Category: Regulations, Gov’t Oversight
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Virginia Hospitals Under Pressure on Finances and Personnel
By James C. Sherlock I have written for years about Virginia hospitals and their state oversight, including Virginia’s monopolistic Certificate of Public Need (COPN) law and its administration by the Department of Health. Virginia hospitals, and indeed those across the nation, are now under more stress than in generations. Hospitals nationally are under financial pressures…
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Under RGGI Virginia Releases More CO2, Not Less
by Steve Haner Since Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) compact at the start of 2021, according to data reported by the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to provide electricity to customers in the state has grown. Despite two years of RGGI caps and taxes, total CO2 emissions…
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Private Hospitals show Virginia’s State Hospitals, Colleges and Universities the Way to Efficiency
by James C. Sherlock We read far too often about funding “crises” in government institutions and programs. The general public, me included, would be far more attentive and sometimes supportive if government would follow the lead of private companies and continually right-size itself and emphasize customer-facing services. The health care industry — or rather the…
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Black Students Disappearing from Classrooms Disproportionately in Ten of our Largest School Divisions
by James C. Sherlock For those who support local control of schools no matter what, I will offer you a “what” to consider. For those who are nervous about even discussing why some jurisdictions in Virginia have failed to ensure “an educational program of high quality is established and continually maintained” for Black children, that works…
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RGGI Repeal Debate Rages on Comment Portal
by Steve Haner Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board is continuing through the necessary steps to repeal Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional compact that imposes an allowance cost (carbon tax) on fossil fuels used in generating electricity. During 2021 and 2022, the tax collected about half a billion dollars from…
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Universal Recognition Will Help Stem Virginia’s Migration Woes
by Conor Norris and Edward Timmons From pristine beaches to rolling hills and picturesque mountains, Virginia has a lot to attract residents. Combine that with a strong economy and Northern Virginia’s close ties with Washington, D.C., Virginia should be an attractive destination. But surprisingly, that’s not the case. Despite strong economic performance and a high…
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SCC, SMR Nukes Caught in Energy Wars Deadlock
by Steve Haner What the 2023 General Assembly didn’t pass is also an important Virginia energy policy story, starting with failure on its part to fill the two open seats on the crucial State Corporation Commission. This follows its failure last year to fill one open seat on the three-judge panel. As reported yesterday, advocates…
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Grrrrrrrr… Pit Bulls. AGAIN.
by Kerry Dougherty As soon as I saw the headline in Sunday’s New York Post I knew the breed of the culprit: “Girl, 6, Needs 1,000 Stitches, ”Won’t be able to smile again’ After Vicious Dog Attack.” Was this a case of a poodle gone wild? A dachshund? A beagle? Of course not. Only one…
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SCC Oversight Restored, Don’t Expect Lower Bills
by Steve Haner The final version of a regulatory revision for Dominion Energy Virginia restores State Corporation Commission authority over the utility’s profit margin and rates, a major goal for Governor Glenn Youngkin (R). It was also the highest priority in a detailed energy policy put forward by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy.…
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RTD Promises Lower Electric Bills? Watch and See.
From this morning’s Richmond Times-Dispatch: A reduction in Dominion Energy bills is on the way after a compromise on a new approach to regulate the company made it through the General Assembly on the last day of the session…. The compromise on electric bills — in legislation that passed nearly unanimously — would bring an…
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Virginia Rail Safety Inspections
by James C. Sherlock After the Ohio disaster, it is timely to review rail safety in Virginia. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation is the federal rail safety regulator in cooperation with state authorities. FRA’s Office of Railroad Safety employs 400 railway inspectors. Federal safety management teams are organized by…
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Energy Outcome Cloudy as Adjournment Looms
by Steve Haner With adjournment less than a week away, the 2023 General Assembly is a mixed bag for electricity consumers, with the Assembly seeming to release control to regulators in some areas but continuing to assert its tight control in others. Dominion Energy Virginia’s legislation to sweeten its authorized profit margin, which will not…
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Something Is in the Water
by Joe Fitzgerald Those aren’t wood chips or bark in the cow pasture. David Foster Wallace tells the story of two young fish swimming along when an older, wiser fish swims past and asks, “How’s the water?” One of the young fish looks at the other and asks, “What’s water?” Absurdity is the water that…
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Strange Bedfellows Unite Against Dominion Bill
by Steve Haner Battles over utility ratemaking can produce some “strange bedfellow” coalitions. Check out the list of advocacy organizations which have banded together to oppose Dominion Energy Virginia’s pending bill to mandate a higher profit margin. The list appeared in a full page advertisement in the Sunday Richmond Times-Dispatch and can also be found…
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Dominion’s Ads Deceive About Ratepayer Impact
by Steve Haner Dominion Energy Virginia has launched a major advertising campaign advocating legislation to increase its allowed profit margin, with ads focused on a deceptive message that the bill will actually lower costs for consumers. It will not. The print version of the campaign, which can be seen in a full page ad in…