Category: Virginia Environmental News Roundup

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 December 2023, Part II

Editor’s Note: This is the final installment in our regular series. This piece highlights, with links to further coverage in various media outlets, several recent environmental news stories and opinions of significance to Virginia, with a focus on energy and the environment.

CAAV has been pleased to provide these roundups and hopes to produce occasional updates. In this, our final edition of this series, begun in spring 2020, we bring you only a fraction of the encouraging and discouraging news in our state this month. Some items are mundane, some are technical; some affect many, and some only a few – but these, and other stories too numerous to include, are part of our common reality. Thank you for reading.

We hope you will continue to seek out news and opinion pieces to help you understand what’s happening in Virginia. The “Check out” section (below) has a list of many of the news outlets that offer so much invaluable information and on which we have relied. Most are available for free. Please consider reading and supporting the efforts of their reporters and editors and allow them to inform you further on the many subjects we’ve covered in this series, as well as those in which you have particular interest. CAAV will continue to produce the monthly Climate News Roundup. Find it here. You may also wish to read The Friendly City Urbanist, written by a Harrisonburg resident. It’s focused on local, state, and national topics relating to land use, housing, climate, and transportation. You can subscribe to the email newsletter or simply read it online without subscribing.

We hope these words by an opinion writer and associate professor of New Testament will resonate:

“Humans and the world we inhabit are interconnected. We have consistently put our needs above those of our neighbors and the planet we inhabit, and the fire, water, wind and snow now cry out in rebuke…. Nature simply reveals the wounds that we inflict upon it. Creation bears witness…. The year 2023 was nature’s testimony that something is profoundly broken. The year 2024 — and beyond — will show whether we loved anyone beyond ourselves enough to listen. Our children will bear the weight of our response.”

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote: “I honor the human race.” When it faces life head-on, it can almost remake itself.” For all our sakes, we trust that humanity will prove her correct.

Energy

Regulations, Legislation and Utilities

“A plan to double the size of a natural gas pipeline in Hampton Roads now has approval from regulators despite opposition from environmental groups. The expansion, called the Virginia Reliability Project, would dig up, replace and double the size of two sections, or about 48 miles, of Columbia Gas pipeline between Chesapeake and Petersburg.” “This month, the state’s Marine Resources Commission issued a wetlands permit for the project, although 175 Virginia residents submitted comments, all in opposition. The Virginia Reliability Project calls for constructing compressor stations and expanding a gas line which has been operating since the 1950s with a larger-diameter pipeline. … [The] general counsel and deputy director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network said the project does not line up with Virginia’s climate goals, and a report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission appeared to confirm it. In the final Environmental Impact Statement that FERC has to issue, it clearly said, ‘This project will increase Virginia’s climate emissions by 2%…’”. [Legal] action is being considered to halt the project.” (See opinion piece below.)

“Federal energy regulators last week approved a three-year extension for Mountain Valley Pipeline to build a planned 75-mile offshoot of its main natural gas pipeline that would run from Pittsylvania County to North Carolina. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC] gave Mountain Valley until June 18, 2026 to complete the Southgate extension, despite complaints that the project would cause air and water pollution and is not necessary…. When FERC approved the offshoot in 2020, it made that approval conditional on Mountain Valley receiving the necessary permits for the mainline.”

Data Centers and Energy Storage

“Prince William County’s professional planning staff has once again recommended against approving the Prince William Digital Gateway — rezoning applications that seek to open 1,760 acres just north of the Manassas National Battlefield Park to as many as 37 new data centers. The county’s planning staff made a similar recommendation to the Prince William County Planning Commission …, which voted after an all-night hearing to recommend denial of the rezonings tied to the project. But since the Planning Commission has only an advisory role, the rezonings were … sent to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors….” The Board narrowly approved the project for what could be the largest data center corridor after hearing from “nearly 400 people [who] weighed in during an often-heated 27‑hour‑long meeting….” “Now that Digital Gateway has been approved, [one question is] what’s next for the massive data center project?” The Board’s decision may be challenged in court. The developer still needs to acquire some of the land. It needs to plan for project rollouts and for infrastructure improvements it promised to deliver. The timetable is, at present, “murky.”

“The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors approved another 1.4 million of data center square footage … on pastureland … part of the county’s heavily-marketed McDevitt Drive Technology Zone. A REC substation on-site will serve the development along with large backup generators, with self-contained fuel units, according to developers…. Three other data center projects are also in the works in this area and a fourth, an Amazon site, is planned….”

“A lawsuit seeking to invalidate Warrenton Town Council’s vote to approve the controversial Amazon data center can go forward — at least in part…. The two counts that … [the judge] said could move forward are procedural in nature and attack the validity of the town’s zoning text amendment that allows data centers to obtain a special use permit to build in industrial zones….” 

“Dominion Energy has flipped the switch on what’s so far its largest batterybank, the latest step in its increasingly fast-paced move to install electricity storage facilities on its grid. The now-operational Dry Bridge Battery Energy Storage System in Chesterfield County can store up to 20 megawatts of electricity for four hours. That’s enough to power 5,000 homes. Batteries have become a necessity as the utility adds solar and offshore wind turbines to its system.”

Renewable Energy

“The federal government is pitching Virginia on loan opportunities to help pay for the state’s transition to renewables, saying federal funding can reduce the financial burden passed on to ratepayers. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office said loans are available to cover up to 80% of the costs of projects that convert fossil fuel generation sources to renewables, install transmission upgrades and develop offshore wind or small modular nuclear reactors and their related supply chains.”

“The United States Department of the Interior … announced the proposal for the sale of an offshore wind lease off the Atlantic Coast, including one area about 35 nautical miles from the shores of Hampton Roads. According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the sale will include an area off the coast of Maryland and Delaware in addition to the area in Virginia.… According to the proposed lease, the agreement would allow for a project to generate energy using wind turbine generators and … includes any offshore substation platforms, inner array cables and subsea export cables. If approved, the operating lease for the Virginia site would last 33 years. The two areas have the potential to power more than 2.2 million homes.”

“As other wind projects stall, Virginia’s approach keeps Dominion’s on track…. [Research and engineering analyses] gave Dominion the confidence to bid $1.6 million in 2013 to win a federal offshore wind farm lease — the stretch of the Atlantic 25 miles from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront where it’s now on track to complete a 176-turbine wind farm. Dominion is taking delivery of the first of the 176 giant steel tubes — 292 feet long, 1,500 tons — that will anchor its turbines in waters up to 125 feet deep. The project is on schedule and on budget, according to filings with the State Corporation Commission. At the same time, some developers in other states are dropping wind projects or recognizing big accounting losses — $5 billion so far — because costs are looking to exceed revenue. A New Jersey project is dead. New York state is reopening its auctions for wind power firms trying to nail down higher prices for their power.” Dominion believes its model differs from those in other East Coast states and will succeed.

“Unfounded claims about offshore wind threatening whales have surfaced as a flashpoint in the fight over the future of renewable energy. In recent months, conservatives … have claimed construction of offshore wind turbines is killing the giant animals. Scientists say there is no credible evidence linking offshore wind farms to whale deaths…. In Europe, where offshore wind has been developed for more than three decades, national agencies also have not found causal links between wind farms and whale deaths. Meanwhile, U.S. scientists are collecting data near offshore wind farms to monitor any possible impacts short of fatality, such as altered behavior or changes to migration routes. This research is still in preliminary stages….”

Even so, “a pair of organizations has filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue letter against the [Dominion] Virginia Offshore Wind Project …. [The] two organizations are filing with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [BOEM] and the National Marine Fisheries Service the letter for a violation of the Endangered Species Act [ESA]. The notice is required by the … [ESA] for parties who wish to commence litigation against BOEM. The lawsuit stems from what the two groups say is a failure to provide adequate protection of the North Atlantic right whale and other endangered species.” (See opinion piece below.)

Have you heard of “solar grazing”? In Virginia, it’s “sheep … [working] year-round to ‘lamb-scape’ Virginia solar farms…. It’s part of a larger movement called agrivoltaics, or using land simultaneously for agriculture and solar energy. The concept’s pretty simple. Solar farms need to keep vegetation short, so it won’t interfere with the panels. Instead of paying someone to mow the grass, a solar farm operator can hire shepherds….”

Through an unusual conversion of an aged former school building as a pilot project, “Pulaski County’s green era [will combine]: a vertical farm, solar panels and green manufacturing. Pulaski … added a methane conversion plant and a focus on green manufacturing in an effort to market itself as a green, ‘solar friendly’ locality.”

“A new Richmond co-op [organized by the national nonprofit Solar United Neighbors] increases [the] region’s solar options…. [The] Richmond-based co-op [helps participants buy] … solar panels and EV chargers [at a discount]… Right now, solar in the Old Dominion can power over a half-million homes — and it’s growing. … {The] commonwealth ranks 10th in the nation for installed solar capacity and is projected to be among the top 10 for new project installations during the next five years.”

Transportation

“Over 350 members of Valley Interfaith Action [(VIA) recently] took “the next step” in hopes of bringing transportation and childcare to the area …, with the help of a $50,000 grant from Sentara and two confirmed yes votes from county supervisors. VIA is a “broad-based, non-partisan, multi-issue” organization made up of faith-based, immigrant, neighborhood and other associations. After holding a listening campaign in 2022, the group has been campaigning to bring door-to-door demand response transit to Rockingham County and affordable childcare with teachers who are paid a living wage…. [The] recent … [event brought together VIA] members to advocate for demand response transit [in Rockingham County] and two new affordable childcare centers … [and] to have a conversation to work toward the vision.”

 “Albemarle County’s free, on-demand transit service, still in its pilot stage, is off to a strong start. Seven weeks since its inception, the Charlottesville Area Transit’s MicroCAT fleet of six vans has provided more than 1,000 rides to riders traveling within Pantops and the U.S. 29 corridor…. The MicroCAT service operates from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is free of charge…. It’s designed to help cover regions of the county that are underserved by public transit, allowing people to connect to bus stops or take them directly to certain destinations. ‘This new low-emission pilot program will improve public options in Albemarle County with technology to expand access to flexible, equitable and sustainable transportation,’ … [the] chair of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, told a crowd at the program’s ribbon-cutting back in October.”

“Roanoke’s Valley Metro to expand with microtransit service” through a pilot program that will allow customers to call for Sunday service.

“An infusion of $2 million in federal funding will study improvements to passenger rail in Virginia and beyond, encompassing routes that would include the New River Valley.” “$500,000 [of the funding is] earmarked for additional study of Bristol rail route.” “Virginia has awakened to a cool new railroad set under its holiday tree. It includes multiple trains to run between Washington, D.C., and stations in Henrico County and downtown Richmond. It has tracks east to Norfolk and Newport News and west to Roanoke and the New River Valley and maybe Bristol. The set even includes tracks to run fast trains from Richmond to Raleigh, N.C., a state capital-to-capital connection that would take about 75 minutes less time than it does now. Sounds swell, but now Virginia has to assemble it all so the trains reach their destination on time.”

 “In the realm of railroads, Charlottesville may be the little city that could, as three federal grants announced … [recently] appear to move Charlottesville closer to more daily trains and something that’s not been seen in 47 years: a direct rail connection to Richmond and Tidewater.” “There are a few more hurdles to clear before a new passenger rail stop can open in Christiansburg. The stop, first promised in 2021, has had a completion date set for some time in 2025, and while there’s nothing to suggest that timeframe is out-of-reach, officials are still awaiting design plans before they choose a location for the stop.” (See opinion piece below.)

“Electric vehicles are gaining popularity in Virginia, but sales are unlikely to meet the looming state mandate, based on the current trajectory. EVs accounted for 9% of all new vehicles sold in the state in the first eight months of 2023, according to a new report from the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association. That’s a big increase from the 6% share of the market EVs held in 2022 and the 3% they held in 2021. They have a long way to go. According to a state mandate, all new vehicles sold in Virginia must be fully electric by 2035, a policy set by California that’s often derided by Republicans here. [Based] “on the current trajectory, it does not appear Virginia will reach the mandate set by the California Air Resources Board…. [Nonetheless,] Virginia auto dealers are investing big money in EVs [though some wonder] Is it worth it?”

Climate and Environment

Chesapeake Bay, Wildlife, Water and Land

“Tangier Island sits in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay between the Eastern Shore and the Northern Neck of Virginia, accessible only by boat or a small plane…. But for … residents …, it’s a race against Mother Nature. Coastal erosion is one part of the equation, sea level rise is another. Whether it’s a nor’easter or tropical storm, four to five times a year more and more of the island gets inundated. Since 1850, Tangier Island has lost two-thirds of its landmass and surrounding neighbors.” “A possible engineering solution would be to build a seawall around the entire island. That would take care of the erosion issue…. [But] erosion is only half of the issue. Sea level rise would require that the island be raised up using dredged material…. An engineering solution that involves both a seawall and raising the island up would be extremely expensive, and neither the island’s 450-odd residents nor Accomack County has the resources to fund a project that could cost somewhere in the tens of millions of dollars…. The … [Army] Corps [of Engineers] … has not conducted a study yet to determine the exact cost of building a seawall around the entire island. One of the hurdles to funding a project to save the island is that a cost-benefit analysis would be based on the number of structures on the island. Given the small number of structures, it would be difficult to justify such an expensive project.” (See opinion piece below.)

“Sportfishing groups and environmentalists are calling for a partial moratorium on Virginia’s menhaden reduction fishery, citing troubling declines of certain bird and fish species that feed on them. A petition, dated Dec. 12 and signed by 18 individuals and organizations, presses the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) to ban related menhaden harvests in the state under most conditions until regulators enact a scientifically based catch limit within the Chesapeake Bay.”

“‘Oh deer’: Virginia Department of Transportation … [received] $600K to identify roads with most wildlife collisions…. The Department said the funding will allow for the construction of wildlife crossings over and below busy roads, as well as increased fencing, improved tracking and mapping tools and more.”

“A new cooperative agreement between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will enable scientists to implement a first-of-its-kind study investigating fish behavior in response to offshore wind turbine installation and related construction activities. This study will use fine-scale positioning technology and be conducted at the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) research site, located approximately 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, according to The Nature Conservancy.”

“Norfolk has set aside millions of dollars to identify and replace lead pipes across the city and recent tranches [i.e., portions] of federal funding could help as water authorities across the nation gear up to meet regulations recently proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]…. A review of which pipes are made of what materials is underway, but the city has until October to complete its review. [SA city public utilities spokesperson described the review as] ‘a massive undertaking ….’ The EPA proposed a strict new rule that would require utilities across the country to replace most lead water service lines within 10 years. The EPA also proposed that cities create a materials inventory, make improvements for water quality testing and create a plan to accomplish the replacement of lead pipe….”

Thanks to a grant from the National Park Service (NPS), “more than 163-acres associated with two Civil War battles … known as Siegen Forest … is being forever protected from subdivision and future development. It is a key riverfront property laced with layered history, located… at a crossroads, facing intense development interest…. The history goes beyond the Civil War. ‘Human communities have occupied this area for nearly 12,000 years, drawn by the rich flora, fauna and mineral resources in the river environment, as well as by the shallows that provide a point of crossing over the waterway, that for centuries served as a transportation highway,’ according to the [NPS]…. The park service … released an article, ’Conservation at the Crossroads: Preserving Siegen Forest at Chancellorsville’.”

