Supporting progressive candidates & issues
Who We Are.
The Climate & Clean Energy Working Group (CCEWG) of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition is an action oriented, nimble group of volunteers dedicated to protecting Virginia's landmark climate and clean energy legislation including the Virginia Clean Economy Act, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and Clean Car Standards that the current administration seeks to repeal. We also focus on several bills each General Assembly (GA) session that will continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and propel Virginia towards an affordable, clean energy economy.
What We Do.
Legislative Priorities. We work closely with partners including the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Clean Virginia and Appalachian Voices to formulate our legislative priorities.
Meetings with Legislators. Prior to the GA session, we meet and discuss our positions with Virginia legislators on committees that have jurisdiction over climate and clean energy legislation.
Email Legislators on Bills During the General Assembly. During the session, we formulate easy, "one-click Calls to Action" for our CCEWG membership. Through these Calls to Action, our members send emails to legislators prior to a committee vote on our priority bills.
Lobby Days in Richmond. We "road trip" to Richmond where we partner with other climate advocacy groups to collectively lobby legislators.
Testify at GA Committee Hearings. We testify, in person or by video conferencing, before Committees on our key bills. Testimony is short (1-2 minutes) and easy to do.
Monthly Meetings with Speakers. We have monthly meetings throughout the legislative session (December–March) where our members are updated on legislative priorities, strategies, and insights from environmental lobbyists and legislators.
What YOU Can Do. Join the CCEWG and be an advocate for our bills. As a volunteer, you can email legislators to support bills during session, meet with legislators, participate in a lobby day, or amplify our message on social media. You choose how you’d like to be involved.
Meetings with Legislators. Prior to the GA session, we meet and discuss our positions with Virginia legislators on committees that have jurisdiction over climate and clean energy legislation.
Email Legislators on Bills During the General Assembly. During the session, we formulate easy, "one-click Calls to Action" for our CCEWG membership. Through these Calls to Action, our members send emails to legislators prior to a committee vote on our priority bills.
Lobby Days in Richmond. We "road trip" to Richmond where we partner with other climate advocacy groups to collectively lobby legislators.
Testify at GA Committee Hearings. We testify, in person or by video conferencing, before Committees on our key bills. Testimony is short (1-2 minutes) and easy to do.
Monthly Meetings with Speakers. We have monthly meetings throughout the legislative session (December–March) where our members are updated on legislative priorities, strategies, and insights from environmental lobbyists and legislators.
What YOU Can Do. Join the CCEWG and be an advocate for our bills. As a volunteer, you can email legislators to support bills during session, meet with legislators, participate in a lobby day, or amplify our message on social media. You choose how you’d like to be involved.
Please contact Sharon Shutler, shutlersharon@gmail.com or Amy Bergner, abbergner@gmail.com to find out more.
Leadership Team
Amy Bergner, Meredith Haines, Monique Hanis and Sharon Shutler.Follow us on Threads @climateandcleanenergy
2024 Priority Legislation
2024 Priority Bills
Climate & Clean Energy | ||||||||
| Cat | Number | Title | Patron | House | Senate | GA | Governor | updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| climate | HB 106 Support | Shared solar programs; amends existing program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia.
more...
Amends existing shared solar program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility). The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program means the resulting amount a customer must pay the utility after the bill credit, defined in relevant law, is deducted from the customer's monthly gross utility bill. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to establish a minimum bill, below which a subscriber's net bill cannot go, that is calculated based on the amount of kilowatt-hours billed by the utility. The bill also changes the shared solar program capacity to at least 10 percent of each utility's adjusted Virginia peak load and requires the Commission's regulations to allow for program participation by all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes. ...
|
Sullivan (D) |
Passed
(54-Y 44-N)
|
Passed
22-17
|
Enrolled |
Approved
Effective 7/1/24
|
4/9/24 |
| climate | HB 107 Support | Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund; established and created.
more...
Creates the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in certain localities. The bill provides that a private developer is eligible to receive grants of 70 percent of such non-utility costs for electric vehicle charging stations installed in a city or county that meets the criteria of a distressed locality, as defined in the bill, and caps the total amount of grants awarded in any fiscal year at $25 million.
|
Sullivan (D) |
Passed
(71-Y 27-N)
|
Passed
(28-Y 12-N)
|
CC Report Rejected | 3/11/24 | |
| climate | HB 116 Support | Retail Sales and Use tax; exemption for data centers.
more...
