “fear and anger” following the negative effects of construction and its accompanying destruction of property. “In the past, the joint venture of five energy companies building the pipeline has paused construction during the winter months, in the years when it was not already stalled by litigation that has long delayed the $6.6 billion project.”

“A Montgomery County judge declined to issue an injunction … against a woman described by Mountain Valley Pipeline lawyers as a leading opponent of the highly divisive project.” “Three protestors were arrested after attaching themselves to … MVP… equipment.” “A group of landowners is seeking an emergency injunction from a federal appeals court that would pause construction of the … Pipeline on their property while their lawsuit is pending. Three couples who own three tracts of land along the pipeline’s route are challenging the company’s use of eminent domain, which it invoked in 2018 to take their land for the natural gas pipeline.”

This fall and winter, work will continue when it is safe to do so [according to the developer] .… State environmental regulators have cited Mountain Valley more than 300 times with violating erosion and sediment control regulations since 2018, allowing harmful sediment to be washed from the pipeline’s 125-foot wide right of way.” “After repeatedly telling investors and the public that it planned have the natural gas pipeline in service by the end of this year,” the developer announced a delay in the anticipated completion date to 1^st quarter 2024. Costs will be greater than previously stated.

“A federal safety agency is ordering … [MVP] to take additional steps to inspect and repair any sections of pipe that may have been damaged by exposure to the elements during long delays in construction. The action, which [followed] an informal consultation with [the] lead pipeline partner …, was taken to address concerns that prolonged exposure to sunlight may have worn thin a protective coating on the pipe meant to curb corrosion once it’s buried.” “Following a federal government agency’s proposed safety order, the pipeline’s operator says an independent third-party engineering firm will evaluate the integrity of the pipeline for the remainder of the project’s construction.”

North Carolina’s legislature overrode the Governor’s veto of a bill that “loosens water quality requirements for a controversial pipeline project called MVP Southgate. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has denied water quality certifications for the project in the past, but the bill would make it easier for MVP Southgate to get certified.”

The Sierra Club explained its opposition to “Dominion Energy [‘s proposed] … Gas-Burning Chesterfield Plant Near Disadvantaged Communities [noting that the] … peaker plant, if built, would be the largest in Virginia…. Peaker plants like the one Dominion is proposing are also known for emitting pollutants harmful to human health such as small particulate matter, nitrous oxides, and ozone. These can form particulate matter (PM2.5), which can enter the bloodstream and intensify health conditions and lead to premature death. The company wants to site the plant near the James River—a waterway that is already rife with pollution from heavy industrialization—near neighborhoods that are historically disadvantaged and primarily composed of communities of color.”

Climate and Environment

Chesapeake Bay, Air, Water, and Wildlife

“More than a dozen environmental groups have petitioned that the EPA be more strict on regulations regarding coal pollution from open-top trains, and the group cites communities in Hampton Roads as evidence of a need for change…. The petition — signed by the Sierra Club, New Virginia Majority and 14 other groups — calls for the agency to require coal train operators to obtain a permit for their water pollution. In the petition, the groups argue that coal pollution is damaging local aquatic life and human health with heavy metals and toxic chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury.”

“The commercial harvest of blue crabs has been extended in Virginia as the crab population trends upward…. The blue crab is an iconic part of the Chesapeake Bay, commercially and culturally. Their harvest brings in tens of millions of pounds of crab annually. The Chesapeake Bay is home to hundreds of millions of blue crabs, according to a yearly survey by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Fisheries Service of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources…. The Bay’s blue crab population had been on a four-year decline before this year. The crabs were at their lowest population in 33 years in 2022, according to the survey. The recent 42% increase prompted state agencies to expand commercial fishing timelines.”

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will invest $9.6 million into restoring the Chesapeake Bay with projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. More than $1.9 million in Watershed Restoration Grants will go toward two organizations in Virginia to help protect and restore Virginia’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.”

Drought, Flooding, and… Earthquakes?