Opinions, Commentaries, and Blogs

“Three years after the Environmental Justice Act, state continues to fail Virginians” – Commentary by Victoria Higgins on the Virginia Reliability Project – Roanoke Times and Richmond Times Dispatch

“Offshore Wind’s Bright Future: Why recent industry woes do not tell the full story of offshore wind power in the United States” by a National Resources Defense Council clean energy advocate in its Climate and Clean Energy Program

“Offshore wind leases can and should bring revenue to states” by The Pew Charitable Trusts’ energy modernization project director and the CEO of the Conservative Energy Network – The Hill

“Setting the record straight on Avangrid’s Kitty Hawk wind project” by the chief development officer for Avangrid – The Virginian-Pilot

“Solar for schools and nonprofits is under siege. Fortunately, there’s a simple fix” by a lawyer and a longtime volunteer with the Sierra Club’s Virginia chapter – Virginia Mercury

“Southwest Va.’s energy transition [to small nuclear reactors] excludes its most important stakeholders: Southwest Virginians” by an Associate Professor of Biology and Vice President of the Clinch Coalition – Virginia Mercury

“Investment in high-speed rail will benefit Virginia, Hampton Roads” by Editorial Board of The Virginian‑Pilot

“Subsidence threatens Hampton Roads’ future” by a Virginia Beach resident and U.S. Navy veteran – The Virginian-Pilot

“Let’s pay farmers for outcomes that restore Va. rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay” by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Virginia Senior Scientist

“Journeys of Hope, Reflections and Pictures 2023…. Our Epic Journey to Renewable Energy,” blogpost by an Augusta County farmer’s blog Getting More on the Ground

“The Plain Truth about Climate Change in Virginia” by a retired mechanical engineer who favors investments in adaptation over reducing carbon emissions – Bacon’s Rebellion

Check out …

• This NOAA summary of Virginia weather and climate disaster events since 1980 that resulted in losses of at least $1 billion. “These events included 12 drought events, 4 flooding events, 3 freeze events, 47 severe storm events, 21 tropical cyclone events, and 18 winter storm events. Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 6,760 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted. The 1980–2022 annual average is 2.3 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2018–2022) is 6.2 events (CPI-adjusted).”
• This relatively short video by a 50-year Yellowstone “winterkeeper” and see the beauty of the park and its wildlife during the long cold winter.
• This upcoming webinar, “How to Prune Landscape Trees’, Jan. 16 from 7 to 9 pm. Learn the best practices for pruning landscape trees to improve their health and appearance while reducing the risk of branch failure. The focus will be mainly on young landscape trees. Register here.
• This 10-minute video by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC),” Transforming coal mines to shared solar.” Learn “about solar projects that share clean energy benefits with entire communities — including former coal communities — without placing the cost on individuals.”
• “Six reasons to be optimistic about the energy transition.”
• The Guardian’s series called “The Alternatives” that documents how and where “Around the world, local communities and governments are coming up with ideas for how to create a low carbon way of life. While you’re at it, sign up for Down to Earth to find environment-connected stories on many subjects and in many locations.
• One or more of these e-news outlets and organizations that collectively provide coverage of Virginia environmental and energy news (* indicates subscription required):

• Augusta Free Press
• Axios
• Bacon’s Rebellion
• Canary Media
• Cardinal News
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• DCist
• Farmville Herald
• FFax Now
• Harrisonburg Citizen
• Herald-Courier
• Inside Climate News
• Inside Nova
• Institute for Local Self-Reliance
• Loudoun Now
• Martinsville Bulletin
• National Defense Resource Council
• New York Times*
• Prince William Times
• RepublicEn
• Richmond Times-Dispatch*
• Roanoke Rambler
• Roanoke Times*
• Southeast Energy News
• Southern Environmental Law Center
• Virginia Business
• Virginia Conservatives for Clean Energy
• Virginia Mercury
• Virginia Public Access Project
• Virginia Public Media
• Virginian-Pilot*
• Washington Post*
• WDBJ
• WHRO
• Winchester Star
• WMRA/NPR
• WRIC
• Wydaily.com

Why not …

• Celebrate New Year’s Day with a hike at a Virginia State Park? “Virginia’s state parks will host a number of First Day Hikes, an annual New Year’s Day tradition across the country. Parking is free at all Virginia State Park locations on Jan. 1, and visitors will receive a First Day Hike sticker while supplies last…. A full list of First Day Hikes is online. (Seven Bends State Park is located in Shenandoah County.)
• Repurpose your Christmas tree rather than trash it? Here are suggestions for how to do that.
• Head to Richmond on one of the Virginia Conservation Network-sponsored Lobby Days? Water Lobby Day is January 30. Conservation Lobby Day is January 31. Register here. Track bills here.
• Join Virginia League of Conservation Voters 2024 Virginia Legislative Session Environmental Defense Virtual Climate Champions Team? On January 10 at 5:30 you can learn how to make a big difference in passing climate legislation. Register here.
• Download this free guide to going solar developed by Solar United Neighbors (SUN), a non-profit that assists folks to do just that? Get your questions answered by SUN’s Help Desk, also free.
• Take a listen to one or more of the songs, written by a Harrisonburg resident, on his website, Musical Scalpel? Echoing the sentiment in the quote provided in the introduction to this piece (above), and taking it perhaps a step further, the songwriter says “Many observers have concluded that the 21st century may be a kind of pass-fail exam for the human species, and all the other species we have endangered by habitat destruction and by disrupting earth’s previously stable climate. Earth will survive just fine, but will we?”
• Enjoy “paddling, biking, running, hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting, caving and backcountry skiing” in Giles County? And, while you’re at it, “experience the beauty of the picturesque Mill Creek and Mercy Branch waterfalls, the peaceful woods that connect to the Jefferson National Forest and the Appalachian Trail, the spectacular Sentinel Point overlook” reachable by trails built by a 72-year old county resident.
• Join the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Statewide Virtual Community Meeting? It’s part of a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DEQ hosted five in-person community meetings in December, including one in Harrisonburg, and now is extending the invitation to residents throughout the Commonwealth. At this virtual meeting, DEQ will solicit ideas for measures that could rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Virginia. The feedback gathered at this meeting will enable DEQ to develop a short-term priority action plan that includes projects that would then compete for part of a $4.3 billion implementation fund. The virtual meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 9, from 6-7:30 p.m. Register for the meeting 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.

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

Statewide Environmental News Roundup for December 2023, Part I

Energy

Regulations, Legislation and Utilities

“After securing control of both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly in the November elections, Democrats will have a new opportunity during the 2024 session to fill two long-time vacancies on the State Corporation Commission, the state body that regulates utilities, insurance, banking and business in Virginia. [The] incoming Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Chair … [stated] the goal is to have the vacancies filled ‘as quickly as possible.’ …The State Corporation Commission, a powerful state body of nearly 700 staff members, is charged with regulating Virginia’s utilities and banks, overseeing the state’s insurance marketplace and granting businesses their limited liability licenses, in addition to other responsibilities.”

 “Dominion Energy’s Virginia ratepayers could be in line for one-time credits totaling $15 million under a settlement reached with the Office of the Attorney General, State Corporation Commission staff and major commercial customers. For a typical residential customer, the credit will amount to roughly $2.25. The credits are to be reflected in customers’ bills by Sept. 30, 2024, if the SCC approves. The commission’s decision is expected early next year. The settlement, if approved by the SCC commissioners, would mean no change in Dominion’s base rate — the charge that accounts for nearly half a typical $133 a month residential bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours. The rest of the bill comes from a dollar-for-dollar pass-through of the company’s fuel costs as well as several surcharges meant to pay for new plants and programs.”

“State regulators … [approved] Appalachian Power rate hike. An average Appalachian Power residential customer’s monthly bill will increase by about $16, starting in 60 days. Meanwhile, regulators did not approve a proposed monthly service charge exemption for low-income customers. [See opinion pieces below.]

Virginia Conservation Network sponsored gatherings of Virginians at 13 locations in early December, including Harrisonburg, to preview the upcoming General Assembly session that begins January 10. “The watch party for locals representing Rockingham, Augusta and Page counties and their respective cities was hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley…. VCN hosted this year’s virtual preview with the intent of informing and encouraging advocates of all types to reach out to legislators and lobby for the issues that matter to them. While the presentation covered a wide range of current topics, the final section focused on transportation — an issue that has been heavily discussed in the small governing bodies of Rockingham County and Harrisonburg City as well…. That’s where the importance of the watch party event shone brightest. Leaders from SVBC and the Alliance were able to pinpoint local issues and then answer questions from those in attendance…. In summary — this area needs to educate new legislators about conservation policies and projects that matter….”

Data Centers, Energy Storage

“Virginia is home to the largest data center market in the world, but citizens and lawmakers have urged leaders to temper the onslaught of development and consider the impact. Data centers have brought hundreds of millions in tax revenue and thousands of jobs to Northern Virginia, and increasingly, other areas of the state. But among environmental groups, there is mounting concern that the rapid growth of the industry might offset climate goals laid out in past legislation.”

“Nonprofit organizations, homeowners’ groups, and residents from all over Virginia have joined forces to form a coalition that is calling for industry-wide data center reform. [The Virginia Data Center Reform] coalition is made up of more than 20 environmental, conservation, historic preservation and climate advocacy groups, as well as representatives of communities and neighborhoods across the state. Together, they are urging the state to study the cumulative effects of data center development on the state’s electrical grid, water resources, air quality and land conservation efforts and to institute several common-sense regulatory and rate-making reforms for this industry.”

“Nine months after the Devlin Technology Park [in Prince William County] was put on hold, about 100 residents turned out to a town hall meeting [last month] to raise questions, voice concerns and express their opposition to allowing 80-foot-tall data centers behind residential neighborhoods along Devlin and Linton Hall roads in Bristow…. The project, a controversial plan to build up to nine data centers on 270 acres behind several Bristow neighborhoods, will come up for a vote at this week’s Prince William County Board of Supervisors meeting. The planning commission voted back in July 2022 to recommend approval on the project’s fourth submission, which would have allowed up to 11 data centers on the 270-acre parcel. In its latest update, Stanley Martin [the developed] has pledged to leave about 85 acres closest to Chris Yung Elementary School free from data centers. The area is being pledged for parks and recreational purposes, according to the application.” Subsequently, the “Board of Supervisors voted … to approve the controversial Devlin Technology Park …. The decision followed about five hours of public comment time during which about 80 residents expressed near unanimous opposition to the project, citing concerns over living amid a noisy and ugly data center industrial zone that they fear will lower their property values and degrade their quality of life.”

“Another large data center application in the technology zone area just east of the town of Culpeper is headed to the County Board of Supervisors. The county planning commission unanimously recommended approval … [of needed rezoning] …. Including 2022’s approval of an Amazon data center …, now under development, the town and county of Culpeper have approved over 6.8 million square feet of data centers in recent years, most of them this year. The … [latest] project will push that to over 9 million square feet.”

“PJM Interconnection, the regional power transmission coordinator, opened a window in February this year to accept proposals on how to meet the growing need for power in Northern Virginia that has stemmed from rapid data center growth. Out of the 72 proposals submitted, PJM’s Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee is preparing to make its final recommendation to the organization’s board Dec. 5. Included so far in the list of finalists is a proposal of 500 kV lines that cuts diagonally across western Loudoun from West Virginia.” Piedmont Environmental Council is assisting residents in expressing concerns about and opposition to the proposal.”

“Dominion Energy Virginia is partnering with Virginia State University to develop a battery storage project [in Chesterfield County] that would provide backup power to the school’s multi-purpose center, which hosts athletic events, conferences, concerts and other community events…. At another location in Henrico County, Dominion Energy plans to test two other pioneering battery storage technologies, including one that can discharge power for up to 100 hours. Most battery storage in the U.S. is currently limited to four hours or less. The VSU pilot is the latest in a series of efforts to advance battery storage, including the August groundbreaking of what will be Dominion Energy’s largest battery storage facility at Dulles International Airport. The company operates four other battery storage sites, in Powhatan, Hanover, New Kent and Chesterfield counties, and has a sixth installation under development in Sussex County.”

“The [Loudoun] county Planning Commission on Tuesday approved an application to construct a 20‑megawatt electric battery storage facility … south of Leesburg. The panel was reviewing the project for its compliance with county planning policies to issue a commission permit required for utilities. However, most of the discussion focused on concerns about the new technology, including the fear of fires, environmental impacts and its proximity to homes and a school.”

Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Nuclear

Virginia Beach “city leaders have sunk an offshore wind energy company’s plan to bring high-voltage cables through a beachfront neighborhood, at least for now. Avangrid Renewables plans to build the Kitty Hawk Wind Offshore Wind Project … off the North Carolina coast. The company wanted to bring transmission cables ashore in Sandbridge, a residential and tourist beach community … [near Virginia Beach]. City leaders announced … they met with Avangrid officials to inform them there is not support for the Sandbridge landing, given the amount of community pushback. Members of the Sandbridge Civic League have vehemently opposed the project, citing concerns about potential safety and health hazards. A group of citizens opposing the landfall formed Protect Sandbridge Beach Coalition to their voice concerns.”

“Work is now underway to lay down the path energy will travel, that’s being produced from Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. During a Virginia Beach City Council briefing … Dominion gave city leaders an update on how long the onshore construction for the project will take. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2026. … ‘The onshore bit we go about 4.4 miles underground from the beach to Naval Air Station Oceana and then just under 14 miles from Oceana to Fentress [substation] in the city of Chesapeake,’ … [ a Dominion spokesperson] said. For the next two years, work will be done to create a more than 17-mile-long path of lines to bring that energy to a substation in Chesapeake.”

“After Siemens turbine plant cancellation, can Hampton Roads still be a hub for offshore wind?” A Sierra Club spokesperson responded: “Despite recent struggles, ‘the train is out of the station on offshore wind’…. That means all of the thousands of components needed for a turbine to be functional, from blades to internal gears, will have to be constructed and that could lead to different regions along the East Coast specializing in the manufacture of different parts.” Dominion is moving ahead and “is creating a $9.8 billion road map for offshore wind. Close to $22 billion in U.S. offshore wind projects have been delayed or canceled, but the Virginia utility is moving forward with the largest facility in U.S. waters.”

“Increasing resistance to new greenfield wind, solar and storage development, as well as massive backlogs in the queues to connect new power projects to the grid, mean former mine lands and the plants that burned the coal they produced are increasingly attractive spots for new renewable development…. Sun Tribe, along with another solar developer, Washington, D.C.-based Sol Systems, is working with The Nature Conservancy to build solar projects on former coal mine lands in Southwest Virginia, Eastern Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky, that fall within its Cumberland Forest Project, one of the group’s largest conservation efforts at 253,000 acres. In Virginia, the state Energy Department, formerly the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, helped The Nature Conservancy identify non-forested former mine lands near existing utility lines and other infrastructure, which were then whittled down to avoid areas with important wildlife, habitat or other considerations that made them unsuitable for solar development.” [See opinion piece below.]

“US solar company Summit Ridge Energy has acquired a portfolio of community solar projects in the state of Virginia, with a total capacity of 100MW. The portfolio consists of 19 projects currently under construction, and Summit Ridge Energy expects to commission the entire portfolio by the end of 2024. Summit Ridge Energy’s new portfolio also accounts for two-thirds of the capacity of projects funded under Virginia’s Shared Solar Program, an initiative implemented in 2020 to encourage the development of new solar projects in the state. Under the program, solar developers sell power produced at their facilities to utility Dominion Energy, which offers its customers credit towards their energy bills by using this power, allowing citizens who are unable to install solar panels on their rooftops an opportunity to use solar power.”

“The termination of the first small modular nuclear reactor power plant project in the U.S. will have no impact on the state’s plans to deploy a commercial SMR, say both the director of the Virginia Department of Energy and the head of the Nuclear Engineering Department at Virginia Tech. That’s because the project was canceled due to escalating costs, in part because of interest rate hikes, and not as a result of problems with the design or technology….” [See opinion piece below.]

Transportation

“Virginia continues to pursue rail service to Bristol. Efforts to extend passenger rail service to Bristol presently are in the hands of the Federal Rail Administration [FRA] …. [The FRA is evaluating] the corridor ID program for Washington D.C. to and through Bristol. That would give rail through Southwest Virginia into Tennessee…. The federal agency is in the midst of a multi-year process to identify, review and partially fund potential passenger rail corridors.”

Valley Interfaith Action (VIA), based in Harrisonburg, is advocating for on-demand transportation for Rockingham County residents. “VIA hosted a large-scale listening campaign in January 2022 in which the organization’s members participated in 1,000 face-to-face conversations to find out what issues are most prevalent in the community and how might VIA work to address them. One of the problems that floated to the top was transportation. During those meetings, VIA learned that there was a significant need for transportation among members in church congregations … [and also among County residents more broadly]. VIA came across a private company providing a public transit service in the Charlottesville area [called JAUNT] and surrounding counties that was willing to extend its services …. Two demographics in Rockingham County affected by the transportation desert are the manufacturing and hospitality workforces…. Rather than running fixed routes, JAUNT is a demand-response transportation service that has the ability to curate routes to meet the needs of its riders.” VIA continues its efforts to pursue its services for the County.

One of the first bills proposed for the upcoming session is HB3, by Delegate Tony Wilt, that would “repeal a 2021 Democrat-backed law that tied Virginia’s vehicle emissions standards to California’s rather than following the federal government’s less strict limits.”

Climate and Environment

Chesapeake Bay, Air, Water, Land, Wildlife, and Waste

“The 2023 Chesapeake Bay dead zone is the smallest on record. The combination of pollution reduction practices and below-average rainfall results in a historically small dead zone…. Dead zones are areas of low oxygen … that form in deep Bay waters when nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrients) enter the water through polluted runoff and feed naturally-occurring algae…. In addition to … weather conditions, the size and duration of the Bay’s dead zone is affected by the amount of nutrients entering the Chesapeake from its surrounding watershed…. [The] Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principal Staff Committee said: ‘These results show that the ongoing work to reduce pollution across the Bay’s watershed is making the Chesapeake Bay a better place for fish, crabs, oysters, and other marine life. As we focus our cleanup efforts during the next decade, we can accelerate and build on this progress.’”

The future state of the Bay, however, is complicated and, arguably, uncertain. The “state-federal Chesapeake Bay Program, which …marks its 40th anniversary this week, still drives the science and policymaking behind the Bay restoration effort…. [Despite initial optimism,] reality has long since set in, along with an understanding that the Bay will never be “restored” — whatever the future Chesapeake looks like, it will be different from its past, as population growth, development and climate change spur irreversible changes…. When it comes to the bottom line — whether the Bay is getting better — the answer is mixed. Nutrients have decreased, and many areas show improvement from their mid-1980s condition. But less than a third of the Chesapeake has met its water quality goals. The amount of underwater grass beds, which are a critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and blue crabs and a closely watched indicator of Bay health, have doubled since reaching their low point in 1984. Last year, they covered more than 76,000 acres, though they remain far from their 185,000-acre goal…. Now, as the Bay Program celebrates its 40th anniversary, its partners are contemplating what comes after 2025, the deadline for meeting most of the 31 outcomes set in its 2014 agreement. Of those, 15 are on track, 10 are off-course and the status of four others is unclear. Nutrient goals will be missed by a large margin.”

“The 2023 Winter Blue Crab Dredge Survey, published jointly by Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Marine Resource Commission, shows there are 323 million blue crabs living in the Chesapeake Bay. That’s a 42% increase from last year when the population was the lowest in the survey’s history at 227 million…. [T]here might be hope for Virginia’s blue crab population — though numbers are still below the long-term average…. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has previously reported that the blue crab commercial harvest value has ranged from $22 to $38 million annually in the commonwealth.”

 “Ghost forests line parts of the coast on … [Virginia’s] Middle Peninsula. Large swaths of dead trees stretch toward the sky…. When salty water reaches coastal forests that rely on freshwater to live, it means destruction of coastal riparian forests, many of which have stood the test of time for centuries. But in a region where sea level rise and sinking land is inevitable, scientists and researchers are looking at the benefits that could come from flooded land…. Since the mid-1800s, Virginia has lost 150 square miles of uplands, or areas above sea level, in its Chesapeake Bay region, according to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Those areas total about 96,000 acres and are now tidal marshes…. [The] local environment group Wetlands Watch … said ghost forests are one of the biggest signs of climate change.”

