Southeast

Virginia

Virginia is home to a large interstate highway system, a dozen railroads, several busy commercial airports, and one of the nation’s largest seaports, making the transportation sector the state’s top energy consumer. Additionally, more than a third of the country’s coal exports are shipped through Virginia’s ports. The state has a significant coal-mining industry, but coal-fired electricity generation has been largely replaced by natural gas, and to a smaller extent, renewables.
GHG Reduction Targets
All targets relative to 2005 levels
2045
Net-zero
Governor
Glenn Youngkin (Republican)
House Party
Democratic Majority
Senate Party
Democratic Majority
Legislative session
1/10/24 - 3/9/24

19

Policies Enacted or In Progress
across 6 policy areas

43

Policy Opportunities
across 7 policy areas

Southeast

14 states
This map shows the occurrence of climate policies passed at the state-level. Higher numbers represent more climate policies enacted.

Progress by Policy Area

  • Enacted
  • In-progress
  • Partially Enacted
  • Not Enacted
Glossary of Terms
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Virginia

Created in partnership with
Filters
Status Policy Policy Area Policy Category YR Enacted
Enacted
Empty column

Net-zero by 2045

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2020
Enacted
Empty column

The 2016-2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory was published in November 2022.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2022
Enacted
Empty column

Virginia Council on Environmental Justice

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2019
Enacted
Empty column

DEQ – Office of Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2021
Enacted
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"Environmental justice communities" are geographic areas in which the percentage of the population of color is higher than the statewide share, or are census block groups in which at least 30% of the population has an annual household income less than 80% of the area's median income and 200% of the federal poverty level.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2020
Enacted
Empty column

VA EJScreen+

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2022
Enacted
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Utilities must incorporate the social cost of carbon in applications for new generating facilities.

Establishing Policies
Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation 2020
Enacted
Empty column

100% renewable energy for Phase II Utilities by 2045 | 100% for Phase I Utilities by 2050

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets 2020
Enacted
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Virginia has an active community choice aggregation program.

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation 1999
Enacted
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3,100 megawatts (MW) of energy storage capacity by 2035 from the state's two investor-owned utilities (2,700 MW for Dominion and 400 MW for Appalachian Power Company). 10% of projects must be deployed behind the meter, and 35% of capacity must be owned by non-utility entities.

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage 2020
Enacted
Empty column

Virginia received a C grade from Freeing the Grid.

Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Requires 100% renewable energy by 2045 or 2050, depending on the type of electric utility, and does not include energy derived from coal in its definition of renewable electricity.

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Coal Retirement 2020
Enacted
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The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is 2021 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2019.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2023
Enacted
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The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2021 IECC with amendments.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2023
Enacted
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Phase 1 electric utilities are required to achieve 2% energy savings by 2025 and Phase 2 utilities are required to achieve 5% savings by 2025, relative to 2019 sales. The State Corporation Commission will establish efficiency savings targets for 2026–2028.

Gas utilities are not subject to an EERS.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2024
Enacted
Empty column

Virginia has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs.

Establishing Policies
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2009
Enacted
Empty column

Virginia Clean Vehicles

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2024
Enacted
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Model Year (MY) 2026: 35% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2035: 100% of new sales are ZEVs, with up to 20% being hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2024
Enacted
Empty column

The state prohibits certain HFCs in specific stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning end-uses.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
F-gas Regulations 2020

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

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