The Virginia Clean Economy Act was passed into law by the Governor of Virginia. Its supporters celebrated this bold step towards a future free from carbon. The ink had barely dried before the realities and assumptions of the 21st Century began to overwhelm its assumptions.
Virginia’s demand for energy has increased dramatically in just a few short years. Artificial intelligence, quantum computers, data centers, and the daily needs of our expanding population consume electricity at an unprecedented rate. It was once a gradual shift, but now it is a race to keep up with our national and international competitors.
This challenge revolves around the necessity of baseload electricity — the constant, reliable supply that keeps our homes, hospitals, businesses, and schools running 24/7. As written, the VCEA does not meet this need.
Virginia is not the only state facing this challenge. Utility companies and policymakers across the country are scrambling for ways to reduce emissions while meeting a skyrocketing need. Virginia faces a decision: either we add to the problem of national emissions or we position ourselves as a solution.
VCEA’s original goals were noble – to reduce carbon emissions and protect our environment. If we want a working economy, we can’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “good”. A responsible energy policy must balance environmental progress and the need for reliable, constant power. This means that we should embrace more modern technologies such as natural gas and nuclear power, not less.
The General Assembly is now demonstrating a willingness from both parties to revisit the VCEA, and deal with its unintended effects. This is a positive step. Stop treating this as a ideological battle and treat it as a technical and economic challenge.
The solution must include nuclear energy. Currently, the nuclear energy sector makes up approximately 32% of Virginia’s total energy mix. This is simply not enough for our present and future energy needs. This share should be increased dramatically, and without compromising on safety. We should build the next generation nuclear plants now, and not in years.
Nuclear alone will not close the time gap. As a bridge, we also need to use technologies that are cleaner than natural gas. Modern gas plants with carbon capture systems are able to reduce greenhouse gas emission while providing round-the clock power.
Virginia has become the largest electricity importer in the country. We’re buying electricity from grids that are often coal-dependent, instead of producing it ourselves. Is it really cleaner? It would make sense to produce cleaner, more reliable power here in the United States, where we can control the emissions, and create jobs.
This is made even more exciting by the emergence of new solutions like hydrogen blending and renewable natural gas. Both solutions can make use of existing infrastructure while reducing emissions further. These technologies aren’t a far-off dream — they can be deployed now if we want to.
Some people argue that we should only focus on wind and solar. We should continue to build these sources where it makes sense. They cannot be the foundation of our grid. The wind and sun don’t always blow. We must combine renewables and sources of power that are predictable, constant, and large-scale until affordable, large-scale energy storage is a reality.
It’s not about rejecting clean power — it’s more about expanding our definition. Nuclear energy produces zero carbon emissions. Modern gas plants that capture carbon emissions reduce their emissions to a fraction compared to traditional plants. Blending renewable natural gas with hydrogen raises the bar. Together with renewables they create a realistic, balanced energy portfolio that meets our environmental goals and economic goals.
Virginia’s future energy is more than a political issue — it’s a real challenge that has real consequences. We will face higher prices, increased blackouts, and lost opportunities if we do not act. We can ensure reliable power, cleaner environment and a stronger economic future if we act now.
Virginia cannot afford to bet its future energy on only intermittent sources. A reliable, clean, and technologically advanced power base is essential to the responsible path of progress. This means that we must embrace both clean gas and nuclear technologies along with renewables. Let’s create an energy policy that is based on realism – one that keeps our lights on, cleans the air and strengthens our economy.