“Climate change is claiming farmland at “an alarmingly high rate” in one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most productive agricultural regions, inflicting tens of millions of dollars in economic damage, a team of scientists says in a new study. Their research spotlights a pernicious side effect of sea level rise: the salt left behind from water washed onto land after storms or unusually high tides. The resulting “salt patches,” supercharged by evaporation, can poison large swaths of cropland, reducing yields and farm profits.

The “Rappahannock River level hit … [a] low mark for [this] century…. For months, people have been able to cross the Rappahannock, on foot, as boulders that usually are submerged have become stepping stones. At the same time, more normal modes of river transportation — trips by kayak, canoe and tubes — have been canceled because there’s so little water to navigate. This year’s recreational season was almost over before it started….”

“For those who wonder if sorting cans and bottles from the rest of their trash is worth the effort— or if it all ends up in the landfill anyway—Fauquier County has an answer. It’s worth it if items are brought to their facility. That’s because Fauquier County does more actual recycling than many Virginia counties—but only of items handled by the county’s recycling collection sites…. Fauquier County has one of the few county-run facilities in the region. In 2023, the program earned $494,567 through sales of recovered materials, and it saved the county $205,195 in disposal fees, which are incurred when trash is shipped to a landfill in Richmond at a rate of $56 per ton…. While the county doesn’t have its own recycling mandate, it is subject to a federal mandate based on population that requires 25% of waste be recycled….“

“With the removal of its 29th abandoned boat, Hampton Roads nonprofit Vessel Disposal Reuse Foundation has cleared more than 300,000 pounds of hazardous debris from local waterways. This also means nearly 17,000 pounds of metal has been recycled since October 2021, said executive director Mike Provost. His organization focuses on the removal of “abandoned and derelict vessels,” or ADVs.”

We reported last month on a new state study … [that] will deploy] monitors to test air quality and assess potential health risks associated with dust from the coal storage and transportation facilities in Newport News and Norfolk. [See opinion piece below.]

Climate Change and Climate Action Planning

We reported last month on “The federal government[‘s] latest National Climate Assessment, its first since 2018. Scientists from across the country contributed, detailing the country’s current climate risks.

The report breaks the states into 10 sections, and Virginia fell under the southeast region. Authors for the assessment analyzed several aspects of the country’s climate, including adaptation projects, potential threats to the United States’ supply chains and current trends.” A subsequent analysis in The Virginian Pilot detailed specifics, including what Tidewater can expect to see by way of flooding, air pollution, recreational fishing, and heat impacts.

“Carbon emissions are down by 44.6 percent at the University [of Virginia], per the Committee on Sustainability’s 2022-23 annual report. According to the report, the group remains on track to achieve the goals of its long term sustainability plan, including becoming carbon neutral and fossil fuel free by 2030. These goals are housed under the University’s 2030 Plan, which outlines long-term plans to make the University the ‘best public university by 2030.’”

Flooding

“Construction including improved drainage systems is being planned to reduce flooding along Hampton Boulevard, a major artery that provides access to some of the largest and most critical institutions in the city…. In September, the city received almost $2.7 million from a U.S. Department of Defense grant to address the flooding….”

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers … [is seeking] funding to reevaluate how Norfolk defends two areas from flooding and storm surge as part of its $2.6 billion flood mitigation plan. The Coastal Storm Risk Management project includes an eight-mile long floodwall around downtown Norfolk, but also includes property-specific measures, such as home elevations and filling of basements, to protect houses in the city’s southside neighborhoods. When the City Council approved the plan in April, it asked the corps to consider reevaluating elements of the plan based on concerns raised by southside residents. The corps expects a determination by spring on whether it will go forward with the reevaluations.” [See opinion piece below.]

Opinions, Letters to the Editor (LTEs), and Blogs

• “Excess Profits Finally Squeezed Out of Dominion Rates” by a Bacon’s Rebellion blogger
• “Appalachian Power rate increase will raise bills more than RGGI does. If Virginia’s exit from the RGGI isn’t overturned through new legislative action, air pollution will be more profitable, climate change will be negatively exacerbated and new housing will lose access to energy conservation measures” by the former executive director of Open Door Community, a nonprofit housing and food organization based in Wytheville – Cardinal News
• “Smart, sustainable solar in the South” by a staff attorney at Southern Environmental Law Center
• “Virginia offshore wind project proceeds despite industry setbacks” by The Virginian-Pilot Editorial Board
• “Virginia Beach Nixes Kitty Hawk Wind Cables” by a Bacon’s Rebellion blogger.
• “Virginia must embrace small modular reactors for energy security, the environment”, LTE in The Virginian-Pilot
• “Virginia’s focus on nuclear energy is misguided” by the “founder of Cool Planet Solutions and … [past] president of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative – The Roanoke Times
• “As hurricane season ends, the need to address flooding remains” by The Virginian-Pilot Editorial Board
• “A pastor’s plea to combat coal dust in Newport News and Norfolk” by the “senior pastor at Pray First Mission Ministries in Newport News’ Southeast Community.”

Check out …

• These five creative ways to reduce your household waste.
• This documentary, “Clear Day Thunder”, about rescuing the American Chestnut, produced by The American Chestnut Foundation and starring, Dolly Parton, E O Wilson, and Barbara Kingsolver, among others.
• This blogpost by a long-time Augusta County “Farmer, conservationist, educator, and award-winning writer…” to learn about ” Ash Trees, Shrikes, the Roanoke Logperch, and the Endangered Species Act at 50.”

Why not …

• Listen to WMRA’s fall 2023 episode of Shenandoah Valley Ever Green [that] is focused on the Shenandoah River and measures that are ongoing throughout the Valley to keep water clean and plentiful? The station produces quarterly episodes as part of its Shenandoah Valley Ever Green seasonal programming, presenting information from its producers, JMU students and professors. “During each episode, listeners will hear ideas about getting outside and connecting to Nature. Episodes will also describe actions that individuals can take to help sustain the health of the local environment.”

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.

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

Statewide Environmental News Roundup for November 2023

Energy

Regulations and Utilities

“A new report found Dominion Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan does not align with Virginia’s climate goals. Dominion wants to keep using gas and coal-fired power plants, citing data center expansion in Northern Virginia but the Virginia Clean Economy Act mandated Dominion to use 100% renewable electricity by 2045. Dominion’s plan does meet Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s energy plan, which relies on both fossil fuels and renewables.”

“PJM Interconnection staff … recommended about $4.9 billion in transmission projects to help address reliability concerns related to new data centers and power plant retirements in its footprint, according to a regional transmission expansion plan presentation…. Under the recommendations, Dominion Energy would build transmission projects totaling about $2.5 billion….” [See opinion pieces below.]

Dominion is replacing infrastructure to improve the electrical grid as part of the “Grid Transformation Plan, which is being approved in chunks by state regulators. The GTP was required by state lawmakers in the 2018 Grid Transformation and Security Act. The plan seeks to make the electric grid more reliable and secure – and flexible for ever-growing distributed renewable energy sources. Regulators just approved Phase III of the plan in September, which runs from 2024 through 2026…. The plan has been criticized by ratepayer advocates and environmentalists over concerns with renewable planning and cost.” The SCC has approved some aspects of Dominion’s proposed grid infrastructure projects but not others.

Dominion and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative received federal grant money “$71.8 million from feds to improve power grid resiliency.”

Data Centers, Energy Storage

“Following a public hearing …, the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors approved rezoning from rural to industrial for a 127-acre tract …, with plans calling for data centers in an area surrounded mostly by trees and vacant property but also near several neighborhoods and the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center.”

“Citing a lack of information and numerous unanswered questions, Prince William County’s professional planning staff is recommending denial on the Prince William Digital Gateway—one of the largest and most controversial commercial projects to come before the board of supervisors in decades.” “Staff rejected the applications largely because of the lack of information provided by developers. They pointed out that many of the documents submitted by the developers ‘contain technical errors, are contradictory, and contain nondescript verbiage … that may make enforcement of some of the proffers difficult.’ Staff also determined the project is not in alignment with the county’s Comprehensive Plan, despite amendments made to the document last year to pave the way for the Digital Gateway.” Subsequently, “The two developers behind the divisive PW Digital Gateway data center corridor … submitted amended project applications to Prince William County leaders in response to the county’s professional planning staff rejecting their initial plans…. [The] companies sought to assure officials they were committed to clarifying the imprecise information initially provided about the project’s layout and potential impacts on the surrounding area, which led county staff to pan the project.” Subsequently, Following a 22-hour meeting on November 9^th, Prince William County’s Planning Commission “recommended the denial of all three rezoning applications associated with the divisive PW Digital Gateway data center proposal.” “But that decision will not keep the project from moving forward to the board of supervisors for a possible vote on Dec. 12….”

A new “plant [in Southwest Virginia] will focus primarily on data center component manufacturing and containment products to serve customers in Virginia and other data center sites.”

Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Nuclear

What is, and isn’t “clean” energy? “States grappling to reach goals for renewables and emissions cuts from the power sector are finding a solution on paper: Rebrand what counts as ‘clean.’ That’s what North Carolina lawmakers did … when the state’s Republican supermajority overrode a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, forcing through a law to rebrand nuclear as clean in the state energy mandate. Similar measures that symbolically or legally redefine natural gas and biomass as “clean,” “green” or “renewable” also passed this year in Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. While some energy rebranding has occurred for years, the recent action comes as states are increasingly being looked to help meet President Joe Biden’s goals to decarbonize the power sector by 2035.”

“The Interior Department approved the largest offshore wind project in the country …, marking the fifth massive wind array cleared for construction in U.S. oceans under [the current Administration]. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project will include up to 176 turbines, located roughly 27 miles from Virginia Beach. The Dominion Energy-backed project will be the largest offshore wind project in the United States, able to zap enough electricity back to the grid once it’s constructed in 2026 to power roughly 660,000 homes….” “The Biden Administration [also] announced that it will be providing over $39 million in funding for an offshore wind logistics facility in Norfolk.”

“But the Virginia project approval comes amid an economic storm for offshore wind, due to inflationary costs that threaten the 30-gigawatt target. Rising prices to build offshore wind farms have threatened the viability of some of the first proposed projects in the country, off the coasts of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts…. (Two “offshore wind power projects in New Jersey [were recently scrapped because of] supply chain issues.”) Still the Virginia project represents a big step forward for the nascent industry and secures a footprint for offshore economic activity in the central Atlantic. The first four offshore wind projects approved in the United States — two are under construction already off the coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island — are in New England.

The Virginia project is expected to create roughly 900 jobs a year during construction and support 1,100 jobs annually during operations, particularly in Virginia’s Hampton Roads coastal region.” Dominion is seeking “outside investor interest” in the project, notwithstanding the canceling of the New Jersey projects. “A business model that allows Dominion Energy Inc. to be both a wind farm developer and a customer-facing utility is helping the company succeed in sharp contrast to others in the industry that are delaying or canceling US projects.” Dominion said it lowered its “cost estimates for power” … [for its wind project and] will decide by early 2024 whether or not to take on a partner….” Virginia’s regulated monopoly utility model allows Dominion to recoup costs of such projects from ratepayers.

On the other hand, the project faces challenges. “Amid failing turbine components and financial challenges, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy said [on November 10 that] it has ‘discontinued’ its plans to build the nation’s first offshore wind-turbine blade manufacturing facility at the Port of Virginia’s Portsmouth Marine Terminal [because] … ‘development milestones to establish the facility could not be met….’” Though long-term implications remain to be seen, Dominion said “This announcement has no impacts on our project.” [See opinion pieces below.]

“A new Occoquan Elementary School [in Prince William county] is set to completely replace the original 97-year-old building by 2026 and will be the county’s first “net-zero” school that produces as much energy as it consumes. Through solar panels and geothermal heating, the new school building will produce its own electricity and heat and will use half as much energy as a normal school building.”

“Solar advocates in southwestern Virginia say being local, proving the technology works and building a coalition to support it have been key” to bringing solar to their region. “In 2016, a coalition of businesses, nonprofits, colleges, local governments, and citizens launched the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, which collaborates with Secure Solar Futures. It includes experts in every aspect of the green transition, from community organizers who tell neighbors about the benefits of solar to legal experts who propose legislation.” [See opinion pieces below.]

“In August, the USDA announced $266 million distributed nationwide to ‘energy-efficiency projects to lower costs, generate new income and strengthen the resilience of operations’. A total of $1 million went to eight Virginia projects. The money was distributed through loans and grants, one of which went to Regeneration Cycle Farm, LLC, a 94-acre poultry farm in New Market.”

“Governor Glenn Youngkin … announced a landmark land development agreement establishing a public-private framework to transform up to 65,000 acres of previously-mined coal properties in Southwest Virginia…. Energy DELTA Lab, in coordination with Wise County, VA officials and landowner Energy Transfer, will serve as the primary developer partnering with energy companies and electric utilities to deploy a diverse range of conventional and innovative energy technologies on reclaimed coal mine lands as part of this public-private regional economic development campaign.” The “Abandoned mine reclamation project [is expected] to create ‘game-changing opportunities’ in Virginia.”

Lynchburg is looking to support the nuclear industry and be part of Virginia’s transition to small nuclear reactors. A “Lynchburg company … will supply nuclear fuel for [an] Air Force spacecraft program [and] … will work on a team developing a nuclear fission reactor that would provide electricity to space vehicles.” “A French nuclear power company with its United States headquarters in Lynchburg is ramping up hiring to meet a growing global need for clean, low-carbon energy.”

Transportation

“It’s been about a year since Dominion Energy began offering its Virginia customers discounts on installing infrastructure to charge electric vehicles and no one has signed up to take advantage of them, according to a recent bi-annual report filed with electric utility regulators. Despite a lack of participation, Dominion sees the program, known as the Charging Tariffs, as a way to help Virginia’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by making the ability to charge them more accessible to business and low-income communities.” “The number of folks driving electric vehicles in Virginia has grown by roughly 31,000 since 2021, according to data released by the Department of Motor Vehicles. That number is expected to keep climbing as Virginia works toward a goal of requiring all new cars sold to be electric by 2035…. A spokesperson for Dominion Energy said Virginia will need thousands more charging stations to support electric vehicle adoption over the next decade. That’s why the energy company is rolling out programs and offering incentives to encourage businesses and residents to install infrastructure.”

“Charlottesville … relaunched an electric vehicle charging grant program to incentivize commercial sites to deploy new charging stations. Preference will be given to charging stations located near retail and commercials sites which would allow EV drivers to patronize local businesses while charging their vehicles.”

“After criticism over parts of a proposal to overhaul the state’s transportation funding system, Virginia officials are considering creating a middle-tier application cap for transportation projects in more suburban or smaller urban areas, including several cities in Hampton Roads, Roanoke and Alexandria.” “Planning officials in the Shenandoah Valley and central Virginia fear proposals to change Virginia’s transportation funding system could significantly reduce state funding for smaller transportation projects for cyclists and pedestrians…. Some of the proposals being considered by the [Commonwealth transportation] board include favoring larger transportation projects over smaller ones, lowering the number of applications local governments and planning organizations can submit and reducing the weight given to land use in applications. Significantly, many bike and pedestrian projects could go unfunded under the proposed changes.” The Commonwealth Transportation Board will adopt changes in December.

“The New River Valley Regional Commission recently developed an interactive plan to highlight existing bikeway, walkway, and water trails throughout the region. Community stakeholders, local government, and transportation professionals identified areas where infrastructure could enhance alternative transportation capabilities in the New River Valley. The Bike-Ped-Paddle Plan presents a vision of safe, reliable, healthy, and environmentally-friendly alternatives to motorized transportation.” [See opinion pieces below.]

Fossil Fuels

“A federal appeals court … denied a request from six landowners to stop construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline on their property while their lawsuit is pending. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia turned down a petition for an emergency injunction …. In what is believed to be the last pending legal action involving pipeline construction in Virginia, the landowners are challenging Mountain Valley’s use of eminent domain, which it employed in 2018 to take their land for the natural gas pipeline.”

“Dominion’s Proposed Virginia Power Plant Casts Doubt on Its Commitments to Clean Energy.

The company has proposed building a natural gas facility in Chesterfield, Virginia, despite laws mandating it reach zero-emissions by 2045.”

Climate and Environment

Chesapeake Bay, Air, Water, Land and Wildlife

“The Chesapeake Bay Program recently announced water quality standards attainment measurements for 2009 through 2022. Those measurements indicate that Virginia’s reported pollution controls achieved 84% of the 2025 reduction goal for nitrogen, 70% of the reduction goal for phosphorus, and 100% of the reduction goal for sediment…. DEQ staff … [concluded] the modeled pollution load reduction for phosphorus in Virginia could reach 100% of the federal planning target….”

“Agriculture is the largest source of nutrient pollution to the Chesapeake, and states are relying on farmers to achieve the overwhelming majority of nutrient reductions needed to meet Bay goals. But those largely voluntary actions often cost farmers money, increase their workload and reduce productivity, which in turn hurts future income. Uncertainty over what is expected of farmers and whether their actions are making a difference can make it more difficult to get people to act…. Bay Program records show that state and federal agencies have spent more than $2 billion to help reduce runoff from farms over the last decade. But it remains unclear what has been achieved, at least in computer models used to assess progress.”

“This summer was “favorable” for species in the Chesapeake Bay, according to a recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In the report, researchers said the bay experienced a “cooler-than-average summer” from June to August. The report used data from the past 20 years, and in addition to cooler temperatures, healthier oxygen levels were found in the bay’s water.”

“The James River’s health has slightly improved but its ‘founding fish’ haven’t returned”, according to the “nonprofit James River Association [that] gave the waterway an overall B grade… in its biennial assessment.”

“Virginia is furthering efforts to combat the illegal reptile and amphibian trade in the Commonwealth through a resolution passed … by the Board of Wildlife Resources. The resolution mainly prioritizes the protection of Virginia’s native turtle species — considered one of the most vulnerable groups of vertebrates worldwide — which face significant threats and population decline due to unsustainable poaching.”

