Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
@vgcclimate.bsky.social
VirginiaGrassroots.org
Working group for Climate and Clean Energy within the coalition.
Supporting VA legislation to lower emissions and accelerate an affordable, clean energy economy.
https://virginiagrassroots.org/coalition-wg-climate.php
Working group for Climate and Clean Energy within the coalition.
Supporting VA legislation to lower emissions and accelerate an affordable, clean energy economy.
https://virginiagrassroots.org/coalition-wg-climate.php
Does it add up? asks Ivy Main, of energy legislation before General Assembly.
Virginia legislators cast a wide net on energy, hoping to land more capacity • Virginia Mercury
Everybody seems to have ideas for how Virginia can generate more energy, use it better, or make the grid (and our utilities) operate more efficiently — and a remarkable number of these ideas are gaini...
virginiamercury.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Does it add up? asks Ivy Main, of energy legislation before General Assembly.
Big beautiful batteries - everywhere!
Related, our monopoly utility is claiming some unreasonable things about battery siting, as we're asking for expanded storage goals during this General Assembly. Because they love to insert artificial barriers where it suits.
Related, our monopoly utility is claiming some unreasonable things about battery siting, as we're asking for expanded storage goals during this General Assembly. Because they love to insert artificial barriers where it suits.
NineDot Energy just raised $431 million to build batteries in New York City’s vacant nooks and crannies — a critical endeavor as electricity shortages loom.
NineDot Energy raises big money for small batteries in New York City
New York needs more reliable power, fast. NineDot’s $431 million in new financing will help solve that problem with batteries scattered across the city.
www.canarymedia.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Big beautiful batteries - everywhere!
Related, our monopoly utility is claiming some unreasonable things about battery siting, as we're asking for expanded storage goals during this General Assembly. Because they love to insert artificial barriers where it suits.
Related, our monopoly utility is claiming some unreasonable things about battery siting, as we're asking for expanded storage goals during this General Assembly. Because they love to insert artificial barriers where it suits.
The Wild West of data center build-out in Virginia is working just great, according to industry lobbyists, union reps, and legislators from downstate. No state oversight needed! HB155 killed in subcommittee.
And they're about to do same to companion bill SB619, up in Senate F&A this morning.
And they're about to do same to companion bill SB619, up in Senate F&A this morning.
February 11, 2026 at 2:12 PM
The Wild West of data center build-out in Virginia is working just great, according to industry lobbyists, union reps, and legislators from downstate. No state oversight needed! HB155 killed in subcommittee.
And they're about to do same to companion bill SB619, up in Senate F&A this morning.
And they're about to do same to companion bill SB619, up in Senate F&A this morning.
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
The Indiana House passed a performance-based ratemaking (PBR) bill that would tie regulated monopoly utility profits to the levels of reliability and affordability they provide to ratepayers. It would also ban utility shutoffs during heatwaves. Small steps, but moving in the right general direction.
Indiana lawmakers want to rein in electricity costs. Here's how they plan to do it
Indiana lawmakers crafted a giant bill to address rising electricity rates across the state. Their plans are ambitious, but bipartisan support is pushing the bill through.
www.indystar.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:03 AM
The Indiana House passed a performance-based ratemaking (PBR) bill that would tie regulated monopoly utility profits to the levels of reliability and affordability they provide to ratepayers. It would also ban utility shutoffs during heatwaves. Small steps, but moving in the right general direction.
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
"Nearly half the economic growth over the past year has come from the building of data centers. But that's a story about bricks, not about people."
February 8, 2026 at 2:55 PM
"Nearly half the economic growth over the past year has come from the building of data centers. But that's a story about bricks, not about people."
Much of the world is breaking heat records this season. @weatherprof.bsky.social in Florida often shares a global perspective.
February 7, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Much of the world is breaking heat records this season. @weatherprof.bsky.social in Florida often shares a global perspective.
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
💌 RSVP now to join @ltgovhashmi.bsky.social this Sunday, February 8th, from 3-4 PM, for a virtual public testimony workshop, where you’ll learn how to deliver effective public testimony on critical energy and good governance bills coming up for a vote soon. www.cleanvirginia.org/act/register...
