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Power struggle: State Corporation Commission weighs Dominion’s energy plan | Virginia

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-23 13:05:00

(The Center Square) – Virginia regulators are reviewing Dominion Energy’s long-term energy plan, which environmental groups say leans too heavily on fossil fuels and violates state climate law.

Last week, the State Corporation Commission held a four-day hearing to determine whether the plan complies with the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which requires 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045.

The Virginia Clean Economy Act, passed in 2020, sets binding targets for phasing out fossil fuels and requires utilities like Dominion to submit detailed planning documents for how they plan to meet those goals.

Dominion’s proposal includes continued investment in natural gas infrastructure and delays retiring its existing fleet of fossil fuel plants. Critics argue the plan fails to account for lower-cost, cleaner alternatives like solar, wind and battery storage.

The Southern Environmental Law Center and Appalachian Voices testified during the hearings, warning that Dominion’s approach could lock Virginians into decades of pollution and rising utility bills.

They argue the plan prioritizes corporate profits over public health and environmental compliance.

The surge in energy demand is largely driven by Northern Virginia’s booming data center industry, which accounts for more than 20% of Dominion’s forecasted load growth.

Dominion says its plan is designed to ensure grid reliability and meet growing energy demand, particularly from data centers and large-scale industrial users. The company has defended its gas investments as necessary to maintain system stability as older coal and gas units are phased out.

“Power demand in Virginia is growing at the highest levels since World War II,” Dominion spokesperson Aaron Ruby told The Center Square. “Our plan will serve growing power demand with reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy. Renewables alone cannot reliably serve all our customers’ needs. Renewables are not always available, so we need nuclear and natural gas to keep the power on all the time. Our long-term plan includes about 80% renewables and carbon-free nuclear, and about 20% natural gas.”

He continued, “That is the diverse, balanced mix that will deliver both reliable service and increasingly clean energy.” He also noted that power demand will double in the next 15 years.

The SCC will accept post-hearing briefs until May 19, 2025, before issuing a decision. While the commission does not approve or reject Integrated Resource Plans outright, it can rule whether the plan is ‘reasonable and in the public interest,’ influencing future project approvals.

“If we follow Dominion’s short-sighted plan, which builds 6 gigawatts of new methane gas power plants in the 2030s and ignores the potential of cleaner alternatives, we will virtually guarantee a non-compliant, dirty, and expensive electric system,” said Nate Benforado, senior attorney at SELC. He argued that building battery storage instead of gas plants would be more cost-effective and better for public health.

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News from the South - Virginia News Feed

Health survey seeks to improve Western Tidewater community care

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www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-07-01 11:47:12

SUMMARY: The Western Tidewater Health District will soon conduct a confidential community health survey door-to-door in Franklin, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, and Southampton. Health workers aim to hear residents’ voices to better understand local health challenges, risky behaviors, and service needs. According to Dylan Evans, a local health emergency coordinator, this HIPAA-compliant survey will identify key health disparities and improve prevention, education, and harm reduction efforts. Scheduled for July 8th and 10th, the survey seeks real input beyond data to enhance community care. Every response helps shape healthcare services, promoting a healthier Western Tidewater community.

Local health workers in Western Tidewater will survey residents on July 8th and 10th to assess community health needs.

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Tuesday forecast: First Alert Weather day

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www.youtube.com – 12 On Your Side – 2025-07-01 05:54:16

SUMMARY: Tuesday brings a First Alert Weather day with a rising chance of thunderstorms developing late afternoon. Morning and midday rain chances are minimal, especially for the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, where rain arrives late. Storms start near Albermarle, Nelson, and surrounding counties around 4-5 PM, moving into Richmond by 6 PM. These slow-moving storms could produce hours of showers and thunder. By midnight, storms taper off with lingering clouds and showers overnight. Wednesday features morning and midday rain with highs near 83°F, then clearing by afternoon. Thursday warms to 91°F with a slight shower chance. Friday offers the best day—lower humidity and pleasant Fourth of July weather.

Tuesday is a First Alert Weather day as an approaching cold front could spark strong to severe storms in the evening.

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Virginia voters cast ballots in 11th district primary | NBC4 Washington

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www.youtube.com – NBC4 Washington – 2025-06-28 22:00:55

SUMMARY: In Northern Virginia, thousands of voters participated in a rare late June primary for Virginia’s 11th congressional district, left open after Democrat Gerry Connolly’s recent passing. Democrats voted at 17 locations using firehouse primaries, with about 30,000 ballots cast so far. They choose among ten candidates, including Connolly’s endorsed former chief of staff, James Walkinshaw, and state Senator Stella Piekarski. Republicans voted at a single location, selecting from seven candidates aiming to strongly support Donald Trump’s policy agenda. GOP voting ended at 4 p.m., with results expected soon; Democrats vote until 7 p.m., possibly delaying final results until early morning.

Voters in Virginia’s 11th district head to the ballot box for a primary to fill the seat previously held by Gerry Connolly, who died of cancer in May. News4’s Julie Carey reports.
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