Climate and Clean Energy Working Group

Who We Are.

The Climate & Clean Energy Working Group (CCEWG) of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition is an action oriented, nimble group of volunteers dedicated to protecting Virginia's landmark climate and clean energy legislation including the Virginia Clean Economy Act, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and Clean Car Standards that the current administration seeks to repeal. We also focus on several bills each General Assembly (GA) session that will continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and propel Virginia towards an affordable, clean energy economy.

What We Do.

Legislative Priorities. We work closely with partners including the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Clean Virginia and Appalachian Voices to formulate our legislative priorities.
Meetings with Legislators. Prior to the GA session, we meet and discuss our positions with Virginia legislators on committees that have jurisdiction over climate and clean energy legislation.
Email Legislators on Bills During the General Assembly. During the session, we formulate easy, "one-click Calls to Action" for our CCEWG membership. Through these Calls to Action, our members send emails to legislators prior to a committee vote on our priority bills.
Lobby Days in Richmond. We "road trip" to Richmond where we partner with other climate advocacy groups to collectively lobby legislators.
Testify at GA Committee Hearings. We testify, in person or by video conferencing, before Committees on our key bills. Testimony is short (1-2 minutes) and easy to do.
Monthly Meetings with Speakers. We have monthly meetings throughout the legislative session (December–March) where our members are updated on legislative priorities, strategies, and insights from environmental lobbyists and legislators.
What YOU Can Do. Join the CCEWG and be an advocate for our bills. As a volunteer, you can email legislators to support bills during session, meet with legislators, participate in a lobby day, or amplify our message on social media. You choose how you’d like to be involved.

Please contact Sharon Shutler, shutlersharon@gmail.com or Amy Bergner, abbergner@gmail.com to find out more.

Leadership Team

Amy Bergner, Meredith Haines, Monique Hanis and Sharon Shutler.
Follow us on twitter @climate_working