February 4, 2026 at 11:15 PM
💌 RSVP now to join @ltgovhashmi.bsky.social this Sunday, February 8th, from 3-4 PM, for a virtual public testimony workshop, where you’ll learn how to deliver effective public testimony on critical energy and good governance bills coming up for a vote soon. www.cleanvirginia.org/act/register...
Don't Texas Virginia.
Support reform and regulation of data centers in Virginia - the time is NOW to reach out to legislators - there are 3 lobbyists for every rep in Richmond, but you vote.
whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov
Support reform and regulation of data centers in Virginia - the time is NOW to reach out to legislators - there are 3 lobbyists for every rep in Richmond, but you vote.
whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov
@envirointegrity.bsky.social's Griffin Bird: planned hyperscale data center facilities of north and west Texas, if fully built out, could be among the largest emissions sources in both the country and the world.
Huge Texas data centers will get their own gas power plants
The developer of one project, in Pecos County, calls it the largest power project in the U.S. Data centers are sparking a surge of gas power plant construction in Texas.
www.texastribune.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Don't Texas Virginia.
Support reform and regulation of data centers in Virginia - the time is NOW to reach out to legislators - there are 3 lobbyists for every rep in Richmond, but you vote.
whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov
Support reform and regulation of data centers in Virginia - the time is NOW to reach out to legislators - there are 3 lobbyists for every rep in Richmond, but you vote.
whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov
Should data centers pay up front or build their own power plants?
'consumers in the PJM states are suffering the effects of policies that could not protect them from a dramatic shift in the energy economy. '
'consumers in the PJM states are suffering the effects of policies that could not protect them from a dramatic shift in the energy economy. '
Should data centers pay up front or build their own power plants?
Demand on the electricity grid that serves Pennsylvania and a dozen other states flirted with an all-time record last week as arctic cold blanketed most of the country and millions of heating systems ...
www.newsfromthestates.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Should data centers pay up front or build their own power plants?
'consumers in the PJM states are suffering the effects of policies that could not protect them from a dramatic shift in the energy economy. '
'consumers in the PJM states are suffering the effects of policies that could not protect them from a dramatic shift in the energy economy. '
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
Attorney General Jay Jones has announced that Virginia will sue the EPA over its rollback of the Clean Air Act and last week he helped open the door for the state to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, marking early actions on environmental issues. virginiamercury.com/2026/02/02/v...
Va. AG Jones joins lawsuit against EPA effort to roll back Clean Air Act • Virginia Mercury
EPA lawsuit announcement marks second action Jones has taken on climate-related issues in recent days.
virginiamercury.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Attorney General Jay Jones has announced that Virginia will sue the EPA over its rollback of the Clean Air Act and last week he helped open the door for the state to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, marking early actions on environmental issues. virginiamercury.com/2026/02/02/v...
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
February 1, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
Renewables plus batteries are the future. Virginia General Assembly has good legislation in front of it to protect Virginians from fossil fuels - rejoining RGGI, expanding distributed generation and storage, stopping fuel costs being a pass-through for utilities to rate-payers, to name a few.
Chart: In the EU, wind and solar surpass fossil fuels for first time
The watershed moment comes as the region looks to prioritize clean, domestic energy sources over dirty coal or imported natural gas.
www.canarymedia.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Renewables plus batteries are the future. Virginia General Assembly has good legislation in front of it to protect Virginians from fossil fuels - rejoining RGGI, expanding distributed generation and storage, stopping fuel costs being a pass-through for utilities to rate-payers, to name a few.
VA DEQ has approved almost 2,000 non-emergency diesel generators, about 20% of all approved generators statewide, to serve data centers.
Many are clustered near homes, schools, and neighborhoods.
They are polluting & need regulation to protect public health.
Support HB507 👇
Many are clustered near homes, schools, and neighborhoods.
They are polluting & need regulation to protect public health.
