Virginia opens the door for independent proposals for solar projects in Southwest Virginia

CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes 276-207-9636 chelsea@appvoices.org Cat McCue 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org The Virginia State Corporation Commission has announced that it is re-opening acceptance of registrations for third-party, non-utility owners of solar generation through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The pilot program has been closed to registrations since January when the previous state limit on such arrangements was reached.…

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Monacan Nation Opposes Water Utility Development at Historic Site

Update: July 20, 2020 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers extended the comment period for the water infrastructure permit at the historic Rassawek site until June 7, 2020. More than 12,000 comments were filed against the James River Water Authority’s permit application, according to Cultural Heritage Partners, legal counsel to the Monacan Indian Nation. The…

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Old Dominion Power raises rates on Southwest Virginians amid economic crisis

CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes New Economy Program Manager chelsea@appvoices.org 276-679-1691 The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved a rate increase request from Old Dominion Power, which will add about $20 to average residential monthly bills in its Southwest Virginia service effective May 1. The move came despite a plea from the region’s state legislators that the…

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Va governor signs pipeline bill that protects consumers

CONTACT: Cat McCue 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org This week, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law HB 167, which protects utility customers from paying for large new gas pipeline costs if the State Corporation Commission (SCC) determines that new pipeline capacity is not necessary for reliability and is not the least-cost way to meet electricity demand. Delegate…

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