“In the Chesapeake Bay region, states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia have added protective laws and funding to keep common species common and save dwindling species. But the species they champion face increasing threats. The agencies cite unrelenting destruction and fragmentation of key habitat, as well as diseases; invasive plants, insects and animals such as wild boar and nutria; impacts of overabundant deer; the poaching and illicit sales of rare specimens; and a changing climate…. No wonder the endangered species list for all three states is at an all-time high…. Altogether, Pennsylvania has 428 living organisms in danger of disappearing from the landscape. Maryland has 346 and Virginia, which uses a “critically imperiled” category, has 873.”

“Residents in Newport News’ Southeast Community and Norfolk’s Lamberts Point have complained for decades about coal dust pollution from passing trains, saying it causes sickness and dirties their homes…. Coal mined from Appalachia has been transported through these communities for more than a century…. Residents say their homes, yards, and anything left outside is coated in coal dust by the passing open top trains…. A new state study … [will deploy] monitors to test air quality and assess potential health risks associated with dust from the coal storage and transportation facilities in Newport News and Norfolk. The Department of Environmental Quality [DEQ] study, called the Tidewater Air Monitoring Evaluation project, will measure and analyze toxic metals and particulates in the air in the two communities and use the information to conduct health risk assessments. While residents appreciate the effort to further study the issue, many are skeptical it will result in meaningful changes.”

“As of 2022, data shows that 9.1 million acres of land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is permanently protected from development. The acreage accounts for approximately 22 percent of the total land in the region. Nearly 1.64 million acres have been added to permanent protection since 2010, achieving 82 percent of the Protected Land Outcome in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The overall Protected Lands Outcome is expected to be achieved by its 2025 deadline. Protected lands are areas throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed with cultural, historical, ecological and agricultural value that have been permanently protected. Chesapeake Bay Program partners secure land conservation by holding easements, accepting donations and purchasing properties and development rights.”

“From atop McAfee Knob, hikers can take in a spectacular panoramic view of the Catawba and Roanoke Valleys, North Mountain, and Tinker Cliffs. Now a significant section of that vista … [has] been conserved thanks to a multi-year effort by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and The Conservation Fund.”

“Governor Glenn Youngkin announced $14.7 million in Virginia Land Conservation Foundation funding for 29 new projects…. Grants were awarded based on farmland preservation, forest preservation, historic preservation, natural area protection, and open spaces and parks. The project includes land acquisitions for new public outdoor recreational areas and conservation easements to protect active forests and farmland.” In the Central Valley, only Shenandoah County received funding through the grants for two projects.

“An effort to preserve dark skies in Great Falls recently got a vote of support from the Fairfax County Planning Commission amidst contention within the community…. Proponents called the proposal a necessary step to preserve dark skies, reduce light pollution, and ensure astronomers can continue to get clear views. Opponents said the changes would decrease safety, were being considered without direct community engagement, and did little to result in a meaningful impact on light pollution. The regulations, which limit outdoor lighting with a half-mile of the observatory, have been in the works for years.”

“Counties and towns across the Northern Shenandoah Valley will make significant upgrades to recycling infrastructure after receiving a nearly $4 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA selected the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission for its Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program …, with the aim of upgrading tire-grinding operations and expanding curbside recycling pickup throughout the region. The commission, which covers five counties and the city of Winchester, was one of only 24 recipients of the grant nationwide.”

“At the edge of Shenandoah National Park … Virginia Department of Forestry [staff] are getting acorns and chestnuts into the ground…. In about 18 months [their efforts] would result in a crop of seedlings that could be sold to landowners and the timber industry. In this way, Virginia’s arboreal future would be secure — thanks in part to acorn enthusiasts who donated more than a million specimens this year as part of a state program…. The operations at the Crimora nursery use contributions from an acorn donation program that Virginia’s forestry department has run for about a decade. Last year, the harvest was a formidable eight tons of acorns and nuts — enough to produce 1.5 million seedlings. This year, donors sent 12 tons.”

Climate Change and Climate Action Planning

“The National Climate Assessment is the government’s most comprehensive report on how climate change is affecting the U.S., and offers people across the country a window into what we can expect in the years to come…. The report looks at how the climate impacts everything from health and housing to agriculture, transportation, air quality and local ecosystems. The U.S. Global Change Research Program released the first such assessment in 2000…. [The latest] report is the fifth – and most dire. It confirms that climate change, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, is already impacting the lives of Americans, and that the country needs to adapt to those impacts even while acting to slash greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the worst-case scenarios. The report finds especially strong impacts in the Southeast region, which includes Virginia and North Carolina.”

“In a partisan vote …, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved a plan created by sustainability officials to help the county meet its climate mitigation goals. The Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan, backed by the board’s Democratic majority, outlines a vision for how the county can take steps toward being a regional leader in environmentally friendly practices and policies. Republicans in the minority who opposed the plan said it was half-baked and worried about the fiscal implications of eventually implementing policies that address the recommendations. The board in 2020 adopted its climate goals and authorized the Office of Sustainability to develop the master plan to meet those goals. The goals include: Cutting greenhouse gas emission to 50% below 2005 levels by 2030; sourcing all countywide electricity from renewable sources by 2035; achieving 100% renewable electricity in the county government operations by 2030; reaching full carbon neutrality in the county government operations by 2050; becoming a ‘climate ready region;’ and making significant progress to toward the goals by 2030.”

Drought, Fires, Flooding, Winter Weather Forecast, and… Earthquakes?

We previously provided details about the replenishment of aquifers in Tidewater VA that some jurisdictions are undertaking. Some additional details were recently reported: “Southeast Virginia’s massive aquifer is being replenished. Here’s why that matters…. Hampton Roads Sanitation District [is drilling and constructing] 10 wells … in the park near the James River Wastewater Treatment Plant…. [The] wells are designed to inject water back into the aquifer, which is an essential source of freshwater in the region, and, like many aquifers across the nation, is in danger of being overdrawn…. The goal of the sanitation district’s SWIFT Project, or Sustainable Water Initiatives for Tomorrow, is recharging the aquifer by bringing wastewater to drinking water standards, treating it to match existing groundwater chemistry, and injecting it back into the earth. Doing so addresses several environmental concerns, including conservation, saltwater intrusion and land compaction. Water exits the aquifer faster than it can recharge.”

“Norfolk’s draft priorities in the state house this year include asks on … funding for one of the city’s largest projects in a generation. The $2.6 billion Coastal Storm Resiliency Management project is slated to encompass almost 8 miles of floodwalls with various other storm management infrastructure when totally completed over the next decade.” “Thirty-eight years after the Flood of ’85, Roanoke is still preparing for the next one. Thanks to the city’s flood reduction project, 44% of the parcels in the city’s flood control map are now in a lower risk category.”

“Drought is getting to be a big problem over a wide part of Virginia. Wildfires are breaking out as there is yet to be any sign of an El Niño-charged wet pattern.” The drought is expanding in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. “

In early November, the Governor declared a state of emergency because of wildfires. “Virginia currently has five active wildfires that have each consumed more than 1,000 acres and are only partly contained…. The U.S. Forest Service … announced restrictions on fires in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.” “Four of the five biggest wildfires burning across the western part of Virginia grew] … over the [Nov 11-12] weekend, but four of them are also more contained….” [The light rain on that weekend] did little to quell the widespread and intensifying drought, [and] cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped slow fire spread and allowed crews better opportunity to contain existing fires.” “Updated figures from the scene of the Quaker Run Fire [in Madison County] suggest the blaze has consumed more than previously reported.” The Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park announced restrictions. Counties doing so included Albemarle, Augusta, Rockbridge, and Rockingham counties and the cities of Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, and Staunton. The Virginia Forestry Department recommends all outside burning be delayed.

NOAA, “the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration … released its winter outlook, and for many it is good news – predicting both a warmer winter and a snowier winter than [Virginia saw] last year. The winter weather patterns will be affected by the Pacific Ocean climate pattern known as El Nino.”

“A “much larger earthquake” is possible in Stuarts Draft after a series of three small earthquakes over eight days, according to a Virginia Tech professor. All three earthquakes in Augusta County measured between 2.2 and 2.4 magnitude with a depth starting on Oct. 15 at 2.4 km; progressing on Oct. 22 at 3.5 km; and 8.5 km on Oct. 23.”

Opinions, Letters to the Editor (LTEs), and Blogs

“A conservative endorsement of solar energy in Orange County” by the Director of Conservatives for Clean Energy Virginia – Daily Progress

“Why it’s better to let counties review solar projects case-by-case” by the Virginia Policy Advisor for The Center for Infrastructure and Economic Development – Virginia Mercury

“On solar, as with all else: Follow the money”, LTE by a senior writer at the Union of Concerned Scientists – Washington Post

Fauquier Webert PJM Routing Concerns Letter 101823 – by a Virginia Delegate representing Fauquier County to the Chairman, Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee, of PJM (grid manager for Virginia and other nearby states).

“Wind turbines looming on our horizon” LTE by a Stephens City resident – The Winchester Star

“Developing offshore wind in Virginia takes time. That’s a good thing.” By the clean energy and climate justice policy manager at Virginia Conservation Network and the offshore energy program director at Sierra Club Virginia Chapter – The Virginian-Pilot 

“SCC Approves Paying Extra for Fuel As ‘Relief’” in a Bacon’s Rebellion blog post

“Driving to the Future in the South,” aNational Resources Defense Council blog post.

Check out …

• The Virginia Native Plant Finder tool if you’re seeking native plants.
• The Virginia Sierra Club Potomac Group’s Webinar: “The Good, the Bad, the Breezy: Offshore Wind in Virginia and Nationwide…. [T]he picture is currently not so clear for other East Coast offshore wind projects [though Virginia’s project is looking good]. Learn about the challenges overcome and still facing offshore wind, the implications of those challenges have on our one current Virginia project AND future offshore wind projects in the works off Virginia’s coast.” The event will happen December 4 at 7 pm. Register here.
• This Blue Ridge Country editor’s piece on “The Beauty of Rail Trails – Riding (Farther) to Lunch.”

Why not …

• Read about the EMU professor named as “among the top wildlife photographers in the world” and view his “’Pool of Wonder’ [that] captures a cluster of spotted salamander eggs nestled on a bed of sphagnum moss just under the surface of a vernal pool in Augusta County, Virginia”?
• Give the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition your views “to guide the future development of Massanutten’s Western Slope trail system“? The survey is here. Deadline is November 30.
• Review “How does climate change threaten where you live?” As Southeast Energy News reported in a recent email newsletter: “A new federal report details how climate change is affecting every region in the U.S., and the Southeast’s geography and inequities make it especially vulnerable. (Grist, WFAE, Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

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 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.

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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.

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 September 2023, Part I

Energy

2023 Virginia Budget Amendments Passed, Finally!

Virginia Conservation Network provided a summary of pertinent provisions in an email update of September 7 (register to receive VCN’s newsletters here). Here are excerpts:

Clean Water

• GOOD: Hundreds of millions of dollars are earmarked for the state’s Water Quality Improvement Fund 
• GOOD: An extra $286M for implementing pollution-reducing, agricultural best management practices on working farms 
• BAD: $100M for Richmond City’s’ combined sewage overflow (CSO) improvements were dropped 

Resilience & RGGI Funds

• GOOD: $18M in flood relief funds for Buchanan and Tazewell counties, after the historic July 2022 flooding
• BAD: These funds were generated by raiding RGGI funds that are intended for desperately needed, low-income energy efficiency programs.
• GOOD: $100M for the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund, a fund that provides greater flexibility for the state to support local governments and individual property owners impacted by flooding
• Note: This is in addition to and should not be viewed as a replacement for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, the state’s first dedicated revenue stream, from RGGI. This Fund has already raised nearly $300M over 3 years to help Virginia localities prevent flooding.

Land Use & Transportation

• GOOD: $93M is dedicated towards trails funding: 1/3 of the funds will go towards 5 “priority” projects plus the Fall Line Trail as a 6th priority project and the remaining ⅔ of funding will go to projects throughout the rest of the state
• GOOD: Proposed funding to widen the I-81 highway was dropped
• BAD: $140 million in grants for “a data center operator” to incentivize data center development 

What’s next? Governor Youngkin will release his proposed 2024-2026 biennial budget this December, which the General Assembly will vote on in the 2024 General Assembly session. See a list of Virginia Conservation Budget Recommendations outlined in the Our 2024 Common Agenda to understand the funding we need to fully protect Virginia’s environment and natural resources.

Data Centers, Energy Storage, Grid Management

“Data centers are warehouse-like buildings filled with computer servers and hardware that powers and stores data for the IT infrastructure. The facilities, often at least two stories tall, require large amounts of water for cooling and consume massive amounts of electricity, which requires most sites to include power substations. Data center growth was spurred by a Virginia program that entices data center development via grants, which require matching funds from localities. The Fredericksburg area is popular because of the fiber optic lines that run along Interstate 95. Data centers also need to be near electrical transmission lines and have access to water, both of which prove crucial to the facilities.”

One of many NoVA examples: “In preparation for the expected incoming development of data centers, Stafford County moved forward with plans to guide how and where the facilities can be built.… [T]he Board of Supervisors approved motions on proposed comprehensive plan amendments for data centers and to remove the facilities from certain by-right uses. The board … voted to send the proposed comprehensive plan amendments back to the planning commission so a public hearing can be held…. Stafford is considering three proposed data centers.”

Data centers are being planned in areas outside NoVA. Some examples:

• Henrico County’s White Oak Technology Park has two large data centers and more may come. “Data centers are much sought-after economic development projects because they represent millions of dollars of investment, and local taxes…. And since that prospect means thinking about infrastructure — in this case, the high-voltage lines necessary to feed electricity into some of the biggest users of power around — a 1,170-page Dominion Energy filing at the State Corporation Commission offers a rare glimpse into the lengthy process that goes into landing a major economic development project. In the case of White Oak and the area around it, that glimpse comes because Dominion wants the SCC to approve a route for two new 4.69-mile transmission lines through mostly undeveloped woods, fields and wetlands.“
• Not too far away, “As a part of a $35 billion data center expansion project across Virginia, Amazon Web Services announced it plans to spend nearly a third of the budget on the creation of two data center campuses in Louisa County…. The data centers will be built in the county’s Technology Overlay District, … developed with “strict development standards” to attract technology businesses and support economic growth in the county while preserving its idyllic rural character, according to the … County Board of Supervisors.”
• “The 7.5 million sq. ft data center proposal in Virginia’s King George County still hasn’t been approved, even after a seven-and-a-half hour-long County meeting.” Developers “are looking to develop an 869-acre data center complex for use by Amazon in the county, a proposal that involves rezoning several land parcels from agricultural to industrial, a change in its Comprehensive Plan, and extending the borders of light industrial development to land adjacent to the Rappahannock River…. [Issues include tax revenues], impact on farmland, [power,] water, and the rural way of life.”

“Fueled by data center development, Dominion Energy projects a 214% growth in power demand in Northern Virginia over the next four years, according to a power delivery presentation for Culpeper County given to the Board of Supervisors [recently].”

Two recent articles address the question of NoVA data center sustainability. [The same question could apply to other areas of the state.

• “Northern Virginia’s Data Center Industry Is Booming. But Is It Sustainble?”
• “Northern Virginia data center industry faces supply and demand imbalance, report finds.”

“Spurred by an increasing number of power-hungry data centers, the keepers of the electric grid in NoVA are embarking on an ambitious, multi-billion-dollar plan to bring more electricity to the data center zones while shoring up other parts of transmission system. This plan far exceeds the handful of new transmission lines that Dominion executives have been discussing with community leaders and activists in Prince William County.” “Botetourt County supervisors voted … to approve a large battery power facility that would help tame peak demand across the region’s electrical network … [and would use arrays of Tesla batteries to store electricity gathered during non-peak periods, then release the power as needed to smooth demand curves. Similar facilities have been launched elsewhere in Virginia in recent years…. The storage facility would be made up of 144 aboveground installations … [and] would be operated remotely.”

Renewable Energy

A Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) attorney believes “Rural counties stand to play a critical role in Virginia’s move to solar. Rural counties are in an excellent position to help steer the renewable energy transition…. [He argues that this transition] is crucial if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change [and that it] … means cleaner air, cheaper energy bills, and new economic development opportunities…. [He also thinks] communities must be in the driver’s seat and well equipped to take advantage of and manage the many utility-scale solar proposals being offered. And we need thoughtful and engaged project developers to support them.”

Mecklenburg County’s Planning Commission voted down a proposal for two dual-use “’agrisolar’ projects [that would enable] the use of open land for farming and solar energy at the same time…. Each of the projects would generate enough power to light up some 1,250 homes [and would be part of] Dominion Energy’s Shared Solar Program. Under that program, Dominion’s retail customers can purchase subscriptions in a shared solar facility owned by Dominion, and in return receive credit on their bills for a share of the project’s energy output.”

Clarke County is considering whether to approve a “50-megawatt solar power plant …proposed for a 400-acre site.” In 2021 a geotechnical consulting firm described the site as being “a karst risk for development.”

“The Town of Halifax is rethinking whether it should allow community-scale solar projects inside town limits, and if so, under what conditions.” Similarly, “Tazewell [County is] taking [a] proactive look at solar farms.”

“Stafford County is set get its first solar power [community solar] facility. The Board of Supervisors … approved a conditional-use permit for a solar facility on 171 acres…. The 5 megawatt site’s raised solar panels will send electricity into the power grid operated by Dominion.”

“Dominion Energy and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority ceremonially broke ground on [a] 835-acre … solar farm [at Dulles Airport in Loudoun County that] is just a small part of a huge push by Dominion to add 16,000 megawatts of solar capacity — enough to power 4 million homes — by 2035 as it seeks to comply with a state law requiring 100% of its non-nuclear energy production to be zero emission by 2045.” The project is “solar, battery storage and electric vehicle initiative that they said would be the nation’s largest renewable energy project at an airport.” “The [solar]panels — along with carport solar panels on … a parking lot at the airport — are expected to power some of the facilities at the airport and more than 37,000 homes in the region, according to Dominion. In all, it will generate 100 megawatts of solar energy. Batteries on site will be able to store up to 50 megawatts.”