“The city of Norfolk … secured its first federal grant to help offset the cost of building a 20-plus acre park in the St. Paul’s neighborhood that will double as a flooding mitigation tool. [The $4 million grant] is… from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service…. ”

“More than a year after a devastating flash flood hit Buchanan and Tazewell counties, residents whose property was damaged or destroyed can finally start the process of applying for state flood relief money. … [The delegate] instrumental in securing the $18 million, said … he hopes those who qualify will receive the money before the end of the year.”

Augusta County experienced a trifecta of earthquakes over eight days this month according to “the U.S. Geological Survey website…. Small earthquakes are uncommon in Virginia as a whole. However, there have been roughly 100 earthquakes in the last 23 years throughout the state, according to the USGS. Most register under 3.0 magnitude. Mineral, Va., has been the site of higher magnitude quakes with one registering 4.5 and one registering 5.8 in 2011. In the last 10 years, smaller earthquakes have also been registered in Louisa, Deerfield, Forest and Verona.”

Opinions

* “Transition to electric vehicles faces a bumpy road” by the “president of Skyline Policy Risk Group and a former deputy assistant secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation” – The Virginian‑Pilot

* “Virginia should make its own decisions about EVs [by] a distinguished fellow at The Heritage Foundation” — The Virginian-Pilot

* “Want to help Virginia consumers? Reverse course on electric vehicle mandate” by a former Virginia governor – Richmond Times-Dispatch

** “Youngkin’s RGGI repeal is a bad deal for Virginians” by the Executive Director of Virginia League of Conservation Voters – The Virginian Pilot

** ”What’s at stake if RGGI disappears in Virginia?” – Bay Journal article

** Letter to the Editor (LTE) by a Virginian Pilot reader in response to preceding opinion. “We can’t afford to wait on Davis’ vague claim that the marketplace will eventually do its magic. This is not a “tomorrow” problem; it is a “two weeks ago yesterday” problem.”

** A Loudoun Times-Mirror reader voiced similar support of RGGI.

*** “Unfounded concerns about photovoltaic module toxicity and waste are slowing decarbonization” by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory – published in Nature magazine and reported in Inside Climate News

*** “Solar farms and agriculture can coexist” by a Frederick County resident – Winchester Star

*** “Utility Scale Solar is Coming to a Farm Near You” by an Augusta County farmer – Getting More on the Ground

**** “Small modular nuclear reactors: Unlikely, unaffordable, dirty and dangerous” by The Appalachia Peace Education Center in Abingdon – News

**** LTE by a Bedford County resident. “Nuclear power is harmful” – Roanoke Times

“Up for a vote in this election: clean energy, data centers and utility influence” by a Virginia Energy expert – Virginia Mercury

“Leaky pipes, unpaid bills: Richmond really needs a public utilities commission” by “an active volunteer with Electrify RVA and a renewable energy software engineer” – The Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Virginia General Assembly must build on the cost savings of the IRA” by “the executive director of Freedom Virginia [and] … the policy director for the Virginia League of Conservation Voters” — Dogwood

Check out …

• The Garden Club of Virginia’s 65^th Annual Conservation Forum: EcoLandscaping, Nov. 2, 9 am to 1 pm, in person in Charlottesville and via on-line screening. Learn how to unlove your lawn, leave your leaves, rewild, and much more from three of Virginia’s leading environmentally-minded horticulturalists. Register here.
• Sierra Club’s 2023 Report “The Dirty Truth about Utilities Climate Pledges”. Dominion Virginia’s scores (page 13) are Ds.
• What recent sitings of manatees in the Chesapeake Bay could be telling us about the Bay itself.
• Grid upgrade and climate resilience funding that Virginia received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other funding areas from the Inflation Reduction Act.
• This riparian buffer walk along the Middle River at a Swope farm and learn just how these buffers benefit the land, river, and wildlife.
• Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards’ Tree Basics virtual class “Select, Plant, and Care for Trees”, November 2, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Learn how to select a tree for your property that will have the best chance to survive and flourish in the place that you choose for it. Register here.
• Join the Blue Ridge Prism’s webinar “Restoring the American Chestnut to the 21^st-Century Forest,” November 1, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Hear about all the progress that’s being made; you can enter into a drawing to get two chestnut seedlings to plant on your property. Register here.
• “The acclaimed documentary ‘King Coal’ [that meditates] … on the legacy of coal mining, exploring its influence on tradition and culture, and examining its impact on health and the environment. The movie, described by critics as beautiful and poetic, serves as an elegy for a way of life that is disappearing, and raises questions about the future of Appalachian mining towns, questions which are left unanswered.”