Support HB507 👇
I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter:
To Virginia House members: Stop Dirty Diesel:
Data Centers are Polluting our Air.
Virginia residents write one here in support of @johnmcauliff.bsky.social 's HB507👇, a bill to address backup generators - the industry must do better.
To Virginia House members: Stop Dirty Diesel:
Data Centers are Polluting our Air.
Virginia residents write one here in support of @johnmcauliff.bsky.social 's HB507👇, a bill to address backup generators - the industry must do better.
actionnetwork.org
January 30, 2026 at 3:09 AM
VA DEQ has approved almost 2,000 non-emergency diesel generators, about 20% of all approved generators statewide, to serve data centers.
Many are clustered near homes, schools, and neighborhoods.
They are polluting & need regulation to protect public health.
Support HB507 👇
Many are clustered near homes, schools, and neighborhoods.
They are polluting & need regulation to protect public health.
Support HB507 👇
These states in the NE recognize that their grids, built for summer, have extra capacity in winter - and they are willing to incentivise heat pumps for residents
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Big Tech gobbles up everything, and we residents are paying for new infrastructure they demand.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Big Tech gobbles up everything, and we residents are paying for new infrastructure they demand.
Why Some Cold States Are Making It Cheaper to Run a Heat Pump
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:28 PM
These states in the NE recognize that their grids, built for summer, have extra capacity in winter - and they are willing to incentivise heat pumps for residents
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Big Tech gobbles up everything, and we residents are paying for new infrastructure they demand.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Big Tech gobbles up everything, and we residents are paying for new infrastructure they demand.
New Nuclear, Trump-style: Fewer protections for people, water and places, mean more profits for industry friends.
The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules
The rewrite was done to speed up the construction of a new generation of nuclear reactors. Critics warn it could compromise safety and public trust.
www.npr.org
January 29, 2026 at 3:35 AM
New Nuclear, Trump-style: Fewer protections for people, water and places, mean more profits for industry friends.
Private power islands for Big Tech? No, probably not, because our grid offers them huge benefits.
The growing free-market push to let data centers go off grid
A wave of new legislation aims to let Big Tech build its own private power islands.
www.latitudemedia.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Private power islands for Big Tech? No, probably not, because our grid offers them huge benefits.
I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter:
To Virginia House members: Stop Dirty Diesel:
Data Centers are Polluting our Air.
Virginia residents write one here in support of @johnmcauliff.bsky.social 's HB507👇, a bill to address backup generators - the industry must do better.
To Virginia House members: Stop Dirty Diesel:
Data Centers are Polluting our Air.
Virginia residents write one here in support of @johnmcauliff.bsky.social 's HB507👇, a bill to address backup generators - the industry must do better.
actionnetwork.org
January 28, 2026 at 1:28 AM
I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter:
To Virginia House members: Stop Dirty Diesel:
Data Centers are Polluting our Air.
Virginia residents write one here in support of @johnmcauliff.bsky.social 's HB507👇, a bill to address backup generators - the industry must do better.
To Virginia House members: Stop Dirty Diesel:
Data Centers are Polluting our Air.
Virginia residents write one here in support of @johnmcauliff.bsky.social 's HB507👇, a bill to address backup generators - the industry must do better.
DIY solar enthusiasm is a reflection of pent-up clean energy demand not being met by our utilities - especially for apartment dwellers.
Exciting to see this @paulkrizek.bsky.social bill to allow consumers to install small-scale plug-in "balcony solar" without any utility company interconnection fees or permission report from House Labor & Commerce sub unanimously. This is also a priority of the @spanbergerforva.bsky.social admin.
January 27, 2026 at 10:41 PM
DIY solar enthusiasm is a reflection of pent-up clean energy demand not being met by our utilities - especially for apartment dwellers.
Would be really great to have utility-scale batteries to load up ahead of a well-anticipated surge, ready to deploy. Even better if those batteries were distributed in our communities to aid in resilience, but cost benefit is welcome too.