2023 Priority Legislation

2023 Priority Bills

Climate & Clean Energy

Cat Number Title Patron House Senate GA Governor updated
climate HB 1604 Support Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; regulation of rates. more...
This bipartisan Act, will lower energy costs and put money back in Virginians' pockets by holding regulated utilities accountable for overcharging customers.
Lee Ware (R-HD65) Passed
Passed
Signed
8/31/23
climate HB 1852 Support HB 1852 Public school bldgs. & facilities; construction & renovation, renewable energy generation facility. more...
Directs the Commission on School Construction and Modernization, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to develop and make recommendations on strategies to assist interested school divisions with incorporating renewable energy generation facilities in the construction or renovation of school buildings
Suhas Subramanyam (D-HD87) Tabled
1/25/23
climate HB 1853 Support Public utilities; shared solar, minimum bill. more...
Expands access and use of solar energy.
Suhas Subramanyam (D-HD87) Tabled
1/24/23
climate HB 2267 Support Electric utilities; cost recovery; alternative to rate adjustment clause. more...
Rate Adjustment Clause Reform. Protect Virginians from excessive surcharges on their electric bills by restoring the authority of regulators to determine the appropriate way for utilities to recover costs from customers.
Tony Wilt (R-HD26) Passed
PBI
2/20/23
climate HJ 522 Support Study; Department of Energy more...
Directs the Department of Energy to study the impacts of data center development on Virginia's environment, economy, energy resources, and ability to meet carbon-reduction goals.
Danica A. Roem (D-HD-13) Tabled
1/30/23
climate HJ 545 Support Clean energy; Dept. of Energy to study barriers for local governments to purchase. more...
Requests the Department of Energy to study the barriers for local governments to directly purchase clean energy or to facilitate the purchase of clean energy by their constituents. ...
Briana D. Sewell (D-HD51) Tabled
1/30/23
climate SB 804 Support Campaign finance; prohibited contributions to candidates. more...
Restricts regulated utilities from making campaign contributions, and candidates and political committees from accepting such contributions.
Chap Petersen (D-SD34)
PBI
1/19/23
climate SB 848 Support Public school bldgs. & facilities; construction & renovation, renewable energy generation facility. more...
Expand access and use of solar energy and, under SB848, perform a study to assist interested school divisions with incorporating renewable energy generation facilities in the construction or renovation of K-12 school buildings.
Barbara Favola (D-SD31) Tabled
Passed
2/13/23
climate SB 1083 Support Shared solar programs; SCC to establish by regulation. more...
Expand access and use of solar energy.
Scott Surovell (D-SD36) Tabled
Passed
2/16/23
climate SB 1166 Support Energy planning and electric utility oversight; Commonwealth Energy Research Consortium established. more...
Requires the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (the Commission) to establish the Commonwealth Energy Research Consortium (the Consortium), consisting of public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, to conduct energy research and policy analysis for the Commonwealth. ...
Scott A. Surovell (D-SD36) Passed
Passed
Signed
02/25/23 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (31-Y 9-N) 02/25/23 House: Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 0-N) 02/25/23 House: VOTE: Adoption (93-Y 0-N)
8/31/23
climate SB 1266 Support Public utilities; shared solar; minimum bill. more...
Expand access and use of solar energy.
Scott Surovell (D-SD36) Tabled
Passed
2/16/23
climate SB 1321 Support Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; regulation of rates. more...
Affordable Energy Act. This bipartisan bill restores the State Corporation Commission's ability to lower electric rates and prevent monopoly utilities from overcharging customers. Since 2009, Dominion Energy has overcharged Virginians by at least $1.9 billion.
Creigh Deeds (D-SD25) Passed
Passed
Signed
02/21/23 House: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N) 02/24/23 Senate: Enrolled 02/24/23 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1321ER)
8/31/23
climate SB 1417 Support Electric utilities; cost recovery; alternative to rate adjustment clause. more...
Rate Adjustment Clause Reform. Protect Virginians from excessive surcharges on their electric bills by restoring the authority of regulators to determine the appropriate way for utilities to recover costs from customers.
David R. Suetterlein (R-SD19)
PBI
1/24/23
climate SJ 240 Support Study; Department of Energy; impacts of data center development; report. more...
Directs the Department of Energy to study the impacts of data center development on Virginia's environment, economy, energy resources, and ability to meet carbon-reduction goals.
Chapman Petersen (D-SD34) Tabled
Passed
2/13/23
climate HB 1372 Oppose State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations; low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. more...
Repeals the State Air Pollution Control Board's authority to implement low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards for vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later.
Buddy Fowler(R-HD55) Stricken
1/19/23
climate HB 1378 Oppose State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
Tony O. Wilt (R-HD26) Passed
PBI
2/14/23
climate HB 1430 Oppose Clean Economy Act; non-bypassable charges, energy-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries. more...
Defines EITE industries as companies that are constrained in their ability to pass through carbon costs due to international competition, companies that engage in importation of products that cause emission leakage, and critical infrastructure facilities identified by certain federal agencies. ...
Lee Ware (R-HD65) Passed
Stricken
2/20/23
climate HB 1480 Oppose Va. Clean Economy Act; non-bypassable charges, energy-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries. more...
Directs the State Corporation Commission to establish an EITE customer exemption pilot program for non-bypassable charges in certain provisions of the Virginia Clean Economy Act related to generation of electricity from renewable and zero carbon sources and development of offshore wind capacity. ...
Lee Ware (R-HD65) Stricken
1/19/23
climate HB 1770 Oppose Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; retail competitiveness, review proceedings, etc. more...
Restricts the ability of the State Corporation Commission to keep energy costs affordable.
Terry Kilgore (R-HD1) Passed
Passed
Signed
02/25/23 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 02/25/23 House: Conference report agreed to by House (94-Y 1-N) 02/25/23 House: VOTE: Adoption (94-Y 1-N)
8/31/23
climate HB 1783 Oppose Natural gas utilities; retail supply choice. more...
Limits local authorities' ability to set building codes and permitting rules.
Israel O'Quinn (R-HD5) Passed
PBI
2/13/23
climate SB 778 Oppose State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations, low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. more...
Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
Richard H. Stuart (R-SD28)
Incorp
1/18/23
climate SB 779 Oppose State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
Stephen Newman (R-SD23)
PBI
1/18/23
climate SB 781 Oppose State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
Bill DeSteph (R-SD8)
Incorp
1/18/23
climate SB 782 Oppose State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
Bryce E. Reeves (R-SD17)
Incorp
1/18/23
climate SB 785 Oppose State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more...
Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. ...
Ryan McDougle (R-SD4)
Incorp
1/18/23
climate SB 1001 Oppose Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act; repeal. more...
Repeals the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act and directs the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to take all steps necessary to suspend the Commonwealth's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative market-based trading program.
Richard Stuart (R-SD28)
PBI
1/26/23
climate SB 1125 Oppose Renewable energy portfolio standard requirements; State Corporation Commission authority, report. more...
Requires electric utilities to petition the State Corporation Commission for relief from the requirements of certain provisions of the Code that mandate the retirement of electric generating units that are coal-fired or emit carbon as a by-product of combusting fuel to generate electricity if such requirements would threaten the reliability or security of electric service to customers. ...
Travis Hackworth (R-SD38)
Failed
1/30/23
climate SB 1265 Oppose Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act; retail competitiveness, review proceedings, etc. more...
Allows regulated investor-owned utilities to restrict the ability of the State Corporation Commission to keep energy costs affordable.
Richard L. Saslaw (D-SD35) Passed
Passed
Signed
02/25/23 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 02/25/23 House: Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 1-N) 02/25/23 House: VOTE: Adoption (91-Y 1-N)
8/31/23
climate SB 1485 Oppose Natural gas utilities; retail supply choice. more...
Allows every person access to distribution service or retail natural gas from a natural gas company authorized to provide natural gas service to the area where the service will be received. ...
Joseph Morrissey(D-SD16)
Stricken
1/30/23
No. of bills: 29

JOIN OUR TEAM

Events

CTAs

Google doc: Events
Google doc: Actions

Resources

2023 VA GA Committee members (Google doc)

2023 GA Committee members (Google SS) See tabs on bottom for other chamber and committees.


2022 VA GA Committee members

Senate and Committee contact info

HD and SD contact info