Why not …

• Take the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Service survey about current broadband services, especially if you aren’t satisfied with your current internet services? Find it here.
• Complete the Virginia State Trails Office survey  to share your enthusiasm for the Shenandoah Rail Trail? The Friends of the Shenandoah Rail Trail would like you to add your comment at the end asking the state to move forward on the Shenandoah Rail Trail and expressing your support for the project! “A multi-use path from Broadway to Front Royal not only connects community neighborhoods to schools, shopping and parks, but it also strings nine towns together, potentially catalyzing other local trail projects within the communities, and even beyond, to complete a region-to-statewide network.” Take the survey here.
• Complete this Rockingham County Transit Study Survey, especially if you are a county resident or travel into the county? The County “is evaluating the demand for public transit in your community … [and seeks public] input to help … understand travel needs and barriers … [in moving to and from the] County and the surrounding area.” Response deadline is November 6.
• Learn two meteorologist’s answers to the question “What does El Niño’s return this winter mean for Eastern U.S temperatures?”
• Learn why “Mulching leaves in yards, instead of removing them, actually benefits lawns and gardens”?
• Visit Virginia’s newest state park, Sweet Run State Park, to walk, hike, see old farmhouses and outbuildings, ride horseback, picnic, learn some Virginia history, and more? There is an 11-mile trail network. Photos here.
• Learn about oysters? Tom Horton, a Bay Journal columnist, wrote that “Oysters are embedded in the culture, the economy, the politics, the history…. The Bay Journal film, A Passion for Oysters, by Tom Horton, et al., will be available for free viewing beginning Nov. 1 at bayjournal.com/films.”
• “Plant a Few Trees for You and The Bees”? Details here.

The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV) is a non-profit, grassroots group in the Central Shenandoah Valley that educates legislators and the public about the implications of the Earth’s worsening climate crisis.

The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley is pleased to provide Harrisonburg’s The Citizen with a monthly survey of energy and environmental news stories about Virginia.

With their permission, we are re-posting these pieces here after they appear in the Citizen.

---

The link to this piece as first published by the Citizen is HERE.

Statewide Environmental News Roundup for September 2023, Part II

Announcement:

Social Event for us Climate Activists! 
Tuesday, October 24th! 
Pale Fire Brewing, Harrisonburg, 5p-?
Please come! We’d love to meet you!

Energy

Regulations

“The State Corporation Commission [SCC] could soon be unable to rule on cases before it for the first time in Virginia history because it has only one judge sitting on the bench. The SCC … regulates public utilities, insurance companies, banks and financial institutions…. The General Assembly failed again … [during the special session] to fill two vacant seats on the three‑member panel, and now a former commissioner who has been acting as a substitute judge will have to relinquish that role after her appointment as chair of the Virginia Parole Board by Gov. Glenn Youngkin ….”

“Regulators slashed Dominion Energy’s three-year plan to make some of its most outage-prone lines less vulnerable to outages, cutting some $351 million from the company’s request to approve $508 million of work. For customers, it will mean an additional $1.38 on a benchmark 1,000 kilowatt-hour bill, which now stands at $125. If the SCC had approved all of the work, that additional cost would have been $1.88.” “According to the [SCC] announcement, Dominion had requested permission to harden 111 main feeders but the SCC only approved 44.” Nonetheless, Dominion is proceeding with a plan to bury power lines in Richmond that have the most outages.

