As Virginia families and businesses receive their power bills this month, many will see higher figures. This is due in large part to the Democrat-enacted Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) and provisions within it that force the Commonwealth to either produce an unreasonable amount of electricity via “green” methods or import electricity from other states that have no such restrictions. Unlike some who believe that the VCEA will lead to lower energy costs, Governor Abigail Spanberger’s own Chief Energy Officer claimed that power bills will continue to rise for the next 20 years. State-mandated “decarbonization” is a big reason why.
Expenses for purchased power – and other supply costs – are being passed through to Virginia consumers at a higher rate. Why is Virginia purchasing power from out of state, you might ask? Because existing law does not allow for the construction of new traditional power plants except in extraordinary circumstances. The VCEA not only blocks the creation of new, reliable gas plants, but it also levies fees on ratepayers to “incentivize” utilities to invest in solar and wind. The end result is that Virginians are paying more for power, and utilities are mandated to build “green” energy facilities that do not work at night or when the wind is not blowing and cannot be dispatched like gas or nuclear power.
As I have mentioned in previous columns, Governor Spanberger’s decision to return Virginia to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will also increase electric bills as utilities are required to buy the “right” to emit carbon dioxide. The Governor’s own administration admits that utility bills will continue to rise for the next two decades.
Meanwhile, our regional grid operator, PJM Interconnection, says it will be 6.8 gigawatts short of demand for the 2028-2029 planning year. This is the equivalent of several large power plants of electrical production.
So, why are we paying these higher bills? It is so Democrats can say they did something to reduce climate change, even though the facts show that the VCEA and Virginia’s membership in RGGI are insignificant in terms of the impact. In reality, the western world is expected to emit 12 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide between now and the year 2100. The remainder will come from China, India, Brazil, and developing nations. During Virginia’s first period of membership in RGGI, power-plant emissions fell from around 33 million short tons in 2020 to around 26 million short tons in 2023. Even assuming that this decline was caused by our membership in RGGI, the 2023 reduction represents roughly 0.000003 degrees Celsius of eventual global warming avoided for that year. Sustained for 30 years, it would be approximately 0.000009 degrees Celsius. In other words, Virginia Democrats are hobbling our economy for no practical reason. Consumers are paying the price.
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]. You can also follow me on X @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
