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Happy Friday!
December 19, 2025
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Finally, some clearer roads! The Energy Right team was out across the Commonwealth, including a visit to Williamsburg where the CARMA luncheon was held, hearing from State Senator Danny Diggs and Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle. Happy Holidays!
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Moving the Needle Forward—Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly
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As the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session approaches, conversations around energy policy suggest the Commonwealth is at a pivotal moment. Lawmakers are preparing to address a wide range of proposals tied to energy efficiency, solar generation, grid modernization, and expanded battery storage to help stabilize costs and meet rapidly growing demand. Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has made clear that energy affordability will be a central focus of the legislative agenda, with renewables and energy storage highlighted as practical tools to reduce long-term utility costs, strengthen reliability, and prepare the grid for future growth driven by electrification and data centers.
Now is the time to move the needle forward on responsible energy creation—not policy stagnation or half measures. Solar and battery storage play a proven role in Virginia’s clean energy future, enhancing grid resilience, reducing peak demand, and allowing more low-cost renewable power onto the system. But meaningful progress depends on sound policy that reflects real-world conditions on the ground. Rural landowners and local communities, who host projects and steward productive farmland, bring essential perspective to these discussions. Their experiences with siting, land use, and local impacts should inform how new policies are structured and implemented.
Energy Right will be actively monitoring the session, offering timely analysis, and amplifying the voices of landowners and communities to members of the General Assembly. By ensuring lawmakers hear directly from those most affected by solar and storage development, we can help shape policies that support thoughtful growth, protect property rights, expand economic opportunity, and deliver a clean, reliable energy future that works for all Virginians.
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Strengthening the System: Virginia Backs Storage and Advanced Energy Training
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Virginia is continuing to invest in the technologies and workforce needed to meet rising energy demand while keeping reliability and affordability front and center. This month, the Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank (VCEIB), powered by Virginia Energy, announced two strategic awards that highlight the Commonwealth’s all-of-the-above approach: $3 million to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative for battery energy storage in Caroline County, and $275,000 to UVA Wise to support advanced nuclear workforce training in Southwest Virginia. Together, these investments reflect a deliberate effort to strengthen the grid today while preparing for the energy systems of tomorrow.
The battery energy storage project awarded to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative will deploy a 4-megawatt, four-hour system at a local substation, helping the cooperative manage peak demand, improve reliability, and reduce long-term costs for its 182,000 member-owners. The system is expected to generate nearly $9 million in net savings for REC members and support dozens of jobs during construction. By storing electricity during low-demand periods and deploying it when it is needed most, battery storage adds flexibility to the grid and helps cooperatives serve growing communities without placing unnecessary cost pressure on ratepayers.
At the same time, Virginia is investing in the workforce that will power future energy innovation. The award to UVA Wise will fund a NuScale small modular reactor control room simulator, one of only two on the East Coast, positioning Southwest Virginia as a hub for advanced nuclear training. The simulator will support workforce development, K–12 STEM education, and public engagement while preparing students for careers in nuclear energy and other energy-intensive industries.
These projects show a growth in both trust and investment for both clean energy projects and progressive energy development as a whole. Meeting Virginia’s growing energy needs will require both modern infrastructure and skilled workers. The support given by the VCEIB is a substantial boost in that direction, and the investment in the communities is a strong indicator of healthy development.
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Our team went to Goochland, Halifax, Henrico, James City and Williamsburg this week!
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Energy Right CEO Skyler Zunk had the chance to chat with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright at the White House Christmas party this week. They spoke briefly about the future of solar energy in a market driven environment free from federal tax credits and the incredible growth in energy demand that solar will help to meet. Secretary Wright mentioned the work the Trump Administration is doing to quicken the timelines for advanced nuclear permitting to help grow baseload power.
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Legislators cue up last year’s vetoed energy bills for a new session, but leave us wanting more
– Virginia Mercury
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With Gov. Glenn Youngkin set to leave office and Democrats holding legislative momentum, energy bills vetoed last session are returning to the General Assembly. This fall, the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (CEUR) endorsed several proposals to expand rooftop, balcony, and shared solar, boost energy storage targets, and improve utility planning—moves that signal a strong chance of passage under incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
Still, critics argue the package falls short of confronting Virginia’s core challenge: explosive data center-driven demand. While some measures would free up grid capacity and lower bills, CEUR stopped short of requiring tech companies to shoulder more responsibility or rapidly scale new generation. With energy costs rising, lawmakers face growing pressure to move beyond incremental fixes.
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Virginia is pushing ahead with offshore wind development even as federal policy slows the sector nationwide. Dominion Energy’s 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project remains on track for completion in 2026 after clearing all major federal approvals. Once operational, the 176-turbine project is expected to power up to 660,000 homes, strengthening regional energy security and underscoring Virginia’s commitment to an all-of-the-above, clean energy strategy.
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