Nuclear and Hydrogen

“Two tech hub bids seek to boost Virginia’s nuclear industry. Proposals led by the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance have some common goals but also some key differences. They’ll compete for federal dollars against proposals based around additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence and autonomous transportation, among other critical technologies.”

Loudoun County has embraced both data centers and solar facilities. Now, it’s looking “Ahead to Small Nuclear Plants, Industrial Batteries.” As energy demands continue and current solar and wind are “not catching up “to that demand, “government and energy industry leaders [including some in Loudoun] are looking toward small modular reactors, a concept for smaller-scale nuclear reactors produced in an assembly line fashion, which would produce less power than today’s large-scale nuclear energy facilities but would also be quicker and easier to build and require much less land. Small reactors are those that produce up to 300 megawatts.”

“Virginia Tech has been awarded $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the potential for storing hydrogen underground in depleted Appalachian gas fields. Subsurface hydrogen storage would provide a large amount of space without the need for massive above-ground infrastructure, according to a DOE announcement.”

Transportation

The proposed new Virginia budget, if the Governor approves it as passed by the legislature, “secured [$35 Million in] funding” for the Shenandoah Rail Trail, which is projected to inject $32.3M per year into local economy. The Trail will pass through “nine towns (Front Royal, Strasburg, Toms Brook, Woodstock, Edinburg, Mount Jackson, New Market, Timberville and Broadway) and three counties (Warren, Shenandoah and Rockingham)….”

Regulations

The Governor’s Office of Regulatory Management, headed by “Andrew Wheeler, a former EPA administrator, oversees the agency, [whose aim is to] reduce regulations by one-quarter…. The [400] proposed actions [in this fiscal year’s plan] touch on multiple aspects of life in Virginia and 13 percent of those reviewed for change or elimination will be environmental rules. These 48 actions include amending and reissuing expiring stormwater construction regulation, implementing emission standards for vehicles and removing Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.”

Last month, a blogger gave Dominion’s latest Integrated Resource Plan the “benefit of the doubt”, given its plan to extend the use of fossil fuel plants beyond 2045 because of data center growth, even though saying the plan shouldn’t be taken seriously. This month, noting the sky-high projections Dominion offered in all of its scenarios, she argued they may be way too high. “With none of its plans meeting the basic requirements of Virginia law, Dominion should be ordered to go back to the drawing board. The company should … design a demand-response program tailored to [the data center] industry. Then it should re-run its computer model with energy efficiency allowed as a resource, with no artificial constraints on battery storage and renewable energy, with federal and state compliance costs associated with fossil fuels fully included and with cost estimates for solar and storage consistent with industry norms.”

Climate and Environment

Chesapeake Bay

“Nearly 5% of the Chesapeake Bay watershed is covered by areas that block the filtration of water, according to a new analysis of data from the Chesapeake Bay Program. These areas are “impervious surfaces,” and include pavement and rooftops…. Soil, forests and wetlands, called pervious surfaces, act as sponges and soak up rainfall. The majority of Hampton Roads has a high percentage of impervious surfaces.” Losses of tree canopies exacerbate the effects of impervious surfaces.

For example, “In Newport News, there has been a net loss of about 200 acres of tree cover between 2014 and 2018 according to the analysis from the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Forestry Workgroup. Each year, the city’s tree cover reduces an estimated 302.6 million gallons of stormwater runoff. In Norfolk, there has been a loss of 128 acres in the same timeframe. Hampton has only lost 33 acres, and Virginia Beach has lost 1,893 acres.”

The “Virginia director of advocacy and outreach for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said climate change leads to extreme heat and more intense flooding — and one way to protect residents of the watershed area from such events is to invest in tree canopy.” “The Virginia Department of Forestry is making use of state and federal funds to plant more trees in communities throughout the commonwealth…. The Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program is offering $500,000 in grant funding to plant trees in community areas through the remainder of 2023…. The program was established in 2013 and is supported primarily by the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund, a special state fund created in 1997 to assist local governments, soil and water conservation districts, state agencies and others with reducing and controlling water pollution.

Recent budget surpluses have led to hundreds of millions of dollars being deposited in the fund, with over $644 million earmarked for deposit in a budget deal the General Assembly passed last week. An estimated 150,000 trees have been planted as part of the program to date, and nearly 50,000 of those plantings happened last year…. In addition to state funds, the Virginia Department of Forestry received $6.6 million in federal funding this year from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The funds are intended to increase tree canopy and access to nature in disadvantaged communities.” 

Resilience

“Ten census tracts in Hampton Roads are among the most at risk in the nation to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The local spots are part of 483 nationwide announced this week as the first set of Community Disaster Resilience Zones. Each new resilience zone is a census tract that is especially vulnerable because of both environmental risks and social factors like lower incomes, language barriers and transportation challenges.” 

Drought and Flooding

Drought warnings were declared or anticipated for “for seven counties in the Shenandoah Valley’s northern region, including Clarke and Frederick” as well as Augusta and Rockingham, Stephens City, the City of Staunton and the City of Winchester. “Droughts have scientists concerned about a key drinking water source: the Potomac River [and] levels detected last week are the lowest seen since 2010 and have scientists beginning talks about whether steps should be taken to bring more water into the region…. The Potomac River supplies 75% of the region with its drinking water. For the District and Arlington, Virginia, the river is the only source for tap water.”

The proposed new Virginia budget, if the governor approves it as passed by the legislature, includes “a $10 million infusion for a new project designed to curb flooding and promote redevelopment near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.”

“High tides alone could cause flooding in Norfolk for up to 19 days this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That’s more than anywhere else on the East Coast and would be the area’s worst year of high tide flooding on record. Within a few decades, Norfolk could see high tide flooding for about a third of the year. The predictions are part of NOAA’s national high tide outlook …, which covers the time period from this May through next April.”

“Roanoke… announced the approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of new floodplain maps for the Roanoke River that reflect decades of flood mitigation work along the banks of the waterway. The new maps indicate the likelihood and severity of flooding for more than 1,400 parcels along the approximately 10-mile Roanoke River corridor within city limits, according to a news release from the city. Land development and flood insurance requirements are also updated.”

“[T]he University of Virginia’s Virginia Flood Resilience Initiative released an online “roadmap” to help southern Virginia areas assess their flood risks and resilience. A partner in the project is the Southside Planning District Commission, which spans Halifax, Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties. The Virginia Flood Resilience Initiative features a flood hazard dashboard that assesses flood risks in specific areas throughout the region. The dashboard provides a wealth of granular data to help Southside communities assess their vulnerability to overflowing rivers and flash flooding, an understanding that planners and builders have historically lacked — at times, with disastrous consequences.”

Wildlife

A Hampton Roads-area paper, in an editorial, praised the “Plan for waterfowl [that] protects the environment as HRBT expansion proceeds.” The HRBT expansion is “a $10 million plan to build a new, permanent island for the migratory seabirds” displaced by construction of the Hampton Roads tunnel.

Opinions

Three op-eds weigh in on Virginia’s opportunities in becoming part of the non-fossil-fuel energy transition:

• “Virginia must not miss the clean energy revolution” – authored by the Environmental Defense Fund director of climate and clean air policy.
• “Virginia’s clean energy revolution begins in the Southwest” – jointly authored by the managing partner of Coalfield Strategies and the executive director of the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission and member of the Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority.
• “We can use the free market to lower energy costs — so why is Glenn Youngkin fighting it?” – by the president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship

Check out …

• The new Raider’s Run mountain bike trail at Hungry Mother State Park.
• October and November events at the JMU Edith Carrier Arboretum, including Harrisonburg Songtuary Oct 21^st at 2:30, Remarkable Trees Field Trip to a Virgin Red Spruce Forest Oct 7^th 8 to 5:30, and 15th Annual Harvest Festival Saturday, October 28th | 11am-2pm, and others.
• Canary Media’s “end-of-summer reading list” of “climate books.”
• These two EV events – your chance to learn more about electric vehicle technology:
• National Drive Electric Week, Shenandoah Electric Vehicle Show, Saturday, September 23, 2023, 1:30 – 5:00 pm EDT, at Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center, 712 Massanetta Springs Rd., Harrisonburg.
• Ribbon cutting for EV Chargers at Jon Henry Country Store, 9383 N Congress St, New Market, 4pm, September 27th

Why not …

• Learn VA Tech’s Science Corner’s answer to “Are bullfrogs a sound of summer or sign of trouble?”
• Visit the “Shenandoah Electric Vehicle Show in Harrisonburg, Sep 23, 2023, 1:30 – 5:00 pm EDT, at Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center, 712 Massanetta Springs Rd, Harrisonburg”? Register here to attend.
• Help out our feathered friends by installing a birdbath? Here’s how.
• Sign the “#STOP the MVP Petition? The pipe meant to complete construction of MVP has been sitting in the open sun, in some cases, for 4-6+ years. This reduces the pipe’s integrity and potentially leading to weld failures & leaks, and increasing the risk of explosion. SIGN THIS PETITION to FERC urging them to issue a Stop Work Order until all MVP pipe safety concerns are met. [NOTE: In a formal notice, FERC “Federal Regulators Raise[d] Safety Concerns Over Mountain Valley Pipeline.”]
• Create a butterfly habitat at your home to alleviate habitat loss? Here’s how.
• Try some cider at Big Fish Cider? The cidermaker “is part of a wave of makers who are branching out from the juicy, sweet stuff in the grocery store. They’re creating what they call ‘vintage cider’ in smaller batches, toying with foraged fruit and wild fermentation that’s more like natural wine….”
• Join the “Harrisonburg Climate March“, September 22^nd from 12pm-3pm, organized by JMU’s Environmental Management Club? Details are here. Goals:

1. Keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial levels. 
2. Ensure climate justice and equity. 
3. Listen to the best united science currently available.
4. Bring a sense of locality and community organization, using this day to support groups with a common interest and learn from each other.

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.

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

Statewide Environmental News Roundup for August 2023

Energy

State Corporation Commission (SCC) and Utilities

“A state-mandated program to cap electric bills for eligible low-income Dominion Energy customers is set to start by the end of the year…. Dominion is proposing [that the SCC approve] a surcharge on other customers’ bills of less than a dollar a month to pay for the program … [to] would cap the participants’ bills…. It is intended for households earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level…. The Department of Social Services estimates that about 45,000 customers will participate in the program during its first year.”

In our May Perspectives Piece, we reported that “Dominion issued its latest long-range Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)”. “The plan calls for “new gas plants [and] advanced nuclear [that Dominion said] will be needed to meet soaring demand”; the company said it “may seek to keep most of its existing power stations online for decades to come and seek to build additional small natural gas and nuclear units.” In submissions to the SCC, “environmental groups and a clean energy trade association told the [SCC] that the plan’s electricity demand forecast is based on an unrealistic view about how many new data centers … are coming. [The] Dominion plan sees carbon emissions rising as electric use soars. [The groups] also say Dominion is not thinking aggressively enough about expanding solar and wind-powered generation [and that its plan] “is based on flawed modeling and assumptions.”

“A coalition of environmental groups have appealed Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s … move to withdraw the state from an interstate carbon-capping program, after the state government made the pullout official [July 31^st].” “[T]he groups … informed the Air Pollution Control Board, and the Department of Environmental Quality, and its director, that they will challenge this action in Fairfax Circuit Court.” The lawsuit was filed August 21. The program is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Another group declared “Virginians Will Pay the Costs of Gov Youngkin’s Misguided Efforts to Exit the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative [RGGI].” A Southwest Virginia news editor listed “some projects it’s funded in Southwest and Southside.” He noted that “The weatherization program completed 475 projects statewide, using about $6.7 million in RGGI funds…. Projects include addressing problems like leaky roofs, mold, non-functioning or unsafe HVAC units, water damage and electrical or plumbing problems. The housing program helped create 5,141 affordable housing units with $87.5 million in RGGI money statewide.”

Fossil Fuels

“The U.S. Supreme Court … gave Mountain Valley Pipeline the OK to resume construction activity following a lower court’s orders earlier … to halt such activity.” Subsequently, the “last lawsuits seeking to stop Mountain Valley Pipeline [were] dismissed” by an appeals court. There is still the question of the validity of Congress’ and the President’s action under the Constitutional separation of powers. “While the decision was unanimous, two of the three [appellate] judges raised questions about the precedent that was being set, with one wondering whether recent congressional action to eliminate the 4th Circuit’s jurisdiction over the cases is ‘a harbinger of erosion not just to the environment, but to our republic.’” “U.S. energy company Equitrans Midstream … said it still expects to complete the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline by the end of the year….” “As construction on the … Pipeline picks back up again, protesters … haven’t held back from making their opposition known.” Some are consideringwhat can be done to ensure developers take necessary safety precautions, for which the state’s Department of Environmental Quality has jurisdiction. “A federal safety agency is calling for additional inspections of pipes that may have been compromised by exposure to the elements along the route of the … Pipeline. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration may also require an independent, third-party review of a process to inspect the steel pipes and, where needed, reapply a protective coating designed to protect them from corrosion once they are buried.”

Data Centers and Battery Storage

“By a wide margin, Northern Virginia is the No. 1 site for data centers in the country and the world. These highly specialized buildings house the computer servers and routers that make digital interconnectivity possible…. Ashburn, Va., is the epicenter of “Data Center Alley,” anchoring a collection of nearly 300 data centers, scattered across Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William counties, handling more than a third of the world’s online traffic. Many more are in the planning stages or currently under construction.”

“Warning of the ‘wholesale destruction’ of historic landscapes related to major Civil War camps and troop burials, the new superintendent of Manassas National Battlefield Park [wrote Prince William County officials stating] his strong concerns about the Prince William Digital Gateway, a plan to build 28 to 34 new data centers on 2,133 acres directly north of the national park.” Nonetheless, county Supervisors rejected “a request to consider a county historic designation for two areas within the proposed data center corridor…. The board did, however, vote to initiate an evaluation of Blackburn’s Ford Battlefield, located near the county’s border with Fairfax County, as a possible new ‘county registered historic site.’” In “King George County, the Planning Commission recommended approving most of the rezonings sought by … [developers] to build a complex of several data centers that would total 7.5 million square feet and ultimately be operated by Amazon… [and located] … near the … [county’s] Regional Landfill.”

“As the construction wave of new data centers pushes west from Ashburn, the Town of Leesburg [in Loudoun County is] preparing to welcome them, but on its own terms. …, [with] the council [adopting] two amendments to the town Zoning Ordinance designed to better accommodate the needs of the industry, which is expected to significantly boost the town’s commercial tax base in coming years.”

Aside from the land use questions and concerns raised in opposition to the proliferation of data centers, there is the matter of who’s paying for them and the issue of how much of Virginia’s energy consumption they will require. One commentator asks: “Why are the rest of us expected to pay for infrastructure that’s only needed for data centers? Does the Governor understand that his deal to bring another $35 billion worth of new Amazon data centers to Virginia is driving up energy rates for everyone else? [She adds] Virginia’s data center problem is well known. Northern Virginia has the largest concentration of data centers in the world, by far. Data centers are Dominion’s single largest category of commercial power users, already consuming more than 21% of total electricity supply and slated to hit 50% by 2038. In addition to the new generation that will be required, data centers need grid upgrades including new transmission lines, transformers and breakers, with the costs spread to all ratepayers.”

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

“The corporate segment of the renewables industry has been one of the fastest growing markets over the last five years and it is no coincidence that data centers also rapidly increased their footprint over the same timeline. Of the roughly 26,000 MW of corporate-tied renewable capacity online or planned in the U.S., over 16,600 MW are contracted to technology companies with substantial data center operations.”

As numerous past Perspectives Pieces have highlighted, Virginia counties, cities, and towns have passed different zoning requirements regarding large utility scale solar facilities, with some favoring and some restricting them. The second July piece offered some examples of differing outcomes for such permit requests. It also described positions of two Virginia land conservation organizations on this subject. Prior pieces have included many other examples. “New laws passed by U.S. counties and townships are putting land off limits to renewable developers in a dynamic that could pose problems for decarbonizing some regions of the country, according to a new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.” The study showed that “setbacks could reduce resource potential by up to 87% for wind and 38% for solar.” (“’Setback limits’ … require projects to keep a certain distance from houses or infrastructure.”) One of the authors said “’local restrictions may be going unnoticed in projections of renewables’ technical potential, which are sometimes cited in policymakers’ plans for decarbonization.’” The same author also noted: “The ordinances are shrinking the country’s untapped space for zero-emissions electricity…. Paradoxically, that could actually be a good thing for renewable development in some cases, since some ordinances may give companies clear signs as to where their projects may be best accepted.” The dilemma is described at length in this article titled “The Clean Energy Future Is Roiling Both Friends and Foes. Resistance to wind and solar projects, even from some environmentalists, is among an array of impediments to widespread conversion to renewables.”

Fauquier County Supervisors’ recent decision illustrates the above dilemma (the same county that is considering data centers): “Solar farm developers with an eye on the open spaces of Fauquier County are finding an increasingly difficult road to win approval even as demand for energy grows. The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors voted … to uphold an earlier planning commission ruling which blocked construction of a proposed 80-megawatt solar farm…. The decision presents a serious hurdle for the growth of solar energy in Fauquier County. Only one solar project has made it past the county planning commission since 2017 despite rising energy demand.”

“The Prince William Board of County Supervisors … allocated $1.2 million from the county’s year-end savings fund… [for a] one-time fee reduction program for residential solar [that] will waive all county fees associated with installation to incentivize residents and solar contractors to install equipment on houses in the county….. Neighboring Fairfax County waives all permitting fees related to residential solar installations. Prince William’s program takes effect Sept. 1, but the future of the program in subsequent years will be subject to funding availability and board approval…. The residential solar industry has seen exponential growth in Prince William County, from 14 total applications in 2016 to more than 1,000 in 2022 … [with] a 297% increase in solar applications between 2021 and 2022.” The growth is expected to continue. 