Data Centers, Energy Storage

“The data center industry contributed $54.2 billion to Virginia’s gross domestic product from 2017 to 2021, according to a [just-released] PricewaterhouseCoopers study…. That calculation includes indirect impacts … and induced impacts…. The study … [was] commissioned by the Loudoun County-based Data Center Coalition…. More than 70% of the world’s internet traffic comes through Data Center Alley — six square miles in Loudoun’s Ashburn area…. While some communities have referred to data centers as game changers, they also are subject to criticisms for being loud, unsightly and large consumers of electricity.”

 “Data centers, some of the biggest electricity users of all, have signed agreements with Dominion Energy showing they expect to use the equivalent of 35% of the record flow of electricity the utility saw during last year’s Christmas freeze…. Dominion disclosed the agreements in a few pages of a 221-page … [SCC] filing. The utility took the unusual step of detailing customer agreements about planned data centers — the facilities that house equipment to store and move data, power apps and provide access to computer networks — in response to challenges to its long-term forecasts of electricity demand. That growth, which Dominion said would triple from recent years to hit 5% a year over the next 15 to 25 years, could mean an increase in the utility’s carbon emissions.”

“As data center developer interest spreads across the state, Caroline County is yet another community in the Fredericksburg region preparing for and dealing with proposals involving the technology that powers cloud computing. Proposals on data centers have popped up in Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, Louisa and Fauquier counties. Caroline also has drawn interest from data center developers, and the county has proposed changes to its comprehensive plan in order to handle data centers.” “Concerns … [have surfaced] about Caroline [County] water plans {and} regional data centers.” “Caroline County is in the process of applying for a Virginia Water Protection permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality [DEQ]…. “[I]t’s the anticipation of “multiple industrial facilities that will rapidly increase water demand in the county,” according to documents filed with the application. A blogger noted that one aspect of the county’s process for accessing water is controversial because Virginia is a “riparian rights” state and because of its eminent domain law (Section 11 of Article 1).

“Culpeper Town Council … approved a rezoning for the development of its first proposed data center campus, slated for construction on 116 acres next to the Culpeper National Cemetery annex…. The two parcels, in proximity to the town electric plant and a housing development, were rezoned from residential to industrial…. The town in 2022 created a technology zone on its eastern edge to incentivize the data center use.”

To the southeast, a “1,200-acre data center park [is being] eyed in Hanover County.” The developer filed “a zoning request last week to create a shovel-ready development site for a future data center park…. If the zoning request is approved…, [the developer] … plans to spend more than $50 million to create the infrastructure needed for data centers to be built on the site….”

“Dominion Energy said … it has proposed to build a pilot project in Virginia to test two new energy storage technologies which could discharge power for a longer time than traditional batteries. Battery storage projects are critical for the transition towards clean energy…. Dominion said the proposed … storage project … would test … iron-air batteries … and zinc-hybrid batteries…” Dominion said it “will test [the] two new technologies as potential alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries, both of which could offer strengthened safety features for battery storage.” Dominion has asked the SCC to approve these and other battery storage projects.

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

“A more-than $500 million redevelopment project is transforming the former Lamberts Point Docks into a hub for offshore wind, shipbuilding and ship repair…. John Larson with Dominion Energy said the wind farm would generate enough energy to power 25% of the utility’s residential customers in the state. Additionally, more offshore wind sites would be opening up near Dominion’s project soon.” “Dominion Energy wants to pay Virginia Beach $19 million for roughly 4 miles of city easements to transmit energy from its offshore wind project. The power company has also agreed to provide $1.14 million to replace trees that will be razed to make room for the transmission lines and power poles…. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind farm will be 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach and will include 176 wind turbines. It will generate energy to power up to 660,000 homes, according to Dominion. Offshore construction is scheduled to begin next year.” “The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [BOEM] announced it has completed its environmental assessment of the project, … a little more than two years after the review began. The nearly 700-page report, … to be published September 29 in the Federal Register, starts the clock ticking on a minimum 30-day waiting period before the BOEM issues its final decision on whether to approve the project.”

