Category: Energy
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Why are the Poor Still Paying for Dominion Wind?
by Steve Haner Virginia’s new electricity bill subsidy program for customers of Dominion Energy Virginia has cleared its final hurdle at the State Corporation Commission and will begin enrolling participants in time for this coming winter. It is largely following the schedule previously outlined. In a final order issued October 13, the Commission set the…
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Is a Séance with Yogi Berra Dominion’s Source of Insight?
by Bill O’Keefe According to lore, Yogi Berra is supposed to have said, “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” Dominion must have had a séance with Yogi and just learned that piece of wisdom because until its latest filing with the SCC it maintained that it would…
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Miyares Seeks Dismissal of Suit to Save RGGI
By Steve Haner Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) is defending the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board’s decision to exit a multi-state carbon cap and tax compact as within the regulatory agency’s authority. He has also claimed to the circuit court hearing an appeal of that decision that the plaintiffs were not affected by the action…
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Principles for Virginia’s Energy Future
By Steve Haner First published this morning by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. Energy is our economy. Energy is the basis of wealth and a comfortable life. As Virginia chooses a new set of legislators to wrestle with the old and new energy issues facing the Commonwealth, here is a review of some…
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Giant Utility Rejects Net Zero Power; Big Fight Follows
by David Wojick Dominion Energy, Virginia’s big electric utility, is telling the state it does not foresee complying with the 2045 net zero power target in the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA). The preferred option in Dominion’s latest Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) retires no fossil-fueled power generators, other than the few old ones that are…
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Did Assembly Trim Dominion Bills $7-$14? No.
by Steve Haner When the Virginia General Assembly passed a complicated electricity regulation change a few months ago, the Richmond Times-Dispatch parroted as fact this Dominion Energy Virginia claim in a front-page paragraph: The compromise on electric bills — in legislation that passed nearly unanimously — would bring an immediate $6 to $7 cut in…
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Cheers to the Man in Plaid
by Jon Baliles One of Richmond’s great characters and personalities has decided to step away from spotlight that he occupied and managed so well for years (and always with a smile) after enduring incredibly long days and nights, rainouts, major league talent, loyal fans, a street art festival, a crumbling office, broken political promises, and…
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Legislature Moves To Fill Power Vacuum It Created
By Steve Haner State Senator Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon, showed today that he had something which the State Corporation Commission now lacks – a quorum. Surovell and the other legislators will gather in Richmond tomorrow to address the state budget but are expected once again to fail to fill the two vacancies on that vital…
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TJI To SCC: Keep Dominion Gas Plants
The following has been submitted to the State Corporation Commission via the public comment portal it has established for Dominion Energy Virginia’s pending 2023 Integrated Resource Plan. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy Senior Fellow Stephen D. Haner. Dominion Energy Virginia is acting reasonably and prudently by planning to maintain most…
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Politicians Back Interest-Heavy Fuel Debt Payoff
By Steve Haner Several Virginia legislators have encouraged the State Corporation Commission to allow Dominion Energy Virginia to convert a $1.3 billion unpaid fuel debt into a ten-year revenue stream for the utility, adding up to $370 million in additional costs onto its customers. The SCC will open a hearing Tuesday on the utility’s pending…
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Democrats Cannot Hide From Vote to Ban Gas Cars
By Steve Haner Yes, Virginia, the Democrats are coming for your gasoline and diesel powered cars. The only way to decouple Virginia from the California Air Resources Board’s relentless drive toward electric vehicles only on new car lots is to change the political landscape in Richmond and reverse a 2021 bill. A Republican candidate for…
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Dominion Plan to Maintain Gas Attacked at SCC
By Steve Haner First published this morning by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. The front line in the war against fossil fuels in Virginia has now shifted back to the State Corporation Commission, and as usual only one side has fielded an army and brought heavy weapons to the battlefield. Those who might…
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NJ Democrats Tacking Away from Wind Power
by Steve Haner First published this morning by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. Virginia is one of only two states that hold their major legislative elections this odd-numbered year, with the other being New Jersey. In New Jersey, the state’s offshore wind aspirations have become a major political issue, with even Democrats now…
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Dominion “Bill Relief” Disappears September 1
By Steve Haner Homeowners willing to cut back power usage when Dominion Energy Virginia asks them could earn rebates of up to $28 a year. So reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch, citing yet another final order from the State Corporation Commission. The Richmond paper is always bringing us such great news about the folks at the…
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Why Dominion Stays Calm in Wind Industry Storm
By Steve Haner First published by Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. There is some overlap with a post from last week by another author, but with a slightly different focus. With growing turmoil in the offshore wind industry finally being reported, it would be nice to turn the clock back a year and revisit…