“Dominion Energy employs 17,000 people across the country. Now, about 1,000 sheep work for the power company as well. In a process known as solar grazing, sheep consume vegetation on solar farms to reduce the need for lawnmowers and other landscaping machinery. More research is being conducted in recent years to look into the benefits of solar grazing. Reducing costs and emissions from landscaping are two of the biggest pluses…. Richmond-based Dominion Energy started using sheep for solar grazing in October. The company deploys sheep at six of its solar farms….”

“The city of Hampton is working with a Virginia nonprofit to teach people about solar panels and to make installing them more affordable. Since 2014, the local energy alliance program has installed more than 1,000 solar system installations across Virginia.” 

A Botetourt County project that has been in the works for eight years is facing more delay. “Apex Clean Energy [project developer] says it hopes to begin major construction of its proposed wind farm next summer or fall, and complete it by the end of the following year. Earlier plans had called for work to begin this summer. A detailed site plan for how 13 turbines, each 643 feet tall, will be arranged and built along a ridgeline of North Mountain has yet to be approved by Botetourt County’s community development department…. Called Rocky Forge Wind, the renewable energy project has been slowed by permitting delays, legal action from opponents, design changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lengthy search for a buyer of the power it will produce.”

“A grant from Clean Virginia will help local organizations get the word out about weatherization and energy efficiency programs for both homeowners and renters.” The organization leading the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County effort is profiled in this Appalachian Voices article.

Transportation

“Virginia’s two big electric monopolies are stalling on a regulatory order asking them to detail their roles in what is forecast to be a $700 million annual cost for the charging infrastructure needed for electric vehicles, the Sierra Club says. Dominion Energy, which serves most of the state, and Appalachian Power, the main utility in the western part of Virginia, filed their plans to address EV growth with the State Corporation Commission this spring.” The Sierra Club believes “these plans are inadequate and lack specific details for future investments and rate plans to handle the increased electricity demand from EVs…. [It] is urging the SCC to intervene and order the electric monopolies to submit compliant plans that include concrete details on how they plan to accommodate the charging needs of EVs. Currently, the utilities have made little progress and only offer vague plans for the future.”

A state transportation advocate believes “$3.2 million in rural rail crossing federal” funding will enable “upgrades [to] increase safety [and] lay the tracks for high speed rail” between Virginia and North Carolina.”

“Alexandria’s Buses Are Now Free And Frequent. And They’re Setting Ridership Records.”

Arlington County buys electric buses for its fleet. Arlington’s transit system, ART, is getting its first batch of battery electric buses, or BEB, as it pursues carbon neutrality by 2050, according to a press release. The vehicles will be deployed in late 2024 after work wraps up on the new Operations and Maintenance Facility on Shirlington Road. With $3.3 million in state and $1.2 million in local funds, the county is buying four American-made buses by the company Gillig, which drivers and riders tested out along with other options over the last year.

“To cut air pollution and long-term energy and maintenance costs, Loudoun County Public Schools is adding 16 electric buses to their fleet. The vast majority of the school division’s approximately 750 buses run on diesel fuel. The school division’s first five electric buses hit the road in 2021 through Dominion Energy’s electric school bus program, which began in 2019 as part of a long-term effort to replace diesel buses.”

“A $50,000 grant will go toward the installation of a new e-bike charging station and the construction of an amphitheater in the Russell County town of Honaker. The grant, which comes from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority’s Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund, will help fund the projects in a park that’s situated along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.”

“The US Department of Transportation awarded the City of Harrisonburg a $14,368,180 RAISE Grant to convert one driving lane of US-11… to a two-way separated bicycle facility between the intersections of Main Street and Noll Drive, and Grattan Street and Liberty Street…. The new bicycle and pedestrian facilities are anticipated to increase bicycling and walking in the City, supporting Harrisonburg’s environmental sustainability, mobility, community connectivity, and economic development goals…. For more information about this project, view this City of Harrisonburg News Release.”

Climate and Environment

Chesapeake Bay

The “bipartisan Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act… would establish a new Chesapeake national park site, the Chesapeake National Recreation Area…. [The bill] would bring land‑based areas of the world’s largest estuary under the protection of the National Park Service [and] this new national park site would expand public access to the Bay’s shores and waters.” A Tidewater-area editorial board believes the new park would greatly benefit all of Hampton Roads.

“The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act of 2023 would fast track conservation goals in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.” A bipartisan group of Virginia and Maryland representatives introduced the legislation, which would “focus federal resources on approximately 83,00 farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to boost voluntary conservation efforts that help achieve water quality goals, increase soil health and provide economic benefits. The legislation would also provide solutions for developing a more robust agriculture workforce to get more technical assistance on the ground, and would simplify harvesting invasive blue catfish from the Bay.” Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania senators introduced a similar bill.

“Chesapeake Oyster Alliance members from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation [CBF] and Minorities in Aquaculture [recently dropped] around 12,000 young oysters and oyster spat-on-shell into the York River. The oysters will settle onto a sanctuary reef where they will grow to continue efforts to save the oysters and the bay. The oysters, including the oyster spat, were all grown by CBF…. Spat is a term for infant oysters that grow on recycled shells….”

“In the Chesapeake Bay, osprey are the region’s top avian predator, but recent research found many of their young aren’t surviving. In light of the research, the Richmond Audubon Society asked state fisheries regulators at the end of July to temporarily suspend the use of large fishing nets in the Chesapeake Bay for 30 days starting in August to allow osprey more menhaden to feed on ahead of their migratory travel south for the winter. The change would primarily affect the operations of Virginia’s long-established Omega Protein, which operates out of Reedville and uses purse seine nets to catch menhaden in the Bay before reducing the fish to meal and oil, as well as the menhaden bait fishery…. But Omega Protein disputes the conclusion that menhaden fishing is depleting stock to the detriment of ospreys.”

“A [federally funded] study is underway to see if a plan to shore up a disappearing island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay is feasible. Tangier Island, Virginia, has lost about two-thirds of its land mass since 1850. Studies estimate what’s left will become uninhabitable wetlands around 2050 if nothing is done.”

 Land Use and Wetlands Conservation

Virginia’s senators have sponsored “The Shenandoah Mountain Act … to establish a 92,562-acre scenic area in Rockingham, Augusta and Highland counties…. [The legislation, if passed, would] protect the scenic, historic, recreational and natural resources in the specific areas, while allowing compatible uses such as outdoor recreation activities. The legislation would also boost local economies, protect drinking water sources and preserve endangered wildlife.”

“With a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision sharply curtailing federal oversight of streams and wetlands, environmental groups working to restore the Chesapeake Bay say they’re worried about gaps in state laws and enforcement practices that now leave those waters vulnerable to unrestricted development and pollution…. In the Bay watershed, the impact is somewhat muted. Five of the six states and the District of Columbia provide at least some protection under their own laws for wetlands and streams now removed from federal jurisdiction…. Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia each have comprehensive state laws that provide protection from disturbance for their wetlands and all waters, even groundwater…. [Environmental groups believe] ‘many questions remain’ about … Virginia’s response to the court ruling.”

“Ground broken in Chesterfield County is set to grow fresh produce – 30 feet in the air. Plenty Unlimited Inc. … has begun construction on a vertical indoor farming campus that, when completed, is expected to be the largest such operation in the world. The campus, to be developed in phases totaling $300 million, will sit on 120 acres in [a technology park]. Several structures will be built, with the first planned to be a 100,000-square-foot vertical farm that’ll be used to grow Driscoll’s strawberries.” Near Danville, “AeroFarm grows crops on a gigantic scale without soil or sunlight, and its executives say indoor vertical growing, one form of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), produces nearly 400 times the harvest (in this case, greens) than farms using traditional methods.… At 138, 670 square feet, the AeroFarm operation is the largest operation of its kind in the world [though not for long.]”

Flooding

“Despite the mounting impacts of climate change, more people are moving into the country’s most flood-prone areas than out of them. Migration into high-risk regions … has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic, according to new analysis from Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. But the opposite is true in Hampton Roads: More people are moving out of the region than in. It’s the only major coastal area Redfin analyzed on the East Coast where that’s happening.”

“The city of Virginia Beach has broken ground on a massive project set to reduce stormwater flooding — and bring new recreational opportunities — over the next several years. The concept is called a ‘stormwater park,’ which cities across the country have begun using as flood prevention infrastructure. But after several years and a hefty price tag, the idea has come to fruition.”

Residents of Buchanan County, which experienced two significant flooding events in August 2021 and July 2022, have struggled with their losses. “FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] helped rebuild public infrastructure such as roads and bridges after both disasters, but the agency turned down two state requests for direct aid to individual homeowners.” “Virginians in flood-prone areas have more than just rising sea levels to worry about. They have rising flood insurance rates to worry about too…. [FEMA] announced its “new model for calculating rates, which went into effect last year for new policyholders and will be used for current policyholders when they renew their policies…. To encourage local governments to adapt to and prepare for flooding, FEMA administers a Community Rating System [CRS] that incentivizes localities to adopt floodplain management measures by allowing their residents to receive discounts on their premiums…. There are 28 localities participating in the CRS in Virginia, with most on the coast and in Northern Virginia. Roanoke City and Roanoke County are the only localities in Southwest Virginia to participate.” Not all localities have resources to participate. Part of RGGI funds are designated for community flooding preparedness.

Wildlife

“Virginia’s aptly named overlooked cave beetle is one of 10 species found in the state scheduled to be considered for protections under the Endangered Species Act. In response to a federal lawsuit filed by the national environmental nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed July 24 to expedite its decisions on 33 species…. Five species found in Virginia and throughout the Southeastern region of the U.S. – the Cumberland moccasinshell, Tennessee clubshell, Tennessee heelsplitter and Tennessee pigtoe freshwater mussels along with crustacean Morrison’s Cave amphipod – require a decision by Aug 15. Four species found exclusively in Virginia – the Hubbard’s cave beetle, Little Kennedy cave beetle, Shenandoah cave beetle and overlooked cave beetle – require a decision by Dec. 15. The spiny scale crayfish, also found in Virginia and throughout the Southeast, requires a decision by Sep. 1, 2025.”

Opinions

A long-time Virginia energy policy analyst and blogger wrote “I’m a climate alarmist (and you should be too), but we aren’t dead yet.” She offered relatively direct and brief summaries of where we are now in terms of the numerous implications of the climate crisis, where we (or our children and their descendants) will be by 2100, and what is and will be happening to improve our dismal prospects. 

Inside Climate News chatted with a Virginia State Senator “on the Commonwealth’s progress on reigning in the monopoly utility’s sway over legislation, and how Dominion may view Gov. Youngkin’s move to exit RGGI.”

A “retired professor, science educator, environmentalist and peace and justice activist who was awarded Plowshare Peace Center’s Peacemaker of the Year Award in 2013”, penned a Commentary titled “The time to act on climate change is now, locally and globally.”

His piece was published just ahead of the August 14 decision from a “Helena District Judge … [who] ruled in favor of plaintiffs Our Children’s Trust and a group of youth…. [They] challenged the state of Montana claiming the state had not upheld its constitutional obligation for a clean and healthful environment.” The judge wrote “’The right to a clean and healthful environment is a fundamental right protected by [the Montana Constitution]….’” Question is: Is this right protected by other states’ constitutions?

Check out …

• The Hahn Horticulture Garden on the Virginia Tech campus [that] is the site of the annual Simply Elemental outdoor art show now through Sept. 30.”
• This “free webinar on residential solar co-hosted by Appalachian Voices, Solar United Neighbors, and the IRS at 5:30 pm on Thursday, September 14th. This conversation will cover new financing mechanisms, solar installation resources, and how you can go solar in Virginia! … [It] will also include 30 minutes of Q&A so that you can directly ask experts about all of your questions and concerns.” Register here.
• Sierra Club’s new podcast on Virginia Offshore Wind (OSW), interviewing the authors of its new OSW Footprint report.

Why not … 

• Find out how to control the invasive Japanese stiltgrass? Listen to this recording and read this fact sheet.
• Go see some of Virginia’s “Big Trees” located in the Central Shenandoah Valley? There’s a “stately Fraser fir tree” in Harrisonburg’s Woodbine Cemetery and a “majestic Chinkapin oak” on a riverbank in Rockingham County. “The Virginia Big Tree Program, housed at Virginia Tech, keeps track of the largest specimens of more than 300 tree species across the state. Its database includes six national champions in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia.”
• Take your kids to “A new electrifying exhibit at the Explore More Discovery Museum …? [It’s] a partnership between the museum and the Harrisonburg Electric Commission. The exhibit, “It’s Electric,” explores the world of electricity … and is for Kids of all ages [who] will be introduced to electricity through hands-on activities, interactive displays and imaginative play.”

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.

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

Statewide Environmental News Roundup for July 2023 (Part II)

To begin, CAAV is pleased to announce that we “received a $35,000 grant from Clean Virginia and intends to partner with local organizations working with populations who struggle with high energy bills.”

Energy

A) State Corporation Commission (SCC)

“A major reform of how Virginia regulates the electricity monopoly Dominion Energy is cutting power bills [effective July 1]. It [ends] three surcharges.… it clears the way for a program to ease the impact of Dominion’s pass-through of fuel costs to ratepayers and gives the … [SCC] more power to see if the utility’s base rate is justified, a move the legislation’s advocates say should bring down that rate, which accounts for about two-thirds of a monthly bill.”

To address “the issue [of] … the profits Dominion earns from the money its customers pay,” the SCC “formally launched [a biennial review to] … determine if … [Dominion] is charging too much or not enough to cover its costs and the investments it needs to make in its system.”

“State regulators granted Dominion Energy permission to expand its Time of Use [TOU], or Off-Peak, Plan — an experimental program that incentivizes customers with smart meters to use less electricity during peak hours.” The SCC approved expansion of the program from 10,000 to 20,000 customers. “Program participants do not pay the same rate for their electricity as a typical Dominion customer. Instead, the cost of electricity fluctuates throughout the day — TOU customers get a discount for using electricity in off-peak hours and pay a premium to cover anything used on-peak.” As part of the biennial review, “Dominion seeks SCC approval to charge customers who opt out of smart meters.”

Notwithstanding the Governor’s imminent final regulatory action to withdraw VA from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), scheduled for July 31, Dominion received SCC approval “to charge customers again for carbon market participation [and] residential customers will see an additional $4.44 monthly charge … to cover the utility’s costs of participating in the market between July 31, 2022 and the end of this year…. Dominion initially recouped its costs through a bill rider that cost the average residential customer $2.39 per month. But in May 2022, Dominion asked regulators to suspend the rider due to Youngkin’s desire to withdraw from the market. The charge was halted July 31, 2022.” Noting the state’s scheduled withdrawal from RGGI, Cardinal News summarized numerous projects in Southwest and Southside VA that benefited from RGGI funds for both community flood preparedness and energy efficiency and weatherization improvements for low-income residents.

B) Fossil Fuels

“Environmentalists oppose [a Dominion-proposed] gas-burning power plant in Chesterfield County. “Construction on the plant could start as early as 2025, with full operations starting in 2027…. However, climate activists say according to the Virginia Clean Economy Act passed in 2020, Dominion will need to be fossil fuel free by 2045.” Dominion is also facing opposition to a proposed new 26-mile power line near Chase City, in Mecklenburg County. The SCC approved the proposed route; opponents objected during public hearings.

“A Surry County farmer is concerned the Virginia Reliability Project will destroy his land and livelihood…. The project plans to replace two sections of the Columbia Gas Transmission pipeline…. The pipeline project will go through … [his farm, which] is protected by an open-space easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, which protects the stream, timber and forest through which the project is planned.”

C) Nuclear Power

“Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited Surry County on July 10 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dominion Energy’s Surry nuclear plant [and] … to tout nuclear’s place in his 2022 “all of the above” energy plan, which calls for at least one small, modular nuclear reactor, or SMR, in Virginia within the next decade.”

Sharing “his vision for nuclear energy at Surry power plant [the Governor indicated he] wants Virginia to embrace emerging nuclear energy infrastructure, calling it the state’s ‘moonshot.’” “Lynchburg-based BWX Technologies … will make a nuclear reactor and fuel for the world’s first demonstration spacecraft to use nuclear thermal propulsion.” “A collaboration involving Lynchburg-area and Southwest Virginia groups will make the case that the region’s nuclear industry is the right candidate to receive tens of millions of federal dollars through a new economic development program called Tech Hubs.” “Environmentalists and Southwest Virginia residents are concerned about proposed sites for small modular nuclear reactors. The LENOWISCO Planning District’s final feasibility study [highlighted in CAAV’s June Perspectives Piece] shows these reactors will be near local businesses, schools and residential neighborhoods.

D) Data Centers

Dominion’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan projected “carbon emissions rising as electric use soars.” “As more data centers come online and more electric vehicles hit the roads, Dominion Energy’s state-set goal to slash carbon emissions to zero by 2045 looks to be out of reach,” according to “a Richmond Times‑Dispatch analysis of the company’s latest long-term plan ….”

“More Data in the Cloud Means More Centers on the Ground to Move It. The need for data centers has soared, fueled by remote work and the growth of high-speed streaming. The Suffolk News-Herald Editorial Board said “Go all out for data centers.” But finding the necessary land and energy could be a challenge and, depending on the energy sources used, could significantly increase Virginia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane. Virginia’s data center “fevers” continue and may be “spreading” as evidenced by a “Catlett-area rezoning application [Fauquier County]”, maybe to Frederick County and King George County, and even to Southwest VA: “Elected boards from five Southwest Virginia localities … approved resolutions of support for efforts to attract data centers to the region, … [highlighting] their commitment to welcoming data center investments ….”

