Virginia Mercury reported on a state senate committee hearing and action updating Virginia's Energy Policy, quoting AEE representative Greg Habeeb. Read excerpts below and the entire Virginia Assembly piece here. 

After a slow start, the General Assembly is beginning to take up energy bills. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Monday signed off on a set of updates to the Commonwealth Energy Policy, as well as proposals to classify nuclear energy as clean energy and develop a strategic plan for how nuclear energy contributes to the state’s renewable energy goals. All of the measures now head to the Senate floor. 

Under a revised Commonwealth Energy Policy put forward by Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Fairfax, the General Assembly would set new energy goals for Virginia of achieving net-zero carbon emissions statewide by 2045 and within the electric power sector by 2040. Those goals outstrip the target set by Gov. Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 43 this September of having a carbon-free electric grid by 2050...

Greg Habeeb, a former member of the House of Delegates who now lobbies on behalf of industry group Advanced Energy Economy, told the committee that the organization sees the bill as “in line with the broader Virginia Clean Economy Act” being put forward in the House by Democratic Dels. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, Jennifer Carroll Foy, D-Arlington, and Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington. That legislation is shaping up to be the primary challenger to Democratic Del. Sam Rasoul of Roanoke’s Green New Deal. Only two members of the committee, Republican Stephen Newman of Bedford and Republican Mark Obenshain of Rockingham, voted against the proposal. Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City County, abstained...

Read excerpts the entire Virginia Assembly piece here.