Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Correction: SMR Bills Cover Both Utilities

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by

Steve Haner
in

Friday’s report that the General Assembly voted to allow early cost recovery on small modular reactors only for Appalachian Power Company was in error.  The Senate version of the bill approved March 7 was language applicable solely to Dominion Energy Virginia. A substitute that removed Dominion from the bill was rejected.

The error was entirely due to inattention on my part. Frankly, it is a message I need to stop trying to write about live legislation if I am not on the ground at the Capitol or glued to the broadcasts. Two other reports on digital outlets which I had questioned (in the comments) got it right while I got it wrong. For that most of all, I apologize.

The offending post has been removed from Bacon’s Rebellion but may continue to circulate. When the final text of both bills is posted I plan to revisit the topic, as the bills are now so different some reconciliation may still be needed, although both could be signed.

I have also received valid pushback on the post about the four dead whales. The most recent death, near Jennette’s Pier on the Outer Banks, was by far the furthest from the location of the Dominion wind turbine project and not “within sight.” Knowing that area somewhat, I should have realized I was confusing it with a facility further north and closer to the Virginia line. But the basic point -– that the media are not asking key questions about CVOW’s possible impact – remains valid so I will not remove it.  — Steve Haner

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21 responses to “Correction: SMR Bills Cover Both Utilities”

  1. William O'Keefe Avatar
    William O’Keefe

    That’s life in an imperfect world. All of us make mistakes and it to you credit that you stood tall in acknowledging yours. As age old wisdom indicates, mistakes are learning opportunities.

  2. James A. Bacon Avatar
    James A. Bacon

    Thank you for your candid corrections, Steve, and thank you for posting them prominently for all to see, not burying them. You set an example for all journalists in that regard.

    I expect most readers will forgive Steve, who shares his expertise with no monetary compensation. The commonwealth would be much the worse off without his contributions.

  3. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead

    Apology accepted. Keep digging. Keep writing. Press on!

  4. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead

    Apology accepted. Keep digging. Keep writing. Press on!

  5. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    I’m sorry sir, but your sin against accurate reporting is simply unforgivable…

    …

    Seriously, though, no worries – and thank you for posting the correction. I’ve been wondering why stories from other news outlets did not agree with your reporting.

    Please keep up the good work. It is appreciated.

  6. Lefty665 Avatar
    Lefty665

    Thanks for posting the correction and removing the prior inaccurate report. We all can take guidance from your example of how to do it right.

    I try not to be defensive of my own positions if they turn out to be incorrect. What I care about is getting things right, and accepting that knowledge may change or situations evolve. We all just plain flat err from time to time too. That is how we know we’re human.

    Long ago I figured out that the best course is to get out the mustard and ketchup and chomp that old crow right on down and be done with it. Being defensive simply compounds the error and prevents getting past it and getting on to actually getting things right.

    Congrats on doing it right.

  7. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    We often don’t agree on much especially climate related but I give you your due on your reporting , honest and with integrity and much appreciated.

  8. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    Thank you for your corrections.

    I was curious about your complaints about no one asking about the possibility of CVOW being somewhat responsible for the death of the whales. I sent an inquiry to the Virginia Aquarium, which has a marine stranding team and investigates the death of large marine animals in Virginia. A representative responded that they are indeed investigating the two juvenile humpback whales that recently stranded on Virginia beaches. Here are excerpts of the reply:

    “Tissue samples for life history and diagnostics were collected from both whales. The team will analyze the samples, photos and data they collected to try to determine the cause of death, which is unknown at this point. This step takes careful assessment and time.

    Our team has already learned some important details about the life these whales lived. Both whales were immature males. They had some abnormal skin lesions that we are continuing to investigate, and both whales showed evidence of healed scars from previous entanglements, which are a sub-lethal and chronic part of these animals’ lives.”

    I suggest that the responsible approach would be to wait until the scientific investigations are complete before raising questions about the involvement of CVOW.

    1. Stephen Haner Avatar
      Stephen Haner

      Whether or not the contractors are engaged in pile driving or sonar scanning at this time are simple yes or no questions. Would you investigate a traffic death without asking whether some road or weather condition contributed?

      1. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
        Dick Hall-Sizemore

        I hope that the Aquarium folks are asking those questions.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          The issue with ship strikes and net entanglements… do we have any idea of those numbers ongoing?

