The Virginia House and Senate passed sweeping energy legislation Tuesday that would overhaul how Virginia’s utilities generate electricity and, supporters say, move the state from the back of the pack to the forefront of renewable energy policy in the United States.
Read More (New York Times)
New energy-efficient lighting will make nighttime driving safer on Virginia’s highways, Governor Ralph Northam said in a December announcement. He announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will contract with Trane to replace more than 9,600 highway lights with light-emitting diode (LED) products, improving roadway visibility and energy efficiency.
Read More (Office of Governor Ralph Northam)
Starting this spring, Virginia will replace 9,600 lights on limited-access highways, interchanges, park-and-ride lots, rest areas and weigh stations with efficient light-emitting diode products. The LED changeover will reduce energy consumption by at least 50% and cut 8,800 tons of heat-trapping gas emissions, according to Virginia Department of Transportation estimates.
Read more (Energy News Network)
The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council presented the fourth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards recognizing innovative programs and projects throughout Virginia. Charlottesville nonprofit organization The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was one of the winners.
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, 2RW Consultants, Inc. and Matthews Development Company, LLC implemented the Monticello Mountaintop project Geothermal-Electric Plant to help restore Monticello.
Read More (CBS19 News)
Today, the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Alliance industry coalition spotlighted the new programs authorized in New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
Read More (Environment and Energy Leader)
Christiansburg-based Community Housing Partners has been recognized for two first-place energy efficiency awards. The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council has recognized Community Housing Partners for its work on the Appalachian Power Low-Income Weatherization Program and the low-income Apartments at Kingsridge in Richmond.
Read More (New River Valley News)
Richmond property owners rehabbing or developing commercial properties soon will have a new financial incentive to include clean energy and water efficiency upgrades in their projects.
City Council last week adopted Richmond’s first C-PACE program, formally called a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing Program. It allows property owners to pursue 30-year loans to help finance clean energy improvements for both existing buildings and new construction.
An endeavor by city employees in Roanoke to button up its civic center, libraries, fire stations and recreation centers has reduced its energy footprint 23% since 2012 and saved taxpayers $400,000 annually on utility bills.
It’s also earned the Virginia city status as a 2019 Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achiever from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Soon, affordable housing owners in the District of Columbia will have new tools to promote resilience and resource conservation in their buildings. Through funding from the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) Solar for All program, Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) announced today that it has assembled a new team of advisors with New Ecology, Inc., the National Housing Trust and Clean Energy Group to develop a vulnerability and resilience opportunity assessment tool for affordable housing owners to promote sustainability and resilience in their properties. The project will advance the goals of Climate Ready DC, the DC’s plan to prepare for the impacts of climate change including heatwaves, flooding, and severe storms.
Virginia ranked 29th in the recent ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. While the state scored lower than in previous years, the annual report did not factor in Governor Northam’s Executive Order as it had not yet been signed.
“It’s a really good time to be involved in clean energy in Virginia,” said VAEEC Executive Director Chelsea Harnish. “We’re on the cusp of something exciting.”
Virginia and other states with modest starting points can begin with basics such as efficient lighting before addressing more advanced measures such as appliance standards, building code upgrades, attic insulation, building retrofits, smart meters and demand-response programs.