Late last year “Dominion Energy … rolled out new fees and requirements for solar installers to connect to the utility’s grid, but the changes were never approved by state regulators…. [Dominion wanted] “to [require] … rooftop installations … [to pay] astronomical grid interconnection fees that [were] stifling the industry’s gains across an expansive swath of Virginia…. [Solar installers] … across Dominion’s service territory were … reassessing projects they had paused after the investor-owned utility rolled out new and expensive interconnection parameters last December for non-residential, net-metered solar projects. Dominion’s surprise rules — announced more than two years after a major Virginia law bolstered solar — could have boosted the price tag of each school project by at least $1 million … [one installer] estimated…. Regulators had not vetted the new requirements, which spelled out how solar companies would … pay to upgrade substations, cables and other hardware, as well as cover the cost of a series of studies to guarantee the new projects met safety and reliability requirements. Also, solar array recipients would be required to pay a monthly fee to Dominion to cover maintenance. [T]he utility wanted solar customers to sign what it called a “small generator interconnection agreement” so it was clear they would be the ones held liable if their array caused a grid failure.” On behalf of Virginia installers, the Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance requested injunctive relief against Dominion. The SCC acted quickly in Case No. PUR-2023-00097, granting the request from the solar industry to block Dominion from implementing certain technology requirements while the interconnection regulations are under review. The SCC now has pending a review of regulations governing the interconnection of small electric generators and storage resources. This review is pursuant to its May 2 order.

“The LENOWISCO [acronym for Lee, Wise and Scott counties and the independent city of Norton] Planning Commission is deep into the research phase investigating the possibility of Southwest Virginia becoming the home of one – or several – small modular nuclear reactors [SNR], a venture catalyzed by the governor’s energy plan…. In particular, he wants Virginia to invest in small modular reactors or SMRs – in theory, less cost-prohibitive than larger nuclear power plants. The Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a design for SMRs in the U.S. in January…. In a study funded by the Virginia Department of Energy and GO Virginia Region One, [the company selected to conduct it] assessed the feasibility of seven sites in Southwest Virginia…. All seven ended up being viable…. The commission has started a supply chain study and is about to dive into a public outreach period to gather area residents’ feedback about the sites.… [The study spokesperson] anticipates the commission will be finished with both tasks before the end of the year…. In terms of economic benefit, it’s not so much about the number of jobs the SMRs will provide as it is about the tax base they will supply, according to [the spokesperson] …. Through the Regional Industrial Facilities Authority, LENOWISCO localities can distribute the tax revenue through revenue sharing.”

Transportation

“Preliminary work is set to begin this fall on a $2.3 billion rail bridge over the Potomac River — a milestone in Virginia’s ambitious plan that would expand East Coast commuter and passenger train capacity over the next decade. Virginia Passenger Rail Authority officials … warned of delays if funding isn’t secured in the coming months to close a $729 million budget gap in the state’s rail program.” Virginia’s senators “announced $100 million in federal funds … for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to build a rail bridge to ease congestion along a busy stretch of railway in Fairfax County. The money will [fund a] project [that] will expand service capacity and help thwart delays. CSX, Amtrak and VRE use the tracks, and construction is set to take place between 2024 and 2026. “

Fossil Fuels

“Earlier this month, Virginia’s Air Board received a report on a “controversial permit” for Dominion Energy’s proposed Chesterfield Reliability Center, a 1,000-megawatt power plant that would be used as means of generating electricity in cases of extreme weather. State law defines the project as “controversial,” requiring a public hearing and other criteria, because it is a new fossil-fuel generating facility with a capacity of 500 megawatts or more…. Climate activist groups Third Act and Chesapeake Climate Action Network say the project is more than just controversial by state law…. [A] Chesterfield County resident with Third Act said because the plant would be built adjacent to the Chesterfield Power Station by the James River, residents in the area will suffer from increased pollutants. ‘The neighborhood nearby has suffered with 80 years of coal plant emissions, and they deserve a break’….” Dominion Energy provided “Early details about the pollution impact of a proposed power plant in Eastern Chesterfield County … to the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board … [that heard a presentation] by officials from the Virginia … [DEQ]. The plant has been labeled controversial by state regulators, drawing community pushback. Dominion Energy says it’s needed to keep pace with increasing electrical demand.”