Requires data center operators to meet certain energy efficiency standards in order to be eligible for the sales and use tax exemption for data center purchases. Under the bill, a data center operator shall be eligible for the exemption only if such operator demonstrates that (i) its facilities either (a) have a power usage effectiveness score of no greater than 1.2 or (b) for data centers co-located in buildings with other commercial uses, achieve an energy efficiency level of no less than the most efficient 15 percent of similar buildings constructed in the previous five years and (ii) it will procure carbon-free renewable energy and associated renewable energy certificates from facilities equal to 90 percent of its electricity requirements or that its electricity will be otherwise derived from non-carbon-emitting, renewable sources.
|
Sullivan (D) |
Tabled
to 2025
|
|
4/9/24 | ||
| climate | HB 117 Support | Net energy metering; solar interconnection, cost recovery.
more...
Provides that an electric distribution company shall pay 33 cents ($0.33) per kilowatt-hour per day for the costs of lost electricity production for any and all delays beyond the regulatory notice period required by State Corporation Commission related to net energy metering. ...
|
Sullivan (D) |
Failed
Labor & Commerce sub3 5-5
|
|
2/9/24 | ||
| climate | HB 118 Support | Electric utilities; cost recovery for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
more...
Requires Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Electric Power, by May 1, 2025, to (i) file a proposal with the State Corporation Commission to design and deploy all electrical distribution infrastructure on the utility side of a customer%92s meter for each customer installing separately metered infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging stations, other than those in single-family residences; (ii) file an application with the Commission to accelerate widespread transportation electrification across the Commonwealth in a manner designed to lower total ratepayer costs and that significantly contributes to meeting air quality standards and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a manner consistent with the objectives of the energy policy of the Commonwealth, as defined by relevant law; ...
|
Sullivan (D) |
Failed
Labor & Commerce sub 4-6
|
|
2/8/24 | ||
| climate | HB 638 Support | [ARC] Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs, duty to implement the Energy Policy, etc..
more...
Provides that "in the public interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs means that the State Corporation Commission determines that the program is cost-effective and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. ...
|
Sullivan (D) |
Tabled
Labor & Commerce
|
|
3/11/24 | ||
| climate | HB 746 Support | [SAVE] Energy efficiency programs; incremental annual savings.
more...
Provides that it is in the public interest and the policy of the Commonwealth to deploy demand-side management programs and energy efficiency measures throughout the Commonwealth to achieve the greatest possible reductions in energy consumption. The bill permits the State Corporation Commission to increase or decrease an investor-owned electric utility's combined rate of return based on the utility's success in complying with energy efficiency program targets in existing law. ...
|
Webert (R) |
Passed
(90-Y 7-N)
|
Passed
(21-Y 18-N)
|
Gov Rec Adopted |
Enacted
(effective 7/1/24)
|
4/23/24 |
| climate | HB 1456 Support | Solar-ready roofs for certain government buildings; net-zero energy consumption building design.
more...
Requires any executive branch agency or institution and any locality entering the design phase for the construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or the renovation of a building where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, to ensure that such building includes a solar-ready, cool, or energy-efficient roof, defined in the bill.
|
Carr (D) |
Tabled
Finance sub 2
|
|
2/9/24 | ||
| climate | HJ 30 Support | [PBUR] Study; State Corporation Commission; electric utilities; performance-based regulatory tools; report.
more...
Requests the State Corporation Commission, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to study performance-based regulatory tools for investor-owned electric utilities in the Commonwealth.
|
Sullivan (D) |
Passed
(97-Y 0-N)
|
Passed
w Substitute
|
CC Report Accepted | 3/11/24 | |
| climate | HJ 36 Support | 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...
|
Sewell (D) |
Tabled
Continued to 2025 by Rules Comm
|
|
4/9/24 | ||
| climate | SB 79 Support | Solar-ready roofs for certain gov't bldgs
more...
Requires any executive branch agency or institution and any locality entering the design phase for the construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or the renovation of a building where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, to ensure that such building includes a solar-ready, cool, or energy-efficient roof, defined in the bill. The bill also requires new public school buildings and facilities and improvements and renovations to existing public school buildings and facilities where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building to, after notice is given to the governing body, be designed and constructed to meet net-zero energy consumption standards. The provisions of this bill only apply to projects entering the design phase on or after January 1, 2025.
|
Favola (D) |
Tabled
Appropriations (22-Y, 0-N)
|
Passed
(22 - Y, 17-N)
|
4/3/24 | ||
| climate | SB 192 Support | Sales and use tax exemption; data centers.
more...
Requires data center operators to meet certain energy efficiency standards in order to be eligible for the sales and use tax exemption for data center purchases. Under the bill, a data center operator shall be eligible for the exemption only if such operator demonstrates that (i) its facilities either (a) have a power usage effectiveness score of no greater than 1.2 or (b) for data centers co-located in buildings with other commercial uses, achieve an energy efficiency level of no less than the most efficient 15 percent of similar buildings constructed in the previous five years and (ii) it will procure carbon-free renewable energy and associated renewable energy certificates from facilities equal to 90 percent of its electricity requirements or that its electricity will be otherwise derived from non-carbon-emitting, renewable sources.
|
Subramanyam (D) |
|
Tabled
Continued to 2025 in Finance & Approps
|
4/9/24 | ||
| climate | SB 230 Support | [ARC] Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs, duty to implement the Energy Policy, etc..
more...