Power prices surge as winter storm spikes demand in U.S. data center alley
Real-time wholesale electricity prices topped $1,800 per MWh early Sunday in Dominion Energy's Virginia territory, up from $200 per MWh on Saturday morning.
www.cnbc.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Would be really great to have utility-scale batteries to load up ahead of a well-anticipated surge, ready to deploy. Even better if those batteries were distributed in our communities to aid in resilience, but cost benefit is welcome too.
Want to join in-person advocacy for good bills to curb data centers (like this one? 👇)
Sign up for the Reform Coalition's lobby day soon - registrations close on Wednesday.
www.pecva.org/event/data-c...
Sign up for the Reform Coalition's lobby day soon - registrations close on Wednesday.
www.pecva.org/event/data-c...
Interesting change of heart in Senate General Laws on @pwcdanica.bsky.social bill to limit data center to sites that are zoned for industrial use. Reports out this year.
January 26, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Want to join in-person advocacy for good bills to curb data centers (like this one? 👇)
Sign up for the Reform Coalition's lobby day soon - registrations close on Wednesday.
www.pecva.org/event/data-c...
Sign up for the Reform Coalition's lobby day soon - registrations close on Wednesday.
www.pecva.org/event/data-c...
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
Wrote myself a pep talk to get back to work tomorrow. It helped me. Hope it helps you.
I don't know how to do this
But I'm going to keep doing it anyway.
heated.world
January 26, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Wrote myself a pep talk to get back to work tomorrow. It helped me. Hope it helps you.
So much renewable energy you have wonderful new options: you might either give electricity away for hours a day (lucky Australians), or you can store it. And the storage can be heat in big bricks like this new American tech deploying in Germany!
A positive step for industrial decarbonisation:
Rondo Energy and Covestro are building a 100 MWh heat battery in Germany, showing how surplus renewable electricity can be turned into clean industrial heat.
interestingengineering.com/energy/rondo...
Rondo Energy and Covestro are building a 100 MWh heat battery in Germany, showing how surplus renewable electricity can be turned into clean industrial heat.
interestingengineering.com/energy/rondo...
New 100 MWh industrial battery uses bricks to store heat, supplies steam
Rondo Energy and Covestro have begun building a 100 MWh industrial heat battery to produce clean steam using surplus renewable electricity.
interestingengineering.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:44 PM
So much renewable energy you have wonderful new options: you might either give electricity away for hours a day (lucky Australians), or you can store it. And the storage can be heat in big bricks like this new American tech deploying in Germany!
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
I was proud to speak at the Climate and Affordability Rally alongside advocates ready to deliver real solutions that lower costs, expand access to affordable clean energy, and hold corporations accountable. Together, we are forging a path toward a cleaner, fairer, and more resilient Commonwealth.
January 21, 2026 at 10:15 PM
I was proud to speak at the Climate and Affordability Rally alongside advocates ready to deliver real solutions that lower costs, expand access to affordable clean energy, and hold corporations accountable. Together, we are forging a path toward a cleaner, fairer, and more resilient Commonwealth.
Reposted by Virginia Grassroots Coalition - Climate
Virginians from across the state rallied at the state Capitol today to demand affordable, clean energy. We’re calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that puts communities first, protects our environment and lowers bills. More ways to take action coming soon!
📸 by Jen Lawhorne
📸 by Jen Lawhorne
January 22, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Virginians from across the state rallied at the state Capitol today to demand affordable, clean energy. We’re calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that puts communities first, protects our environment and lowers bills. More ways to take action coming soon!
📸 by Jen Lawhorne
📸 by Jen Lawhorne
We love the programs RGGI funds. And the sooner the money is getting out to support flood preparedness and energy efficiency home upgrades, the better.
House Natural Resources subcommittee reports out Del Herring bill to require Virginia rejoin RGGI. RGGI provides hundreds of millions of dollars to Virginia for energy efficiency programs and critical flood preparedness.
January 21, 2026 at 2:06 PM
We love the programs RGGI funds. And the sooner the money is getting out to support flood preparedness and energy efficiency home upgrades, the better.