“Several environmental and civic groups are calling for a natural gas giant and federal regulators to rethink a project that could increase air pollution near one of southeast Virginia’s most vulnerable communities…. The firm behind the contentious Keystone Pipeline … wants to upgrade a compressor station near Petersburg…. The work would remove controls that currently limit the horsepower of existing equipment. …[T]he company also proposes doubling the diameter of nearly 50 miles of existing pipeline through Sussex, Surry, Southampton and Isle of Wight counties as well as the cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake. The expansion and modifications along the Columbia Gas Transmission line have generated nowhere near the amount of outcry as the Mountain Valley Pipeline [MVP] in the western part of the state. But both battles have raised environmental justice concerns over their potential impacts to nearby communities.”

“After case dismissals, work on … [the MVP in Virginia] resumed [even though the] Pipeline safety administration [PHMSA] call[ed] for further assessment of pipeline conditions following construction delays” and “additional inspections of the steel pipe before it is buried, although there has been no final action on a proposed safety order issued Aug. 11…. [C]ritics worry that while negotiations continue, sections of the 42-inch diameter pipe – which may have been compromised by exposure to the elements since 2017 – are being placed in the ground as the company rushes to complete construction by the end of the year. In an Aug. 18 letter to PHMSA, about a dozen organizations opposed to the pipeline asked the administration to work with other federal agencies and order that work be stopped until safety conditions are implemented…. [Meanwhile,] “A major leak at a Pennsylvania natural gas storage facility operated by the same company that is leading construction of the … [MVP] was caused by corrosion of a well joint.”

In late August, “opponents of the … MVP … protested construction work in Montgomery County…. One protestor locked herself to construction equipment….” Subsequently, “Two [more] opponents … chained themselves to heavy equipment at a work site…. Activists are trying to delay construction of the natural gas pipeline, which they say causes environmental harm and will contribute to climate change. Since construction resumed earlier this summer, at least five people have been arrested.” MVP “is suing more than 40 people and two organizations that it says are unlawfully interfering with its efforts to complete a natural gas pipeline amid growing unrest. The company is asking a judge to issue an injunction that would prevent opponents from entering construction areas, where they have temporarily delayed work at least a dozen times since July 5.” A judge issued “temporary injunctions against 6 pipeline protestors, but questions [the MVP’s] broader request.”

Climate and Environment

Chesapeake Bay, Air, and Water

“Recently, Virginia’s Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program was highlighted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its $2.8 million investment in almost 100 ecotourism planning and infrastructure projects over the years, with a near 12x return on investment. CZM supports ecotourism initiatives in Virginia’s rural coastal communities. Learn more about CZM’s success from NOAA’s program highlight.” – Sept 21, 2023 DEQ newsletter

“Public Works departments in Harrisonburg and Waynesboro are currently accepting comments related to their Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load action plans which serve as a roadmap for reducing pollutants in local waterways before they reach the coast….  The deadline for comments is Oct. 5. Comments can be submitted in writing to Harrisonburg Environmental and Sustainability Manager Keith Thomas at stormwater@harrisonburgva.gov or by mail to 320 E. Mosby Road, Harrisonburg, Va. 22801.”

“Earlier this summer, wildfire smoke lowered air quality in the Eastern U.S. to its worst levels on record. While the smoke has mostly cleared in Virginia since July, scientists are sounding the alarm that — with climate change heating up the world and creating drier conditions — smoky summers will grow increasingly common.”

The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) awarded “$4,352,000 for the Virginia … [DEQ]’s Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund. The funding … will make it possible for VDEQ to offer low-interest loans to local governments … to support efforts to address emerging contaminants that pollute the clean water supply in Virginia. The funding is awarded … [by the EPA’s] Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Fund.”

Drought and Flooding

“A drought is worsening in parts of the [DC/VA/MD] region. The hardest-hit areas are mostly west of Fairfax and central Montgomery (Md.) counties. The lack of rain has caused crops to wither and prompted concerns about water levels on the Potomac River. Foliage concerns: It’s especially dry near the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley, which could mute fall colors” In late August, the DEQ “issued a drought warning for the counties of Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Warren, Page, Rockingham and Augusta….”