          1. Stephen Haner Avatar
            Stephen Haner

            Somebody should be keeping data. It was the government itself which noted the overall number of deaths from any cause started to swell in 2016. I readily admit there may be absolutely no danger to the whales from all this, but given that is a migratory route for an endangered species, just brushing off the possibility is not enough. We are entering a period where we are going to find out, with all the activity over the next five or ten years.

          2. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Lots of critters get killed even in big numbers without any attention or action from the govt usually.

            It’s when the critter is “endangered” that the govt gets more involved, and only then because of the Endangered Species Law itself.

            That’s why I ask , for an endangered whale species, what is the data on their overall numbers and their deaths and from what causes AND what new rules that have to be followed to protect them – not just one activity but all activities that cause mortality.

          3. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            RE: endangered species.

            I killed a long-eared bat while riding my motorcycle this morning. I did not report it to Fish & Wildlife. Was that wrong? 😉

            Of course, I’m not really all that good with bats so I’m not certain it was an example of the endangered Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus (the Virginia Big-Eared Bat), but it definitely had long ears…

          4. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            I don’t know for a fact, in my reading, but I suspect inadvertent and incidental (not purposeful) with regard to some personal activity is different from if you are, for instance, engaging in a business or organized activity that ends up knowingly killing endangered species on a regular basis.

            And the govt is actually careful about such designations because of the potential economic impacts and lawsuits – like with vessel strikes and net entanglements…. as a consequence of shipping and fishing in general.

            It can and does affect building new bridges – they can’t be disturbing a riverbed to install bridge footers – during the migration season for some critters or activities that result in runoff and other impacts that can then impact critters breeding in waterways, etc.

            Caledon on the Potomac has nesting Eagles and during some parts of the season – it’s off limits to walkers.

            But millions of birds and bats every year die – both endangered and not , by running into bridges and buildings or getting run into by planes and cars and bikes.

  9. Rafaelo Avatar
    Rafaelo

    Oh shucks don’t beat yourself up. “I was mistaken:” most of us say that or should, about once a week. But if you want to make up for it, what’s your view on whether HB 1404 of 2024 (affirmative action) is still in play? Passed both House and Senate, the latter a party-line vote 20 Dems Y / 19 Repbs N.

    But never “enrolled,” nor signed by the Speaker and President of Senate, nor “communicated to the Governor” for him to veto (compare the treatment of HB48 which did jump through all those hoops and Governor signed it).

    The regular session is over.

    Do they get another chance to ‘communicate’ to the Governor in April? I thought that was only about legislation he’s already seen, and decided to amend or veto.

    1. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
      Dick Hall-Sizemore

      They were passed in the last days of the session. The enrolling room always falls behind with the crush of bills in the last days. They will eventually be enrolled and signed by both the Speaker and Lt. Gov. and sent on to the Governor for his review and action. As an example, see this bill from 2023:https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1840

      The legislature adjourned on 2/27. The bill was finally passed on 2/25, but was not enrolled, signed by the presiding officers and sent to the Gov. until 3/13.

      1. WayneS Avatar
        WayneS

        Is the governor’s deadline for action (or inacti0n) on a piece of legislation based on the date the legislation was presented to him, or is there a date certain by which he must address all legislation passed during the session?

        1. Irene Leech Avatar
          Irene Leech

          It’s from when it gets to him after passage in both bodies and signatures from both leaders. He gets 7 days until the last week of Session. Most bills have a midnight April 8 deadline for his action.

    2. Stephen Haner Avatar
      Stephen Haner

      The Guv controls that agenda. The bills he vetoes or seeks to amend will be the only items on the calendar. Maybe some more memorial or commending resolutions from legislators.

      H1404 is a candidate for either a veto or major amenfments. Enrolling room gets swamped at the end, falls behind, but will eventually process it and send it to the 3rd Floor.

      1. Rafaelo Avatar
        Rafaelo

        Thnx to you and Mr. Hall-Sizemore (remarks below) for clarifying that. Too bad: I’d hoped HB 1404 died an ignominious death by lack of interest.

        Atty General Miyares fiercely opposes affirmative action. Pretty sure what he would advise. But whether the Governor follows that advice might depend on long-term political ambitions, or horse-trading on tax cuts. Arg.

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