Short, fast General Assembly session yields solid environmental victories

For Immediate Release:
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025

Media Contact:
Lee Francis | Chief Communications and Program Officer
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
434-989-3197 | lfrancis@valcv.org

RICHMOND – Today, lawmakers concluded the regular 2025 General Assembly session, which included the successful passage of a number of commonsense bills that advance clean, affordable energy, reduce pollution, and safeguard the environment. This legislation now heads to Governor Glenn Youngkin for his consideration.

In response to the conclusion of this year’s General Assembly session, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“The ‘Conservation Majority’ at the legislature again showed that it values a clean, affordable energy future as they defeated attacks on our climate laws and advanced measures that advance clean energy solutions that cut costs, create jobs, and clean our air. Though more work remains to be done, and we came far from getting everything we wanted out of this session, lawmakers made a lot of progress in 2025 and we are grateful for their leadership and their commitment to environmental protection. We now hope that Governor Youngkin’s actions match his rhetoric as bills head to his desk that will advance a clean Chesapeake Bay, lower energy costs, and help Virginia meet its electricity needs with clean, affordable energy.”

Legislative highlights of the 2025 General Assembly session include the following:

  • The Community Access to Renewable Energy (CARE) Package, which will create a pipeline of clean energy workers, expand consumer access to clean energy, and cut energy costs.

  • Advancing workforce development for the offshore wind industry.

  • Defeating multiple attacks on the Virginia Clean Economy Act that would undermine or completely repeal Virginia’s clean energy goals.

  • The Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund and $1.5 million in the budget to implement it, helping fill charging gaps in the Commonwealth.

  • Ensuring that recognized tribes can benefit from the Community Flood Preparedness Act.

  • Protecting Virginians’ drinking water from toxic forever chemicals like PFAS.

  • A budget that delivers on clean water funding.

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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