Fossil fuel projects moratorium; clean energy mandates. (HB1635)

Introduced By

Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) with support from co-patron Del. Elizabeth Guzman (D-Dale City)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Fossil fuel projects moratorium; clean energy mandates. Establishes a moratorium, effective January 1, 2020, on approval by any state agency or political subdivision of any approval required for (i) electric generating facilities that generate fossil fuel energy through the combustion of a fossil fuel resource; (ii) import or export terminals for fossil fuel resources; (iii) certain maintenance activities relating to an import or export terminal for a fossil fuel resource; (iv) gathering lines or pipelines for the transport of any fossil fuel resource that requires the use of eminent domain on private property; (v) certain maintenance activities relating to such gathering lines or pipelines; (vi) refineries of a fossil fuel resource; and (vii) exploration for any type of fossil fuel, unless preempted by applicable federal law. The measure also requires that at least 80 percent of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier in calendar years 2028 through 2035 be generated from clean energy resources. In calendar year 2036 and every calendar year thereafter, all of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier is required to be generated from clean energy resources. The clean energy mandates apply to a public utility or other person that sells not less than 1,000 megawatt hours of electric energy to retail customers or generates not less than 1,000 megawatt hours of electric energy for use by the person. The Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is authorized to bring actions for injunctions to enforce these requirements. The measure requires the Department to adopt a Climate Action Plan that addresses all aspects of climate change, including mitigation, adaptation, resiliency, and assistance in the transition from current energy sources to clean renewable energy. The measure provides that residents of the Commonwealth and organizations shall have the legal standing to sue to ensure that its provisions and any Climate Action Plan are enforced. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
11/14/2018Committee
11/14/2018Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/19 19100460D
11/14/2018Referred to Committee on Rules
01/18/2019Referred from Rules
01/18/2019Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/22/2019Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (9-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
01/24/2019Read first time
01/25/2019Passed by for the day
01/28/2019Passed by for the day
01/28/2019Floor substitute printed 19105948D-H1 (Rasoul)
01/28/2019Impact statement from DPB (HB1635)
01/29/2019Passed by for the day
01/30/2019Passed by for the day
01/31/2019Read second time
01/31/2019Committee amendment agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
01/31/2019VOTE: ADOPTION (51-Y 48-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2019Substitute by Delegate Rasoul offered and no action taken 19105948D-H1
01/31/2019Motion to pass by the amendment by Delegate Toscano agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
01/31/2019Motion to pass by the amendments by Delegate Toscano agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
01/31/2019Motion to pass by the amendments by Delegate Rasoul agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
01/31/2019VOTE: PASS BY (51-Y 48-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2019House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
01/31/2019Pending question ordered
01/31/2019Engrossment refused by House (12-Y 86-N)
01/31/2019VOTE: ENGROSSMENT REFUSED (12-Y 86-N) (see vote tally)

Comments

Patricia Rowell writes:

Every state in the Union must work to pass bills that rapidly move to the removal of fossil fuels; the elimination of plastics from our states; the rapid move toward renewable energy sources; and the cessation of the coal industry, among other issues. Our Earth does not have time for a slow approach to solving Earth damaging sources. Let Virginia be the example of how to move rapidly to save our planet. We do not have time to kill bills in the legislative process because members have been bought off by the particular industry.

Move rapidly and pass the following bills: SB1091; SB837; SB313; HB1809; and HB1718. Get politics out of the discussion and move to enact environmental and life-saving actions now.

Patricia Rowell writes:

Every state in the Union must work to pass bills that rapidly move to the removal of fossil fuels; the elimination of plastics from our states; the rapid move toward renewable energy sources; and the cessation of the coal industry, among other issues. Our Earth does not have time for a slow approach to solving Earth damaging sources. Let Virginia be the example of how to move rapidly to save our planet. We do not have time to kill bills in the legislative process because members have been bought off by the particular industry. Move rapidly and pass the following bills: SB1091; SB837; SB313; HB1809; and HB1718. Get politics out of the discussion and move to enact environmental and life-saving actions now.

David Pratt writes:

We can't afford to wait on addressing climate change. It's imperative that we set aggressive goals for changing over the energy economy to renewables. I love the idea of the Climate Change Task Force and the emphasis on ensuring that poor communities benefit from these investments.

I'm opposed to the MVP and ACP and this bill would essentially remove any doubt that they should be built. I only hope the governor supports this bill.

Let's see if the Republicans kill it in committee or if they can put politics aside for the good of the planet.

Bill Fleming writes:

Although humans have made substantial contributions to the increase in atmospheric CO2, this bill is seriously flawed by leaving out nuclear energy from the definition of "Clean Energy." Nuclear energy does not generate CO2 and is a viable source of electric energy for the foreseeable future. It is clear that the elimination of nuclear energy was intentionally excluded because paragraph G.1. states that the Department shall develop training programs to transition from jobs in the nuclear power industry. Although there have been serious engineering failures with older nuclear power plants, the use of new nuclear physics and engineering technology can make future nuclear power generation much safer.