“The Commonwealth has been awarded $20,053,105 in disaster relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. The funding provides relief to localities affected by the February 2021 severe winter storm and the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Administered by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management on behalf of FEMA, the funding is … 90 percent from federal funds and 10 percent state funds.”

“Over the past two years, two major deluges in the towns of Hurley and Whitewood in Southwest Virginia have caused catastrophic flooding that left dozens of homes destroyed and one woman dead.

But as the communities have struggled to rebuild, federal relief has been limited. In response, state legislators have dipped into state funds earmarked for other purposes to help with recovery. The main source of that funding is the state’s proceeds from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative [RGGI] auctions, which Virginia law dictates must go to flood preparedness and energy efficiency programs. The diversion of nearly $30 million of those funds to post-disaster relief has put a spotlight on Virginia’s lack of a system to assist individuals recovering from storm damage…. [The] state coordinator at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management … said while the reallocation of RGGI revenues is a way to fill a gap for people impacted by the storms, there is a desire among policymakers for a dedicated state program that could provide individual assistance without waiting on the lengthy budget amendment process…. But with Gov. Glenn Youngkin moving to pull Virginia out of RGGI, that source of funding may soon disappear. And emergency planners say they are seeing increased demand for storm response and recovery.”

“Two major funding opportunities are available to increase flood resilience in the Commonwealth. A total of $103 million is available for advance projects to improve resilience to flooding through the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund and the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund…. The Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund offers $18.5 million in grants and loans…. The Community Flood Preparedness Fund offers $85 million in grants and loans. Established in 2020 and now in its fourth round … [it] empowers localities to increase capacity for flood resilience and execution of flood protection projects. It supports the implementation of the Commonwealth Resilience Planning Principles detailed in Virginia’s Coastal Resilience Master Planning Framework.”

Wildlife

“As critical pollinator populations decline, cities and campuses find ways to encourage bees, butterflies and bats. Cities and college campuses across the region have been certified as ‘bee-friendly.’ Their efforts include reducing the use of pesticides, allowing native species to thrive, and educating residents and students about how best to help pollinators.” Numerous Virginia cities, towns, and universities are part of “Bee City USA.” Emory and Henry College “partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canaan Valley Institute to convert 2 acres into a pollinator meadow.” “More than $2 million worth of honey is produced in Virginia annually [but a] “Virginia Tech ecology expert [advised] ‘Bees do more than just give us honey’…. Honey is also used for medicinal purposes due to its antimicrobial properties…. Along with providing food for surrounding wildlife, honeybee pollination boosts crop production … [and] about a third of the food eaten by Americans comes from crops pollinated by honeybees, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

Opinions

• Authors provided their views on Virginia’s withdrawal from RGGI. Data on Virginia’s RGGI auction proceeds are here.
  • A Virginia delegate argued: “Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: Democrats’ misguided, expensive approach to energy production.” – The Hill
  • An editorial board in Tidewater noted: “There’s no plan to offset lost RGGI revenue used for flood projects.” – The Virginian-Pilot
• Authors also offered their views on large solar projects.
  • A former Trump Administration Interior Department official and current “vice chairman of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District” attacks big data center companies not for their energy demand, but for anything they do to meet that demand with solar, asking “Is Amazon polluting the Chesapeake Bay?” – The Richmond Times-Dispatch
  • A Richmond resident penned a response, asserting that “Solar energy has its benefits, too.” – The Richmond Times-Dispatch
• A Central Valley farmer and blogger wrote “Utility-scale solar is coming to a farm near you. I support big solar, but it must be done right.” – The Virginia Mercury
• A Norfolk City Council member believes “Virginia’s climate action is on the ballot this fall.” – The Virginian-Pilot
• A Virginia energy blogger sees “A bright spot at the intersection of farming, electric vehicles and solar energy”, [noting that] Solar is a better deal than corn for the community, since it provides tax revenue, diversifies the local economy and conserves water.” – The Virginia Mercury
• A Frederick County resident believes “Renewable energy offers a bright future.” – The Winchester Star

