Virginia Introduces New ‘Clean Economy Act’
Dailycsr.com – 29 December 2019 – Last week, lawmakers of Virginia introduced the new “clean energy legislation” which has been welcomed by Ceres. The said step has been taken to “transform the electricity grid” whereby ensuring the lead of Virginia in the transitional journey towards “a net-zero emissions future”.
Senator Jennifer McClellan and “Dels. Rip Sullivan and Jennifer Carroll Foy” addressed a press conference to reveal the plans of introducing “the Virginia Clean Economy Act”. This is a plan to crate a “100% carbon-free energy” electric grid which altogether eliminate “carbon pollution from Virginia’s utilities by 2050”. Many business organisations, advocates of clean energy and “environmental justice groups” came out in support of the legislation. In the words of the State Policy Director at Ceres, Alli Gold Roberts:
“The Virginia Clean Economy Act is a smart, business-friendly way to tackle carbon pollution at the pace and scale that the latest climate science says is necessary to address the climate crisis. Companies are already heeding this call to act, not just because it is the right thing to do but because it is smart business. In Virginia, more than 56 companies have goals to power their operations with 100% renewable energy because they understand that economic growth and emissions reduction go hand-in-hand. Greening Virginia’s electricity mix will help attract major companies working to meet ambitious sustainability goals and unlock private sector investments in Virginia’s clean energy economy.”
Here is a list of key steps to be taken for achieving the “bold new emissions reduction goals”, as mentioned by Ceres’ press release:
Senator Jennifer McClellan and “Dels. Rip Sullivan and Jennifer Carroll Foy” addressed a press conference to reveal the plans of introducing “the Virginia Clean Economy Act”. This is a plan to crate a “100% carbon-free energy” electric grid which altogether eliminate “carbon pollution from Virginia’s utilities by 2050”. Many business organisations, advocates of clean energy and “environmental justice groups” came out in support of the legislation. In the words of the State Policy Director at Ceres, Alli Gold Roberts:
“The Virginia Clean Economy Act is a smart, business-friendly way to tackle carbon pollution at the pace and scale that the latest climate science says is necessary to address the climate crisis. Companies are already heeding this call to act, not just because it is the right thing to do but because it is smart business. In Virginia, more than 56 companies have goals to power their operations with 100% renewable energy because they understand that economic growth and emissions reduction go hand-in-hand. Greening Virginia’s electricity mix will help attract major companies working to meet ambitious sustainability goals and unlock private sector investments in Virginia’s clean energy economy.”
Here is a list of key steps to be taken for achieving the “bold new emissions reduction goals”, as mentioned by Ceres’ press release:
- Prioritize reducing overall demand for energy by scaling up investments in energy efficiency.
- Require utilities to scale up renewable energy deployment and increase opportunities for Virginians to access clean energy resources on their own.
- Commit Virginia to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state cap-and-trade program in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to curb emissions from power plants. Companies throughout Virginia have expressed support for the Commonwealth’s participation in RGGI.
Furthermore, Gold Roberts added:
“Major companies know that smart policies like the Clean Economy Act are needed to ensure that companies are able to meet their sustainability goals. As we head into the upcoming legislative session, companies remain committed to engaging lawmakers to see this ambitious new legislation proposal become reality”.
References:
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