Governor signs clean energy legislation

Legislation sets carbon-free deadlines for Dominion Energy, Appalachian Power.

Published April 12, 2020 by Richard Foster

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Sunday that he has signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act into law, requiring state electricity providers to become 100% carbon free by 2050.

The legislation sets a 2045 carbon-free deadline for Virginia power operations for Dominion Energy Inc. and a 2050 deadline for Appalachian Power. It also requires virtually all coal-fired electrical plants to close in Virginia by 2024. The law advances Dominion’s proposal to build the nation’s largest offshore wind farm off the coast of Virginia Beach and encourages the development of solar and onshore wind assets. Under the new laws, Virginia will also join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

“These new clean energy laws propel Virginia to leadership among the states in fighting climate change,” Northam said in a statement. “They advance environmental justice and help create clean energy jobs. In Virginia, we are proving that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand.”