Back in the New Year!

January 9th, 2026

This week, the Energy Right team is back in action, attending a press conference at the General Assembly as well as a policy discussion in Hanover. We’re looking forward to more meaningful changes being made this year when it comes to energy, the Right Way.

Listening Before Legislating: Energy and Community Concerns Ahead of 2026

Old Town Hall, Richmond, VA

Town halls are some of the best places to have residents speak directly to their local and state representatives for an open, candid conversation. Prince George County  hosted one ahead of the 2026 General Assembly session last night and it was a great opportunity to see what was in store. The event included members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board, along with Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams, Delegate Lindsey Dougherty, and Senator Lashrecse Aird. It was a chance to listen closely and to hear what concerns are being raised and felt by Virginians right now, and to better understand what issues may take shape when lawmakers return to Richmond.

Residents spoke on a wide range of topics, with solar development, firearms, education, jobs, and healthcare driving much of the discussion. On solar, there was specific conversation around state siting and ordinance standards and what role, if any, the Commonwealth should play in shaping local policy. Both Delegate Pope Adams and Delegate Dougherty were clear that they do not support taking authority away from local governments and placing it in the hands of the state. Instead, they emphasized that ordinance standards should focus on establishing reasonable, practical action items and not forcing counties to comply with subjective state-level rulings.

What came through most clearly was the importance of local voices and local choices in shaping what comes next. Residents weren’t just reacting to policy; they were sharing how decisions made in Richmond and at the county level show up in their daily lives. Those perspectives matter, especially as the 2026 General Assembly session approaches. With energy and renewables expected to be a major focus as Virginia aims to be a leader across multiple sectors, conversations like this reinforce that durable, effective policy starts by listening to communities and respecting their role in charting their own path forward.

WHAT WE’RE THINKING

Energy, Data, & Fatigue

Across Virginia, frustration with data center development is growing, particularly in rural communities where residents are increasingly questioning the cumulative impacts of large scale infrastructure projects. What was once framed as economic opportunity is now being weighed against the loss of farmland and forests, pressure on groundwater supplies, rising electricity costs, and long term changes to community character.

Recent discussion around the proposed Hunting Hawk Technology Park in Hanover County reflects this shift. Residents have raised concerns about coordinated outreach efforts supporting the project while expressing anxiety about land use, water consumption, and whether local communities are truly benefiting from development designed to serve regional or national demand.

These concerns surfaced again this week when the Energy Right team attended a policy discussion hosted by Americans for Prosperity with members of the Hanover legislative delegation ahead of the 2026 General Assembly session. While the conversation covered issues ranging from labor policy and affordability to housing, education, and electric vehicle mandates, energy emerged as a unifying theme. Data centers and their growing demands on the grid were central to many questions from attendees.

Notably, the discussion revealed a shift in political alignment. Rural, conservative landowners focused on preserving property rights and a way of life are increasingly finding common ground with environmental advocates and groups such as the Sierra Club. Though their motivations differ, both are pushing back against unchecked development and calling for greater transparency, local control, and protection of natural landscapes.

This emerging coalition highlights a broader reality across the Commonwealth. Virginians are not rejecting growth, but they are demanding that it be balanced, accountable, and responsive to the communities asked to host it. As data center fatigue deepens, these unlikely alliances are becoming a powerful force in shaping energy and land use debates across the Commonwealth.

Where We Went

FROM THE ROAD

On Wednesday, the Energy Right team attended a press conference at the General Assembly to hear from delegates and senators on a couple energy storage bills this upcoming session. Delegate Rip Sullivan plans to reintroduce the energy storage bill from last year with added language to include resources for counties and education efforts at the state level. While Delegate Phil Hernandez teased the FAST Act which would have energy storage systems built on existing power generation facilities to fill in the gaps and make those facilities as close to 100% output as possible.

WHAT WE READ

WHAT NEXT?

WORTH A READ + SHARE

Virginia lawmakers are reintroducing legislation to significantly expand the state’s energy storage capacity after a similar bill was vetoed last year, aiming to boost reliability and affordability on the grid. Sponsors Del. Rip Sullivan and Sen. Lamont Bagby argue that energy storage systems help balance intermittent renewables like solar and wind and reduce peak-period costs.

Supporters say stronger storage targets will modernize Virginia’s electricity system, while critics warn that construction costs could be passed on to ratepayers. The renewed push reflects growing consensus that storage is a critical component of a resilient, cost-effective energy grid as demand grows.

Want to keep up with Energy Right? Sign up, and forward to a friend!