Spotsylvania County “is a popular target for proposed developments….” Its Supervisors passed “data center comprehensive plan updates … [officially incorporating data centers] into Spotsylvania County’s long-term plans.” “A planned data center on the south side of Route 50 near Stonecroft Blvd [in Fairfax County] is already stirring up some controversy, well ahead of a hearing before the Fairfax County Planning Commission.” Prince William County Board of Supervisors will consider whether to designate two historic farms “county registered historic sites … at the request of the Board’s appointed historical commission, which is trying to force the supervisors to hold a public discussion about opening local historic areas to data centers. The designation could offer some protection from industrial development, such as data centers, because the county’s “Cultural Resources Plan” suggests that such areas be developed only for residential, transportation, agricultural or recreational uses.”

Looking beyond large data centers, Loudoun County “planners, supervisors look ahead to large-scale energy storage … [as they] prepare to dive into an overhaul of the county’s zoning ordinance … [and consider] how to regulate what might be the next big thing: utility-scale energy storage.” However, “County supervisors … accelerated a project to lay out new rules on where data center development will be permitted, likely at the cost of further delaying the ongoing Zoning Ordinance Rewrite because of staffing constraints.” Hampton Supervisors “narrowly” approved a “use permit” for a battery storage facility, “which stores electrical power in large lithium-ion battery cells … [allowing] generated power to be stored for later use in the electrical grid.”

Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), which focuses on land use over a wide swath of northern and central Virginia east of the Blue Ridge, noted that “The explosive growth of the data center industry represents a major challenge to achieving a clean energy future in Virginia.” It laid out its concerns about “Data Centers and Energy Demand” on its website.

E) Offshore Wind

A “Virginia Economic Development Partnership … competitive grant …[will assist] Virginia manufacturers entering the offshore wind supply chain by offsetting capital expenditures in equipment directly related to positioning the company to provide goods to the industry.” “The grant … will help assist manufacturers who are entering the supply chain by offsetting the cost of equipment needed to provide goods … [and] will run for a three-year period….” The Virginian-Pilot’s Editorial Board believes “Hampton Roads can be a clean-energy hub,” noting that “Offshore wind development is set to play a key role in the shift away from the carbon-based fuels to renewable, greener energy sources” and “Solar energy, too, has great potential, and it also offers possibilities in this region.”

F) Solar

Dominion “has an interest in developing smaller-scale solar projects … requiring five, 10 or 20 acres of land” and is beginning to hold meetings in rural areas to drum up landowner interest. Such projects are used for community solar projects, such as this one in DC that “Focuses on Equity for Virginia Climate Goals.” Dominion will build its second Virginia solar farm on re-used land “on [an] Ivy landfill”, near Charlottesville, with another one on an old coal mine in Southwest VA. Dominion and [German-based] RWE Clean Energy, LLC, signed “300 MW PPAs [for RWE] to provide solar power to Dominion … across seven projects, which include two currently under operation, one under construction and four under development.” One of the projects, Harrisonburg Solar, is a 15 MW project proposed in Rockingham County.

“As Dominion Energy looks to expand its commitment to distributed solar projects by leasing small plots of land for solar installations in Virginia, a coalition of solar stakeholders has petitioned state regulators to make it easier for entities other than Dominion to connect distributed solar to the grid.” In a formal petition to the SCC for relief, the Distributed Solar Alliance (DSA) argued “that Dominion’s interconnection rules have led to small-scale solar project delays” and cancellations. The petition is “asking that the rules be suspended until the SCC can rule on their legality.”

The Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley (ASV), which focuses on land use issues in the Shenandoah Valley, like PEC, wants Virginia to “get it right with solar”. Both organizations support distributed solar for residences and businesses. ASV hopes that “With the right local and state guidelines in place … solar projects in the Shenandoah Valley … [will] minimize negative impact and even benefit local communities.” ASV showcases a Shenandoah County farm that meets these criteria. Virginia Tech researchers will use a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant to “study the environmental effects of utility-scale solar installations.” One focus area of DEQ’s efforts will be gathering data on  large-scale solar facilities’ effects on stormwater runoff.

Despite fierce opposition, commercial solar is coming to Staunton. “The City Council approved a 15.75 megawatt utility scale solar energy facility and a 5 megawatt community scale solar energy facility….” “Residents brought up [a] wide range of concerns, but the most prominent included the perceived rush to push the solar facility, issues with the comprehensive plan, and the impact the solar farm will have on surrounding properties and property values.”

“After delays and deferred votes, the [Norfolk] City Council … approved a large-scale solar farm at a former landfill site. In March, the city’s Planning Commission voted to delay a vote on a recommendation to council so the Washington, D.C.-based company building the solar field, Community Power Group, could engage with and educate nearby residents about it. The Campostella Landfill on Norfolk’s south side, behind the Diggs Town public housing development, was selected for development into an 8-megawatt solar field array.”

“At the same time Albemarle County supervisors are considering plans for a solar farm that could conservatively power more than half of the county’s households, they are also considering new ordinance amendments that could scale back the future of solar in the area. Local solar developers and climate advocates fear those regulations might unnecessarily limit Albemarle’s capacity for the renewable energy and make it more difficult to complete projects such as the 650-acre, 135-megawatt Woodridge Solar project in southeast Albemarle.”

Culpeper County’s Planning Commission, in split votes, both approved a utility-scale solar facility and confirmed that “it does not comply with [the County’s] comprehensive plan.” Chesapeake’s City Council approved two new solar “farms” on farmland. “Isle of Wight County supervisors … voted unanimously to approve what will be the county’s seventh solar farm.” Hanover County supervisors are evaluating “land-use policies … that would allow the integration of solar energy facilities in parts of the county … while striving to maintain the county’s rural aesthetic and scenic resources.” “Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors voted … to cap development of solar projects in the county at 2,325 acres despite calls from local landowners to allow small-scale or community solar projects.” Brunswick County supervisors approved “a conditional use permit for a 350-megawatt (MW) utility scale facility ….” Madison County Supervisors and Planning Commissioners denied an application for a proposed solar farm that had been under discussion for several years. “Members of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors say solar facilities are taking away land needed for farms and open space. They’re ordering county planners to make changes to the county zoning ordinance that will prohibit any more from being established.” “The Henry County Board of Supervisors … approved … [a] zoning ordinance amendment that will limit the total amount of acreage that can be permitted for solar farm development to one percent of the total land mass of the county.

G) Transportation

“Amtrak ridership in Virginia saw more than [a] 50% increase in April 2023 compared to April 2022.

Recent ridership numbers show interest in regional passenger rail may be at an all-time high.”

Despite “Virginia’s interest in extending Amtrak service — pending support from Tennessee”, a “newly released Tennessee report doesn’t paint a rosy picture of the likely success of extending passenger rail service to Bristol.”

“The Shenandoah Rail Trail Exploratory Partnership continues to take steps toward its goal of creating a multi-use trail through Warren, Shenandoah, and Rockingham counties…. Following a series of 10 community input meetings held from February through April, the Exploratory Partnership has continued working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), and other state agencies to move the project forward….”

“The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s latest Commuter Choice grant round includes $48 million for transit projects across the region. Last month, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the NVTC’s list of 13 projects aimed at reducing congestion through improved transit service.”

The Valley Interfaith Action is exploring the feasibility of on-demand transportation in Rockingham County. Such a program exists in Southwest Virginia, called Mountain Empire Transit.

Climate and Environment

A) Chesapeake Bay

“The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted … on catch rules for striped bass and blue crabs…. The commission also voted to increase blue crab catch limits slightly…. Catch limits were significantly lowered last year after the blue crab population reached a record low…. This year’s survey showed modest recovery in the population…. The vote lowered the maximum allowable size of striped bass … to comply with a May emergency action by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.”

Researchers believe “osprey in the lower Chesapeake Bay are failing to successfully reproduce … [and that] the osprey’s steep decline is due to increasing scarcity of menhaden tied to overharvesting…. Environmental and sportfishing groups have been pushing in recent years for a total ban on the menhaden harvest in the bay, arguing that it’s taking away the important fish from other species, including striped bass and osprey.”

Scientists studied “natural processes affecting Eastern Shore aquifers [because] ‘Environmental conditions that lower, recharge, or cause increases in groundwater withdrawals can have negative effects on groundwater resources’” They concluded that “’Withdrawal patterns appear [to] have been fairly steady for the past decade or so, with fluctuations based on changing environmental conditions.’”

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], environmental groups and state governments filed a notice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia … dismissing the 2020 lawsuit [alleging] that federal officials weren’t doing enough to stop Chesapeake Bay pollution originating in Pennsylvania…. The settlement requires EPA to, among other things, look for ways to reduce pollution from agriculture in Pennsylvania — the state’s biggest source of pollution – and stormwater runoff. As part of the settlement, EPA also commits to increase compliance and enforcement efforts. Under the settlement, EPA will prioritize efforts in Pennsylvania focused on the counties that contribute the most pollution to, or have the largest impact on, local rivers and streams….”

Maryland’s governor “announced a new tack in trying to restore the Chesapeake Bay, shifting away from broad-stroke efforts to return the nation’s largest estuary to its heyday. Instead, the state will focus on targeted strategies that rehabilitate specific, shallow-water habitats. The change to focus on many smaller sources of pollution — often flowing off private property — will require more coordination to implement.” Several Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia senators, along with some Virginia and Maryland representatives, introduced the “Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement (SEEE) Act [that] aims to restore the health of the watershed, strengthen fisheries management and expand environmental education programs for residents.” The senators included Senator Manchin!

According to a study by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, “Underwater grass in the Chesapeake Bay continues to recover…. Grass volume is a good indicator of the watershed’s overall health….”

“A Department of Defense-supported program designed to combat climate change came to Virginia … [on July 10]. The Sentinel Landscape Partnership is tackling two new landscape projects in Virginia abutting its Maryland project, the Middle Chesapeake Landscape. The commonwealth landscapes comprise public and private lands in a swath of nearly three million acres that includes 10 military installations and stretches from Maryland to North Carolina….”

B) Flooding

A recent study concluded that the so-called “100-year floods” are happening with increasing frequency, indicating “that some “100-year flood” estimates may not reflect a changing climate…. Data from the study will be integrated into Risk Factor’s platform by the end of the month. Risk Factor’s data tools allow users to search for their home or ZIP code to view environmental changes and risks of major natural events, such as floods or fire.”

There are concerns about the recent “formal agreement between the city of Norfolk and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move ahead with one of the biggest infrastructure efforts in city history: a $2.6 billion floodwall project dubbed Resilient Norfolk…. The new floodwall project largely won’t protect against the kind of flooding Norfolk sees regularly, which is caused by high tides or heavy rain and exacerbated by sea level rise. Instead, the project is meant to shield the city from being devastated by a catastrophic storm. It specifically targets storm surge — the abnormal rush of water generated during major storms like hurricanes.” The project “overlooks current climate risks, critics worry.” The Hampton Roads Sanitary Commission believes that “flooding threatens sewage infrastructure in Hampton Roads. [Its] new climate plan is their attempt to ‘how would we respond to a catastrophic event like that?’”

C) Land and Water

The U.S. Forest Service, through its Forest Legacy program, awarded the Virginia Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) $7.1M to protect 4,000 acres “next to the Shenandoah National Park at the southern tip.”

“Virginia DEQ [Department of Environmental Quality] … worked out an approach to splitting the difference between economic development and protecting wetlands and streams in light of the … Supreme Court decision in Sackett vs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ruling … limits Clean Water Act protection for wetlands to those with a “continuous surface connection” to other “Waters of the United States,” which will remove federal protections for the majority of the nation’s wetlands.” DEQ offered “wetland permit guidance following [the] … ruling, [which creates uncertainty over who will determine wetlands boundaries.”

Action Alerts:

• Attend the Harrisonburg Planning Commission Meeting September 19, 6pm, in Council Chambers, to learn from a Wetlands Watch expert about Climate Change and Resiliency Issues. There will be an opportunity for Q & A from the public. Prepare for the session by reviewing the AdaptVA website that Wetlands Watch developed.
• “JOIN THE MARCH TO END FOSSIL FUELS SEPT 17TH – 1PM – NYC”. Register here. Secretary General Antonio Guterres will join this effort. You can watch the YouTube video of the kickoff call: https://www.youtube.com/live/As3bAXBONBU?feature=share

Check out …

• This story about five earthquakes that have happened in Southwest Virginia recently.
• This commentary by the Coordinator for Our Virginia Outdoors, who lives in Harrisonburg, and believes that “The future of Virginia’s outdoors depends on us. By protecting our natural resources, we’re also protecting our economy and the jobs that depend on it.”
• The “EnChroma viewfinder – equipped with special lenses designed to help those with red-green color vision deficient to experience colors.” It’s newly” installed at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County” to help those with color-blindedness view fall colors.
• This essay, “A man and his yard: A crowded eighth-acre explained” to learn how the author transformed his yard into a wonderland of plants and wildlife habitat.
• These two stories about trees in the “Virginia Big Tree Program” located in Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley.
• This video about the effort to relocate a large bird colony from its current location (that is close to the Hampton Roads Tunnel construction project) to a man-made one. Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources is partnering with the Army Corps of Engineers. (It’s not clear how the birds will be persuaded to move!)
• The Virginia League of Conservation Voters 2023 Conservation scorecard.
• This Virginia Department of Transportation map displaying current and planned EV infrastructure locations in the state along the Alternative Fuel Corridor (major interstates).
• The Charlottesville Department of Parks and Recreation’s “unique approach of utilizing approximately 50 goats to … help control the damaging effects of invasive plant species in the city.”

Why not …

• Read this Augusta County farmer (and blogger) explanation of how his Shenandoah Valley farm and the Chesapeake Bay are connected? “Surf and Turf”, anyone? Don’t miss his recipe for no-filler crab cakes.
• Learn about some “William & Mary students [who lobbied] … Congress for action on climate change.”
• Read why Virginia college students want their schools to divest their investments in fossil fuels, how they’re making their views known, and why the issue is “complicated”?
• Look into the Solarize Virginia campaign of the Local Energy Alliance Program, if you’re thinking about going solar.
• Get some good ideas for planting a fall garden?

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.

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

Statewide Environmental News Roundup for July 2023 (Part I)

This special edition provides updates to June’s top two stories: Mountain Valley Pipeline approval and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) withdrawal. As the updates suggest, neither of these stories are over….

Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP)

The “Deal” and Initial Reaction

“This pipeline was snarled in court. Then Congress stepped in.” The Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s Director declared President Biden’s signing of the debt ceiling bill “will forever stain his legacy on climate and environmental justice … [as] the president who built the Mountain Valley Pipeline [MVP]. The president who locked in new fossil fuel infrastructure for decades to come at the most pivotal point in our climate journey. The president who stomped on more than half a century of bedrock environmental protections as a political favor.”

Permits Issued, MVP Actions, and More Reactions

“A final permit issued [June 23] may be enough to get the … [MVP] across the remaining rivers, streams and wetlands that have long blocked the project’s path to completion. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave its approval for construction through hundreds of water bodies in Southwest Virginia and West Virginia, as it was required to do by a recently passed federal law that fast-tracks the controversial project.” In a press release, the non-profit Appalachian Voices decried the Corps action, describing the enabling legislation as “’unprecedented — and unconscionable — congressional interference [that] has placed Virginia and West Virginia communities and waterways at risk by forcing agencies to issue … [MVP’s] permits.’”

“Questions linger over pipe integrity oversight as … [MVP] water crossing work nears.” Despite the pipe integrity concerns raised over pipe that has been “stored” outdoors for years, MVP “developers defend[ed] not remediating pipe offsite.” Construction resumed, and the company said, prior to issuance of two appeals court injunctions (see below), that the MVP “could carry natural gas as soon as this winter.”

A landowner, some of whose property was seized by MVP developers through eminent domain, and who achieved some fame as a protestor/tree sitter, is “despondent about the federal debt deal that cleared a path for the long-stalled pipeline project to be completed.” A Virginia energy blogger suggested that “stopping the MVP in court just got a heck of a lot harder….” She argued that the project never made economic sense and moving forward still doesn’t, adding: “Pulling the plug on MVP now would avoid not only the cost of completing the pipeline, but also the cost of fixing leaks, erosion damage and other problems critics believe are inevitable given the terrain and geology. That would be a much better result for everyone concerned than completing the pipeline to serve a market that doesn’t exist – a Pyrrhic victory if there ever was one.” FERC, however, ordered that the MVP can proceed with “all construction activities.” A West Virginia newspaper published a report on the “economic need for Mountain Valley Pipeline [continues to be] questioned”, noting that “although Congress may have taken care of the legality of the … [MVP], the economics of the project for years to come are out of its hands.”

More Lawsuits to Challenge the New Law

Recent filings by environmental groups argue that the law is unconstitutional, that Congress “overstepped its authority,” and that its action “violates the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches.” “Proving it, however, may be another matter,” wrote the Roanoke Times. Five Virginia Representatives filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit, arguing that “short-circuiting ongoing litigation to greenlight the MVP … is plainly contrary to the public interest.” A Federal appeals court panel stayed construction in the Jefferson National Forest “while it considers arguments that Congress violated the separation of powers doctrine” despite MVP calls for dismissal of the suit.

Numerous environmental groups continue to raise legal challenges “because it’s too dangerous not to.” The same appeals court panel “granted a [second] stay of construction activity on the Mountain Valley Pipeline, saying a dispute over the project’s impact on endangered species must be resolved before work can continue…. Environmental groups said they expect the order, issued by a three-judge panel of the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, will halt all construction activity on the 303-mile, 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline through Virginia and West Virginia until their case against the pipeline is decided.”

“Several lawmakers excoriated a federal appeals court ruling … granting a coalition of environmental groups’ request to block construction of” the MVP. A “West Virginia [legislator] … [called] for [the] pipeline developer to ‘ignore the 4th circuit and continue as scheduled’ constructing [the] pipeline.” The MVP developer “said the latest delay threatens its ability to complete construction by the end of this year [adding,] ‘We are evaluating all legal options, which include filing an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court …’.” The developer also “said it ‘will refrain from new forward-construction activities while resolving the legal challenges.’”

