Climate and Clean Energy Working Group

2023 Legislative Priorities

  • Defend the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), Clean Car Standards, and Virginia's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
  • Advance fair, just energy prices and access to clean energy.
  • Ensure that Virginia makes full and timely use of federal resources from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the bipartisan Investment and Infrastructure Jobs Act (IIJA) to address clean energy transition and climate resilience, combat inflation and create good jobs.
  • Support climate-smart agriculture initiatives and funding.

    ★ Hover over "Committee" to see name of committee; CLICK to see Comm. Members.
    ★ CLICK "more" to learn more about the bill.

    2023 Priority Bills

    Climate & Clean Energy

    Cat Number Title House Senate GA /Gov updated
    Support climate HB 1604 Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; regulation of rates. more...
    This bipartisan Act, will lower energy costs and put money back in Virginians' pockets by holding regulated utilities accountable for overcharging customers.
    Passed Passed Enrolled 2/27/23
    Support climate HB 1852 HB 1852 Public school bldgs. & facilities; construction & renovation, renewable energy generation facility. more...
    Directs the Commission on School Construction and Modernization, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to develop and make recommendations on strategies to assist interested school divisions with incorporating renewable energy generation facilities in the construction or renovation of school buildings
    Tabled 1/25/23
    Support climate HB 1853 Public utilities; shared solar, minimum bill. more...
    Expands access and use of solar energy.
    Tabled 1/24/23
    Support climate HB 2267 Electric utilities; cost recovery; alternative to rate adjustment clause. more...
    Rate Adjustment Clause Reform. Protect Virginians from excessive surcharges on their electric bills by restoring the authority of regulators to determine the appropriate way for utilities to recover costs from customers.
    Passed PBI 2/20/23
    Support climate HJ 522 Study; Department of Energy more...
    Directs the Department of Energy to study the impacts of data center development on Virginia's environment, economy, energy resources, and ability to meet carbon-reduction goals.
    Tabled 1/30/23
    Support climate HJ 545 Clean energy; Dept. of Energy to study barriers for local governments to purchase. more...
    Requests the Department of Energy to study the barriers for local governments to directly purchase clean energy or to facilitate the purchase of clean energy by their constituents. ...
    Tabled 1/30/23
    Support climate SB 804 Campaign finance; prohibited contributions to candidates. more...
    Restricts regulated utilities from making campaign contributions, and candidates and political committees from accepting such contributions.
    PBI 1/19/23
    Support climate SB 848 Public school bldgs. & facilities; construction & renovation, renewable energy generation facility. more...
    Expand access and use of solar energy and, under SB848, perform a study to assist interested school divisions with incorporating renewable energy generation facilities in the construction or renovation of K-12 school buildings.
    Tabled Passed 2/13/23
    Support climate SB 1083 Shared solar programs; SCC to establish by regulation. more...
    Expand access and use of solar energy.
    Tabled Passed 2/16/23
    Support climate SB 1166 Energy planning and electric utility oversight; Commonwealth Energy Research Consortium established. more...
    Requires the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (the Commission) to establish the Commonwealth Energy Research Consortium (the Consortium), consisting of public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, to conduct energy research and policy analysis for the Commonwealth. ...
    Passed Passed C.C. Agreed 2/27/23
    Support climate SB 1266 Public utilities; shared solar; minimum bill. more...
    Expand access and use of solar energy.
    Tabled Passed 2/16/23
    Support climate SB 1321 Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; regulation of rates. more...
    Affordable Energy Act. This bipartisan bill restores the State Corporation Commission's ability to lower electric rates and prevent monopoly utilities from overcharging customers. Since 2009, Dominion Energy has overcharged Virginians by at least $1.9 billion.
    Passed Passed Enrolled 2/27/23
    Support climate SB 1417 Electric utilities; cost recovery; alternative to rate adjustment clause. more...
    Rate Adjustment Clause Reform. Protect Virginians from excessive surcharges on their electric bills by restoring the authority of regulators to determine the appropriate way for utilities to recover costs from customers.
    PBI 1/24/23
    Support climate SJ 240 Study; Department of Energy; impacts of data center development; report. more...
    Directs the Department of Energy to study the impacts of data center development on Virginia's environment, economy, energy resources, and ability to meet carbon-reduction goals.
    Tabled Passed 2/13/23
    Oppose climate HB 1372 State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations; low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. more...
    Repeals the State Air Pollution Control Board's authority to implement low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards for vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later.
    Stricken 1/19/23
    Oppose climate HB 1378 State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
    Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
    Passed PBI 2/14/23
    Oppose climate HB 1430 Clean Economy Act; non-bypassable charges, energy-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries. more...
    Defines EITE industries as companies that are constrained in their ability to pass through carbon costs due to international competition, companies that engage in importation of products that cause emission leakage, and critical infrastructure facilities identified by certain federal agencies. ...
    Passed Stricken 2/20/23
    Oppose climate HB 1480 Va. Clean Economy Act; non-bypassable charges, energy-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries. more...
    Directs the State Corporation Commission to establish an EITE customer exemption pilot program for non-bypassable charges in certain provisions of the Virginia Clean Economy Act related to generation of electricity from renewable and zero carbon sources and development of offshore wind capacity. ...
    Stricken 1/19/23
    Oppose climate HB 1770 Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; retail competitiveness, review proceedings, etc. more...
    Restricts the ability of the State Corporation Commission to keep energy costs affordable.
    Passed Passed C.C. Agreed 2/27/23
    Oppose climate HB 1783 Natural gas utilities; retail supply choice. more...
    Limits local authorities' ability to set building codes and permitting rules.
    Passed PBI 2/13/23
    Oppose climate SB 778 State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations, low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. more...
    Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
    Incorp 1/18/23
    Oppose climate SB 779 State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
    Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
    PBI 1/18/23
    Oppose climate SB 781 State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
    Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
    Incorp 1/18/23
    Oppose climate SB 782 State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
    Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
    Incorp 1/18/23
    Oppose climate SB 785 State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
    Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
    Incorp 1/18/23
    Oppose climate SB 1001 Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act; repeal. more...
    Repeals the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act and directs the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to take all steps necessary to suspend the Commonwealth's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative market-based trading program.
    PBI 1/26/23
    Oppose climate SB 1125 Renewable energy portfolio standard requirements; State Corporation Commission authority, report. more...
    Requires electric utilities to petition the State Corporation Commission for relief from the requirements of certain provisions of the Code that mandate the retirement of electric generating units that are coal-fired or emit carbon as a by-product of combusting fuel to generate electricity if such requirements would threaten the reliability or security of electric service to customers. ...
    Failed 1/30/23
    Oppose climate SB 1265 Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; retail competitiveness, review proceedings, etc. more...
    Allows regulated investor-owned utilities to restrict the ability of the State Corporation Commission to keep energy costs affordable.
    Passed Passed C.C. Agreed 2/27/23
    Oppose climate SB 1485 Natural gas utilities; retail supply choice. more...
    Allows every person access to distribution service or retail natural gas from a natural gas company authorized to provide natural gas service to the area where the service will be received. ...
    Stricken 1/30/23
    No. of bills: 29

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  • Events

    CTAs

    Google doc: Events
    Google doc: Actions

    Resources

    2023 VA GA Committee members (Google doc)

    2023 GA Committee members (Google SS) See tabs on bottom for other chamber and committees.


    2022 VA GA Committee members

    Senate and Committee contact info

    HD and SD contact info