Provides that "in the public interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs means that the State Corporation Commission determines that the program is cost-effective and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. ...
|
Hashmi (D) |
|
Tabled
Continued to 2025 by Commerce & Labor
|
4/9/24 | ||
| climate | SB 253 Support | Shared solar programs; amends existing program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia.
more...
Amends existing shared solar program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility). The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program means the resulting amount a customer must pay the utility after the bill credit, defined in relevant law, is deducted from the customer's monthly gross utility bill. ...
|
Surovell (D) |
Passed
(51-Y 47-N)
|
Passed
(23-Y 17-N)
|
Enrolled |
Approved
Effective 7/1/24
|
4/9/24 |
| climate | SB 346 Support | Net energy metering; solar interconnection, cost recovery.
more...
Provides that an electric distribution company shall pay $1 per kilowatt per day for the costs of lost electricity production for any and all delays beyond the regulatory notice period required by State Corporation Commission related to net energy metering.
|
Subramanyam (D) |
|
Tabled
Continued to 2025 by Commerce & Labor
|
4/9/24 | ||
| climate | SB 457 Support | Driving Decarbonization Program and Fund; established and created.
more...
Creates the Driving Decarbonization Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations. ...
|
Marsden (D) |
|
Tabled
Continued to 2025 by Finance & Approps
|
4/9/24 | ||
| climate | SB 565 Support | [SAVE] Energy efficiency programs; incremental annual savings.
more...
Provides that it is in the public interest and the policy of the Commonwealth to deploy demand-side management programs and energy efficiency measures throughout the Commonwealth to achieve the greatest possible reductions in energy consumption. ...
|
Deeds (D) |
Passed
w. substitute (86-12)
|
Passed
w. substitute (21-Y 18-N)
|
Gov Rec Adopted |
Enacted
(effective 7/1/24)
|
4/23/24 |
| climate | SB 737 Support | Energy efficiency programs.
more...
|
Surovell (D) |
Passed
w. substitute (50-Y 46-N)
|
Passed
w. substitute (21-Y 19-N)
|
Enrolled |
Approved
Effective 7/1/24
|
4/9/24 |
| climate | HB 3 Oppose | 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. The bill prohibits the Board from adopting or enforcing any model year standards related to control of emissions from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines, including low-emission vehicle and zero-emission vehicle standards pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act and prohibits the Commonwealth from requiring any new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine to be certified as compliant with model year standards related to the control of emissions adopted by California for which a waiver has been granted pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act.
|
Wilt (R) |
Tabled
Labor & Commerce
|
|
2/8/24 | ||
| climate | HB 7 Oppose | 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 that apply for vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later.
|
Fowler (R) |
Left
Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources
|
|
2/13/24 | ||
| climate | HB 397 Oppose | Regulation of electric utilities; development of renewable energy facilities; powers.
more...
Repeals provisions (i) requiring the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from any electricity generating unit in the Commonwealth and authorizing the Board to establish an auction program for energy allowances; (ii) prohibiting the State Corporation Commission from approving any new utility-owned generation facilities that emit carbon dioxide as a by-product of energy generation, in certain circumstances; (iii) declaring that statutory allowances for energy derived from sunlight, onshore wind, offshore wind, and storage facilities are in the public interest; and (iv) relating to the development of solar and wind generation and energy storage capacity, ...
|
Griffin (R) |
Tabled
Labor & Commerce
|
|
2/8/24 | ||
| climate | SB 3 Oppose | 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 that apply for vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later.
|
Stuart (R) |
|
PBI
Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources
|
3/11/24 | ||
| climate | SB 53 Oppose | 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. The bill prohibits the Board from adopting or enforcing any model year standards related to control of emissions from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines, including low-emission vehicle and zero-emission vehicle standards pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act and prohibits the Commonwealth from requiring any new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine to be certified as compliant with model year standards related to the control of emissions adopted by California for which a waiver has been granted pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act.
|
McDougle (R) |
|
PBI
Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources
|
1/30/24 | ||
| climate | SB 454 Oppose | Electric utilities; recovery of development costs associated with small modular reactor.
more...
Permits American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia to petition the State Corporation Commission at any time for the approval of a rate adjustment clause for the recovery of small modular reactor project development costs for up to one small modular reactor facility. The bill also permits the utility to petition the Commission for project development cost recovery along separate development phases.
|
Marsden (D) |
Passed
(52-Y 44-N 1-A)
|
Passed
(20-Y 16-N)
|
Gov Rec Adopted |
Enacted
(effective 7/1/24)
|
4/23/24 |