MVP Southgate Extension in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the “fate of [the] Mountain Valley Pipeline’s North Carolina extension [is] still unclear…. The Southgate project has drawn opposition from two local governments and numerous elected officials, many of them Republicans, who argue it interferes with private property rights and local tourism efforts. Slated to skirt the Haw River, cross the Dan River, and impact dozens of their tributaries, the pipeline extension has also been twice denied a necessary water quality permit from the state Department of Environmental Quality and has yet to reapply. Southgate also needs reapproval from [FERC]….” “The Mountain Valley Pipeline has requested an extension of its Certificate of Public Convenience of Necessity [that] is necessary for construction of the MVP Southgate pipelinefrom southern Virginia into northwestern North Carolina. Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Virginia’s District 4 sent a letter [June 29] to … [the] FERC … Chairman … urging the agency to lengthen the public comment period for the …MVP … requested extension.” Two North Carolina reporters provided historical details about the Southgate project and asked “Where do politicians stand?” regarding the extension request. “The deadline for public comment on the project is 5 p.m. on July 24.”

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Following the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board’s decision to approve the state’s withdrawal from RGGI, a northwest Virginia resident wrote that the Board should “respect air quality”, noting that “RGGI has been good for our budget, our air, and our health.” RGGI “generated over $650 million for the state, helping strapped Virginians make upgrades to their homes and allowing communities to gird their defenses against rising seas and flooding.”

The Governor finished his formal review of the final regulation to withdraw from RGGI; official confirmation is set for publication in the Federal Register on July 31, followed by a public comment period ending August 30. “The regulation calls for Virginia to leave the market Dec. 31, which is the end of the state’s current three-year contract to participate in it.… The publication of the regulation in the Virginia Register is when environmental groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center say a legal challenge of the withdrawal could be filed. A broad group of critics have said that withdrawing Virginia through regulatory changes is illegal and that legislation is needed.”

Home weatherization experts, environmentalists and legal analysts say that a cutoff in funds could reverse progress across the Commonwealth.” A VCU researcher and “expert in sustainability-focused energy policy [said]: ‘We have lost one of the more important tools in our toolbox.’”

Home weatherization groups, including Community Housing Partners (CHP) are seeking alternative funding sources and reassessing its staffing levels, despite evidence of continuing need for its services, especially among disadvantaged Virginians. (CHP has a presence in Harrisonburg and is working to perform energy efficiency upgrades, such as those for the Mosby Heights neighborhood.)

An “independent environmental consultant who served on the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board 2014‑2018” described the “RGGI repeal effort [as] “shortsighted [and leaving] Virginians in harm’s way, “asserting that RGGI’s track record clearly demonstrates we need not choose between clean air, affordable electricity and a strong economy.”

Check out …

• Virginia State Parks’ “Wandering Waters Paddle Quest, a self-paced program that rewards people for their time spent on the water. Visitors to all 31 parks can explore the water through a mixture of ranger‑guided programs and self-led adventures. Register here, go paddling, and record each trip…. The state also offers Trail Quest, a self-paced program that offers rewards for visiting state parks. For more information about either program, go to virginiastateparks.gov/contest.
• This story in The Nation magazine about what the recent primary results said about Virginia’s move toward clean energy.
• The opportunity to go solar with LEAP (Local Energy Alliance Program) through its Solarize Virginia program, which started July 5. LEAP is giving free solar assessments.

Why not …

• Plan and plant a hummingbird garden? Here’s how.
• Take a look at this Heat Mapping and Mitigation guidebook developed for Charlottesville that might provide some tips for residents on the west side of the Blue Ridge?
• Consider whether putting out bird feeders is a good or a bad idea for the local ecosystem?

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.

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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 June 2023 

Energy

June’s two biggest stories are the debt ceiling deal that cleared the way for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) completion and the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board’s vote to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Both stories made headlines in and outside Virginia. Both outcomes were setbacks for pipeline opponents and RGGI supporters. Here are the stories in headlines (with sources):

Mountain Valley Pipeline

“Debt ceiling deal includes surprise approval of natural gas pipeline championed by [West Virginia Senator] Manchin.” – Politico, May 28

“Debt limit deal would approve West Virginia pipeline, curtail environmental law.” – The Hill, May 28

“Environmentalists in Virginia and West Virginia Regroup to Stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline, Eyeing a White House Protest.” – Inside Climate News, May 28

 “The debt ceiling deal bulldozes a controversial pipeline’s path through the courts.” – NPR, June 1

“Kaine’s effort to remove Mountain Valley Pipeline provision from debt-limit deal fails.” – Cardinal News, June 1

“Donations from Mountain Valley Pipeline developers, gas industry have flowed frequently into WV congress members’ campaign coffers.” – Charleston Gazette-Mail, June 1

“Mountain Valley Pipeline approvals OKed as part of debt ceiling deal.” – Virginia Mercury, June 2

“Environmental groups blast Biden capitulation to Manchin on Mountain Valley Pipeline.” – Augusta Free Press, June 2

“MVP developers [said] project completion [is] expected by [the] end of 2023.” – West Virginia News, June 5

“With path cleared for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, opponents weigh next steps.” – Cardinal News, June 5

“Mountain Valley Pipeline seeks dismissal of remaining lawsuits.” – Roanoke Times, June 6

“Climate advocates protest Mountain Valley Pipeline outside White House.” – Washington Post, June 8

“What’s next for the court cases challenging Mountain Valley Pipeline?” – Virginia Mercury, June 9

“Environmentalists may challenge Congress on clearance for the Mountain Valley Pipeline” – WVTF/Radio IQ, June 13

“DEP reissues water permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline thrown out by court for not addressing water quality violations.” – Charleston Gazette-Mail, June 13

“Editorial: Including pipeline in debt bill dismantled a system protecting Virginians.” – Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, June 14 (See Action Alert below.)

“Mountain Valley Pipeline asks FERC for extension to finish Southgate project in NC.” – NC Newsline, June 15.

RGGI

“Air Board votes 4-3 to remove Virginia from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.” – Augusta Free Press, June 7

“State air board votes to leave Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.” – VPM, June 7

“Virginia regulators advance Youngkin plan to leave climate initiative he calls ineffective.” – AP News, June 7

 “Virginia Leaves Clean Air Initiative as Wildfire Smoke Fills Sky.” – Newsweek, June 7

“Youngkin Praises State Air Pollution Control Board’s Repeal of RGGI.” – The Roanoke Star, June 7

 “Youngkin continues to call RGGI participation a hidden tax, environmental groups considering litigation.” – Virginia Mercury, June 7

“Air Pollution Control Board votes to remove Virginia from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.” – Southern Environmental Law Center, June 7

“Youngkin Moves Forward on Unlawful RGGI Repeal; Now Faces Legal Peril.” – National Resources Defense Council, June 7

“Va. regulators vote to exit regional carbon trading program.” – E&E News, June 8

“Repealing RGGI will only cost Virginians.” – LTE, Richmond Times Dispatch, June 17

“Amazon Has Spent $52 Billion And Counting On Northern Virginia Data Centers.” “Opponents of the Prince William Digital Gateway were dealt another blow … when a judge dismissed a second lawsuit challenging the … 2,139-acre data center corridor proposed just north of the Manassas National Battlefield Park ….” Spotsylvania County’s Comprehensive Plan was amended to be more favorable to data center development. It also changed the zoning for a specific area to allow technology campuses. The Board of Supervisors has several pending zoning requests, most from Amazon; public hearings will provide the opportunity for opponents and proponents to weigh in.” Fairfax County wants to look into what “guardrails” it could put into place given the proliferation of data centers in Northern Virginia. Dominion Energy recently reported that “Virginia power use hit [a] record in December, [and] data centers account for 20% of sales … [but] did not address how data center construction projects were disrupted in Virginia due to its transmission issues.”

“Dominion [Energy is] reviving plans to build a natural gas peaker plant in Chesterfield. [Its] proposal signals [a] shift from [its] renewables-heavy focus of the past few years … as part of its recently announced strategy to invest in more gas generation to meet growing grid demand in the coming years.” The Virginia Clean Economy Act mandates that Dominion “retire all fossil fuel plants [by 2045, well before the scheduled operational life of a new plant]. The law allows utilities to petition the SCC to keep plants open to ensure reliability of electricity supply.”

This ”old-fashioned story” [THE PLUTOCRAT VS. THE MONOPOLY] in The Atlantic is about “a recent victory … that united the Sierra Club, Americans for Prosperity, Amazon, Google, and progressive and conservative members of the Virginia legislature.” The subject: Dominion Energy’s historic influence over Virginia energy policy. A senior Dominion vice-president responded to the article, criticizing the author’s characterization of a 2023 bi‑partisan “reform bill”; decrying the author’s lack of curiosity about the “motivations of the “plutocrat” (Michael Bills, founder of Clean Virginia); and repeating Dominion’s often stated position that Dominion’s “all-in rates [have been] below the national average for many years.” The VP did not distinguish between Dominion’s customers’ rates as compared to their bills, omitting to mention that the latter have been rising, not because of basic rates but due to “rate adjustment clauses”, or riders, that Dominion adds to customers’ basic “rate”.

An Augusta County farmer’s opinion piece about a proposed solar facility provided responses to objections raised by attendees at a recent Staunton City Council. The Council tabled the proposal. Recommending readers contact the City Council, the writer concluded: “In a time when we witness atmospheric rivers, bomb cyclones, and rising seas, we need to move away from fossil fuels…. Staunton can lead the way by setting an example of how to do solar right.”

“More than 17 GW of offshore wind capacity is under construction in the Atlantic Ocean. Lease sales are expanding the industry to new waters as it works to meet federal and state goals.” “Tidewater Community College’s … Skilled Trades Academy is … ramping up all of the skilled trades that can support the offshore wind onshore…. TCC’s expansion is part of a larger effort by businesses, government officials, economic development groups and educators to prepare for an expected increase in demand for an array of skilled and unskilled workers.” “U.S. offshore wind represents a $109 billion revenue opportunity for businesses in the supply chain over the next decade, according to a 2021 report by the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind. ‘We really have a generational opportunity to grow the economy of Virginia,’ … [according to] Matt Smith, the director of energy and water technology for Hampton Roads Alliance….”

Near Virginia Beach, “A plan to bring high voltage cables ashore at Sandbridge as part of a new wind energy farm is … opposed by a group of residents living in and around the beachfront community, while others argue it should be embraced.” Some have concerns because the areas where the cables will come ashore are flood zones. North Carolina joined nearly a dozen other East Coast states [including Virginia] to create a financial compensation program [the Fisheries Mitigation Project] that would cover economic losses within the fisheries industry caused by Atlantic offshore wind development. The US General Accountability Office, the “independent watchdog agency of Congress agreed to look into the impacts that offshore wind development could have on the environment, fishing industry and other areas.”

A Southwest Virginia editor, referencing the Governor’s announced desire for small nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Virginia, noted that Virginia isn’t the only state looking at this technology and may well have competition. A “company [that] … designs and maintains power plants, hopes to train more nuclear technicians through its partnership with Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg.” The LENOWISCO Planning District Commission (serving Lee, Wise, and Scott Counties and the City of Norton) announced results of an engineering firm’s study … showing that “far Southwest Virginia has the capabilities to be a ‘competitive hosting ground’ for small modular nuclear reactors … in “seven potential sites.”

“InvestSWVA, a public-private economic development initiative, hosted “a show of energy and economic development projects [in SW Virginia] for 20 officials representing coal communities in 10 states…. [The event was] designed to highlight programs and projects underway for economic diversification…. The first stop was … a former coal mine site … [now] home to the Wise Solar Project … [and] the first was about the region’s interest in becoming home to a … SMR.”

Climate and Environment

“Some [coastal] cities are putting water back into the ground, a process called managed aquifer recharge, to stabilize land subsidence” and to “stop their land from sinking.” Hampton Roads Sanitation District [that serves Norfolk] set up a pilot “recharge system that treated wastewater and recharged the aquifer with 1 million gallons a day…. [Because the land is still rising] a little bit, in 2026, they will operate their first full-scale facility, which will recharge 34 million gallons per day.”

“Albemarle County is part of a program designed to help both new and existing buildings reduce their impact on the environment. Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is a program through which businesses can apply for financing to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.” “Charlottesville emission levels [are] expected to rise slightly; new initiatives [are] ramping up.”

“Support from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation has doubled the size of the … [Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve] to protect significant ecological forest core with old-growth trees. By purchasing 775 acres …Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) … brought the size of the preserve in Giles and Bland counties to 1,596 acres.” It was “named after the American chestnut.”

A blogger expressed concerns about the Canadian corporate behemoth that is removing so many menhaden from the Chesapeake that it may endanger the fish and also hurt Virginia’s fishing industry. “Menhaden, a kind of herring that has been called the most important fish in the sea, are a keystone species in the Atlantic, serving both as a critical food source for predatory fish, marine mammals and birds, and as a consumer of vast quantities of algae that would otherwise clog waterways and shade out underwater vegetation.” She blames regulators and politicians for not properly addressing the problem. “A group of anglers in Maryland has taken legal action against Virginia fishery managers over harvesting of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay.” The same regulator is taking a different approach to managing the Bay’s crab population, “recommending increases to crab catch limits this fall and next spring but keeping in place the summer reductions instituted last year after surveys found the population had plummeted.”

 “A new report [The Worsening Winds report] details Coastal Virginia’s risk and susceptibility to future hurricanes as a result of changing weather patterns due to climate change…. [It’s] a risk assessment report that aims to quantify and measure how climate change impacts on hurricane winds 30 years into the future will impact local communities across the country…. Hampton Roads localities rank high in some of the report’s metric rankings. One example is the counties and cities [that] “will likely face the great absolute increase in their annual likelihood of experiencing Category 1 hurricane wind conditions.”

“The Northern Virginia Regional Commission evaluated the climate-change readiness of the region and its military installations – identifying 129 projects to address readiness gaps…. Of the 129 remedial projects identified, 43 target potential coastal and inland flooding hazards.… Thirty-two projects focus on energy provision, with the goal of ensuring access to stable energy sources…. Several involve building solar-powered microgrids to ‘maximize the capacity of renewable energy generation and battery storage to minimize reliance on diesel-powered generation.’”

“The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality added the Shenandoah and Northern Piedmont regions of the Commonwealth to its drought watch advisory. The Eastern Shore of Virginia … was already under a drought watch advisory. Now Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren and Clarke counties in the Shenandoah region are included. Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Orange, Culpeper, Louisa, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties in the Northern Piedmont region are included.” “Drought conditions are getting worse in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. The lack of rain across the region, 7 to 9 inches below normal since the beginning of the year, is raising concerns about water supply, causing tap water to taste and smell funny, and hindering the production of hay for feeding cows…. The rainfall deficit has also dried out soils across the region. Moisture content in the top 20 centimeters of soil are less than 20 percent of the historical average, with some areas at or less than 2 percent, according to data from NationalSoilMoisture.com…. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s precipitation outlook for late June shows a 33 to 40 percent chance of above-normal rainfall, while its outlook for July, August and September gives equal chances of above-, below- or near‑normal precipitation.”

The “Supreme Court [rolled] back Clean Water Act protections for wetlands”. “Virginia is home to about 1 million acres of wetlands, from Chesapeake Bay marshes to the Great Dismal Swamp to Blue Ridge fens. After last week’s Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA, many of them are no longer protected under the Clean Water Act.” But “environmental groups say there will be little change in Virginia because of the state’s strong wetlands regulations…. [T]he Virginia Farm Bureau Federation … praised the ruling as a necessary reduction of bureaucracy for farmers.”

“[T]he University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences (UMCES) [annual] report card on Bay health [repeated its ‘C’ rating]…. Of the seven indicators [used], there were improvements in water clarity, nitrogen, phosphorus and aquatic grasses. The report “suggests that major adjustments are needed in existing programs — and perhaps public expectations — to improve the Chesapeake’s health.” Although conditions in the Bay overall are improving, many tributaries still have poor scores, and scores are particularly bad in many Eastern Shore watersheds.“ The report …”found strong disparities between communities in different parts of the bay’s watershed in terms of health, economics and social justice concerns.”

Action Alert…

There are safety concerns about the Mountain Valley Pipeline: “Pipe for the project has been sitting outside, in some cases for over 4 years, and is unsafe to use.” Wild Virginia and CAAV would like you to call Senators Kaine [(202) 224‑4024] and Warner [(202) 224-2023] and ask them to tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) “to require off-site recoating of the pipe for Mountain Valley Pipeline to reduce the risk of leak or explosion.”

Check out …

• This USDA Farm Service Agency survey of the top 25 Virginia counties’ farmland acreage. Rockingham County is 4^th; Augusta County is 2^nd.
• Virginia’s favorite flowers, according to a Gardening Chores study.
• This information about Harrisonburg’s June “Pollinator month” activities.
• A new bridge over “a relatively new hiking and biking trail in the George Washington National Forest…. The newest portion of the trail itself is multi-use single track that is part of the GWNF’s North River District and stretches across the Rockingham and Augusta counties’ lines.”
• The “2023 Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Guide which gives actions to take in the event of a tropical storm.”
• Our Virginia Outdoors Coalition that represents “land trusts, trail advocates and conservation groups and announced its official launch at the beginning of June — which was proclaimed Great Outdoors Month in Virginia this year by Governor Glenn Youngkin.” Details are here.

Why not …

• Learn about beekeeping?
• Learn how you can replace your lawn with a pollinator garden?
• Read a Harrisonburg resident’s opinion on whether you could replace your car with an EV bike?
• Watch this brief video showing how “Louisa County High School is giving students a head start in the [solar] industry by offering an energy and power class”? “Solar energy could power 40 percent of the nation’s electricity and provide as many as 1.5 million jobs in the next 10 years.”
• Learn how to achieve savings from energy efficiency and renewable energy purchases, using this US Department of Energy tool.
• Find out about the spread of the “red imported fire ant, an invasive species known for its painful sting, from Southeast Virginia … to other parts of the state.” Let’s hope they don’t head north.

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.