Virginia is facing a state-wide energy crisis due to compliance costs with the 2020 Clean Economy law and the gubernatorial candidates have very different solutions to the problem.
When legislators passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act, economists warned that the shift away from hydrocarbon fuels could send prices soaring. Failure to meet renewable energy goals incurred a 4.5 cent per kWh cost passed on to consumers plus shifted electricity production to higher cost systems such as wind.
The ambitious plan to create a carbon-free electric grid by 2050 has run headlong into increasing energy demands driven by economic expansion and increasing questions about federal energy.
According to research published by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, Virginia’s consumers face a looming cost of $609 million from non-compliance costs alone. (RELATED: Spanberger Pockets $50K From Chinese Communist Party Member)
“Virginia’s election isn’t just about governors or legislators—it’s about whether the Commonwealth will embrace an energy policy that trusts markets, protects consumers, and delivers reliable power,” the report said. “Voters must choose leadership that champions practical diversification—not ideological extremes.”
“It’s literally $609 million going out from Virginia to companies in other states because of penalties imposed by our legislators, on our utility companies,” said Derrick Max, president and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Institute. “I mean, we’ve literally had to tell users to get off the grid, which should never happen. We’ve shut down capacity”
Data Centers are expected to triple the demand for power in the Commonwealth in the next 15 years.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who has been endorsed by climate activist organizations such as Clean Virginia, has fully embraced activist support for alternative energy solutions.
“My agenda is focused on expanding generation, ensuring that we are strengthening our grid, planning for a future where Virginia’s energy generation is not just about utilizing renewable energy and technologies of the future, but also about lowering costs and bringing more jobs to Virginia,” Spanberger said.
The former Congresswoman expressed doubts about the value of expanding current hydrocarbon based energy solutions.
Spanberger has received sizable donations from the electric vehicle industry.
Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears has already used Spanbergers words against her. In a new ad, the Earle-Sears campaign shows video of Spanberger advocating an energy grid transition, support for electric vehicle mandates, and promoting a Biden-era plan to spend $1.7 trillion pursuing climate initiatives.
“I’m for an all-of-the-above energy plan,” Earle-Sears said, and warned that so-called “renewable energy” is not as clean as people think.
Earle-Sears proposes a market-based solution that focuses on consumers, while Spanberger’s approach prioritizes green energy goals. (RELATED: Virginia Gas Tax Up For Sixth Year In A Row)
“[Spanberger’s] plan leans heavily on demand-side management: programmable thermostats, weatherization programs, utility subsidies, and incentives to reduce consumption during peak hours,” said House Republican leaders. “That might sound reasonable in theory, but here’s the problem: managing scarcity isn’t a solution — it’s a symptom of failure.”
Virginia currently imports 40% of its electricity from other states.