Check out …

• NPR’s week-long stories and conversations about the search for climate solutions that you can listen to on WMRA. “This isn’t just about “covering” the climate — it’s meant to remind everyone that you can always do something.” See highlights of specific stories at this link.
• Blue Ridge Prism’s Three Fall Workshops to build your fundamental knowledge of invasive plants!
  • October 20 workshop, in-person hands-on training in identification and management techniques at McIntire Park Charlottesville, 10 am – 1 pm, cost $25. Register here.
  • October 24 virtual session will provide an introduction to invasive plants and focus on how to identify them in the autumn and winter, 1 to 3 pm, cost $10. Register here.
  • October 26 virtual session will cover control methods and provide tips on how best to manage these invasive plants during the fall/winter seasons, 1 to 3 pm, Cost $10. Register here.
• UVA’s Lifelong Learning Institute and Environmental Institute’s online discussion on the seeming rise of extreme weather events and a planet living with harsh new environmental challenges by a panel of UVA experts, October 11, 2023, 2 – 3 pm. Register here.
• Wild Virginia’s webinar, “Raising Endangered Birds for Success,” and learn about “bird behavior, breeding endangered species, and the release of these beautiful animals into the wild”, October 3, 6:30 pm. Register here.
• This great resource from Advanced Energy United: Making the Most of the Federal Home Energy Rebates,  “Making the Most of the Federal Home Energy Rebates.” This comprehensive guide focuses on the twin Department of Energy rebate programs, HOMES and HEEHRA, which offer an exceptional opportunity to catalyze the market for residential efficiency, electrification, and distributed energy resources. Created with policymakers in mind, it offers a roadmap to making the most out of the $8.6 billion available for states. Download the toolkit here.”
• Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards’ (CATS) webinar, “Tree Identification by Season: Fall”, October 17, 7 pm. Explore the plant pigments that exhibit fall colors and see if they can aid in identification of trees. Register here.
• UVA Environmental Institute’s talk, “Extreme Weather Events: A Changing Environment “, October 11, 2-3 pm. Register here.
• How “Energy-Efficiency Programs Aid Virginians With High Utility Costs.” One program is available to residents of the Northern and Central Valley. Apply here.
• This video about Why Autumn is an Important Season for Gardening.

Why not …

• View the Dark Skies at Ivy Creek, part of Ivy Creek Foundation’s “Third Friday Under the Stars” series, 8 to 10 pm on October 20, November 17, and December 15, 2023? Details here.
• Go to the McCormick Observatory Public Night, October 6, 2023 9 pm to 10 pm, 600 McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22904? Details here.
• Attend the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Defending Virginia’s Wetlands webinar, Oct. 3, 6:30–8:00 pm? Learn “how valuable wetlands are for our people, our economy, and our environment” and how they “are now at risk … in light of the recent Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision. Register here.
• Respond to the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (DOF) request to Virginians to help collect acorns and nuts and drop them off to be planted at its Augusta Nursery? Through statewide collection efforts, DOF nurseries plant more trees, of more species, from varied genetics. Acorns may be dropped off at any DOF office location by Oct. 16. For more information about acorn collection, contact the Augusta Nursery at (540) 363-7000. DOF needs these species this year:
  • Black Oak, Chestnut Oak, White Oak, Northern Red Oak, Southern Red Oak, Pin Oak, Shumard Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Swamp White Oak, Water Oak, Willow Oak, Black Chestnut & Chinese Chestnut
• Join the webinar, “Stopping Utilities From Using Our Money Against Us”, October 5, 7pm? Register here. A panel discussion will describe recently passed laws to stop utilities from using ratepayer funds for lobbying, political campaign donations, and other inappropriate uses. Learn how to launch a similar effort in Virginia. Dominion Energy is one of the utilities whose ratepayers help pay for their political campaign donations.
• Learn about Southeastern Grasslands? Did you know that “There are more types of grasslands in the Southeast than the entirety of the Great Plains and Midwestern prairies?”

The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV) is a non-profit, grassroots group in the Central Shenandoah Valley that educates legislators and the public about the implications of the Earth’s worsening climate crisis.