Even with the short session, Appalachian Voices’ capitol team had a lot to keep track of, with a number of bills we were hoping to convince legislators to support — and quite a few we were hoping to convince them to vote down.
Blog Archives
Wins and losses in the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session
TAGS: Affordable Energy Act brightfields cyanide gold mining regional greenhouse gas initiative shared solar Small Modular Nuclear Reactors utility shutoffs Virginia General Assembly Virginia Power Innovation Fund
Bipartisan bill prohibiting the use of cyanide in mining heads to House of Delegates for consideration
HB 1722, a bill that would prohibit the use of cyanide in industrial mineral mining operations, was reported with overwhelming bipartisan support to the full House of Delegates by the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.
Virginia legislators must take utility shutoff protections seriously this winter
Virginia is one of only seven states that doesn’t protect residents from getting their power or water shut off over unpaid bills during extreme weather. State legislators aim to change that in the 2023 General Assembly session.
TAGS: disconnection protections energy burden energy justice power bills utility disconnection utility shutoff Virginia General Assembly Water Justice
Even as 2022 Virginia General Assembly wraps up, threats of environmental rollbacks continue
With the signing of the budget, the Virginia General Assembly wrapped up a session filled with challenges and disappointments.
TAGS: air pollution control board Andrew Wheeler bipartisan infrastructure law clean energy and community flood preparedness act Coalfield Community Development Program Coalfield Inter-agency Task Force coalfields Department of Housing and Community Development Dominion Energy electric co-ops electric utility Environmental Justice gob Gov. Glenn Youngkin metals mining pipelines regional greenhouse gas initiative shared solar state corporation commission Virginia Clean Economy Act Virginia Energy Virginia General Assembly
Virginia state lawmakers call on U.S. Senate to pass climate reconciliation bill
Virginia legislators sent a letter to Sens. Kaine and Warner supporting a budget reconciliation package under negotiation that invests $555 billion in climate and clean energy.
TAGS: budget reconciliation Climate change Congress Senator Joe Manchin Senator Mark Warner Senator Tim Kaine Virginia General Assembly
Member-owners join together to support transparency and governance reforms for Virginia’s rural electric cooperatives
Richmond, Va. — A coalition representing member-owners of Virginia’s rural electric cooperative (RECs) is rallying in support of Del. Wendy Gooditis’ legislation that seeks to establish protections and safeguards for customers (member-owners) of the thirteen rural electric cooperatives in the state. These reforms would include allowing member-owners to observe board meetings, voter integrity measures for cooperative board elections, and transparency in cooperative political lobbying.
Can’t stop, won’t stop! Fighting to protect you and the environment at Virginia’s General Assembly
Virginia’s 2022 General Assembly gaveled in on January 12 for two months of legislative wrangling in the crowded halls of the state capitol! We expect to play defense on protecting pivotal laws that tackle the climate crisis, while pushing for progress in key areas. Don’t sit this one out — we need all Virginia hands on deck!
TAGS: clean energy Clean Water energy justice energy transition Environmental Justice general assembly Governor Youngkin shared solar Virginia Virginia General Assembly
Coalition formed to protect Virginia from metals mining
At a virtual press conference on Dec. 13, the launch of the “Press Pause Coalition” was announced. The statewide coalition wants a moratorium on state agencies permitting gold, copper, zinc and lead mining.
Virginia Gold Rush
Residents fear a dangerous open-pit gold mine will open in Buckingham County before the Virginia General Assembly acts.
TAGS: buckingham county friends of buckingham gold mining haile gold mine Virginia Virginia General Assembly
Solar, Environmental Justice and Utility Reform in Virginia
Appalachian Voices and our partners are advocating for several key environmental and energy reforms in the Virginia legislature in 2020.
