Today, Virginia is on the path to a 100% clean, affordable energy future – the only state in the south to commit to entirely phasing dirty, expensive fossil fuels out of our electricity mix. We had to fight hard to get here, and we will continue fighting not to just stay on track, but to get there faster.
Virginia LCV played a pivotal role in securing – and defending – our state’s largest clean energy wins. We continue building power for strong clean energy policies by electing lawmakers who share our commitment to a clean energy future and holding them accountable when they deliver or fail to meet the moment on policies that cut energy bills, secure cleaner air, and push us toward our goals of reaching 100% clean energy by mid-century.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act of 2020 laid out a roadmap to reaching 100% clean electricity by mid-century, an aggressive but achievable and necessary timeline in a state long powered predominantly by fossil fuels and facing some of the harshest climate impacts of any state.
While this landmark law was a huge win, our work is not yet done. As passed, the VCEA was a flexible framework based on getting more clean energy online, while advancing energy efficiency and phasing out expensive fossil fuels. This dynamic structure demands that we must constantly work to make sure the VCEA is making our grid cleaner without burdening energy bills and while ensuring constant reliability. Virginia LCV is committed to seeing through the goals of the VCEA in the best way possible and keeping us on track to a 100% clean energy future.
Big Corporate Polluters shouldn’t get a free pass to pollute our air. This is why our continued membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is so important. This program puts a price on carbon emissions from power plants and reinvests in vital programs in Virginia that cut energy costs for Virginians and keep communities safe from flooding. By joining with 10 states to our north in RGGI, Virginia is doing its part to lower pollution across the region, cut energy costs, and secure a clean energy transition while holding polluters accountable and putting Virginians first. Virginia LCV played a pivotal role in getting the Commonwealth in this program and we are committed to ensuring it remains a priority for Virginia’s lawmakers.
The waters off Virginia’s coast are home to the largest offshore wind farm in the country. Dubbed CVOW (Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind), this project will generate enough clean power for 660,000 homes, while creating thousands of local jobs and millions of dollars of investment in the local Hampton Roads economy. More importantly, this project creates the backbone we need to bring more clean, offshore wind online well into the future. While this outcome depends on a strong federal partner, Virginia LCV will continue to advocate for state-level policies that boost offshore wind, ensuring it remains a key part of our clean energy mix.
Our Issues
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A Fair & Free Democracy
As an organization whose theory of change revolves around the ballot box, a healthy, accessible democracy that works for all Virginians is integral to our mission. When there are barriers to voting, or efforts that seek to silence or diminish the voices of Virginians, the environment suffers. We work to elect champions to office who support a strong democracy and will defend and expand voting rights while ensuring all Virginians are able to make their voices heard.
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Healthy Communities
The environment isn’t an abstract concept – it’s all around us, and plays a huge role in our quality of life, everything from how we get from place to place, to whether our kids have safe places to play. All Virginians deserve to live in healthy, balanced communities with abundant green spaces, access to the outdoors, and safe, clean ways to get from “Point A” to “Point B,” but this often isn’t the case.
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Clean Water
Clean water is a necessity. Without it, life as we know it can’t flourish. Unfortunately, the threats to water quality in Virginia are numerous – heavy industry, toxic chemicals, over-development, antiquated wastewater systems, urban runoff and pollution from agriculture all threaten our waterways, big and small.
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Clean, Affordable Energy
Today, Virginia is on the path to a 100% clean, affordable energy future – the only state in the south to commit to entirely phasing dirty, expensive fossil fuels out of our electricity mix. We had to fight hard to get here, and we will continue fighting not to just stay on track, but to get there faster.
Take Action