Virginia Energy Plan; climate change pressing challenge. (HB714)

Introduced By

Del. David Reid (D-Loudoun) with support from co-patrons Del. Hala Ayala (D-Woodbridge), Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Woodbridge), Del. Wendy Gooditis (D-Clarke), Del. Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax Station), and Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington)

Progress

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

Description

Virginia Energy Plan; Commonwealth Energy Policy. Adopts findings that climate change is an urgent and pressing challenge for Virginia, that swift decarbonization and a transition to clean energy are required to meet the urgency of the challenge, and that the Commonwealth will benefit from being a leader in deploying a low-carbon energy economy. The measure states that the Commonwealth recognizes that the following objectives will advance the health, welfare, and safety of Virginians: (i) establishing sufficient supply and delivery infrastructure to enable widespread deployment of distributed energy resources; (ii) maximizing energy efficiency programs in order to produce electricity cost savings and to create jobs and revenue from the energy efficiency service sector; (iii) establishing greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals across Virginia's economy that reach net-zero emissions by 2045; (iv) requiring that pathways to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions be determined; (v) enabling widespread integration of distributed energy resources into the grid; (vi) mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and the energy transition on disadvantaged communities and prioritizing investment in these communities; (vii) developing the carbon-free energy resources required to fully decarbonize the electric power supply of the Commonwealth including deployment of 30 percent renewables by 2030 and realizing 100 percent carbon-free electric power by 2040; and (viii) ensuring that decision-making is transparent and includes opportunities for full participation by the public. The measure also states that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to (a) ensure the adequate supply of natural gas necessary to ensure the reliability of the electricity supply and the needs of businesses during the transition to renewable energy; (b) establish greenhouse gas emissions reduction standards across all sectors of Virginia's economy that target net-zero emissions carbon by 2045; (c) enact mandatory clean energy standards and overall strategies for reaching net-zero carbon in the electric power sector by 2040; (d) equitably incorporate requirements for technical, policy, and economic analyses and assessments that recognize the unique attributes of different energy resources and delivery systems to identify pathways to net-zero carbon that maximize Virginia's energy reliability and resilience, economic development, and jobs; and (e) minimize the negative impacts of climate change and the energy transition on economically disadvantaged or minority communities and prioritize investment in these areas. The measure also requires that the Virginia Energy Plan identify actions consistent with the goals of achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2045 and include an inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions for the four years preceding the issuance of the Plan. This bill is identical to SB 94. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/06/2020Committee
01/06/2020Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20104864D
01/06/2020Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
01/15/2020Referred from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
01/15/2020Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
01/16/2020Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #3
02/03/2020Impact statement from DPB (HB714)
02/04/2020House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
02/04/2020Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 4-N)
02/06/2020Committee substitute printed 20107664D-H1
02/06/2020Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (13-Y 9-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2020Read first time
02/10/2020Read second time
02/10/2020Committee substitute agreed to 20107664D-H1
02/10/2020Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB714H1
02/11/2020Read third time and passed House (55-Y 45-N)
02/11/2020VOTE: Passage (55-Y 45-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2020Constitutional reading dispensed
02/12/2020Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
02/17/2020Impact statement from DPB (HB714H1)
02/18/2020Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (12-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/18/2020Rereferred to Commerce and Labor
02/24/2020Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (11-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
02/24/2020Committee substitute printed 20109054D-S1
02/24/2020Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
02/28/2020Impact statement from DPB (HB714S1)
03/02/2020Reported from Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
03/04/2020Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Read third time
03/05/2020Reading of substitute waived
03/05/2020Committee substitute agreed to 20109054D-S1
03/05/2020Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB714S1
03/05/2020Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Senate substitute rejected by House 20109054D-S1 (0-Y 95-N 1-A)
03/05/2020VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 95-N 1-A) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Senate insisted on substitute (23-Y 17-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Senate requested conference committee
03/05/2020House acceded to request
03/05/2020Conferees appointed by House
03/05/2020Delegates: Reid, Ayala, Campbell, R.R.
03/06/2020Conferees appointed by Senate
03/06/2020Senators: Favola, Morrissey, Chafin, Bell
03/07/2020C Amended by conference committee
03/07/2020Conference report agreed to by House (53-Y 46-N)
03/07/2020VOTE: Adoption (53-Y 46-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2020Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N) (see vote tally)
03/18/2020Enrolled
03/18/2020Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB714ER)
03/18/2020Signed by President
03/19/2020Signed by Speaker
03/20/2020Impact statement from DPB (HB714ER)
03/20/2020Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020
03/20/2020G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
04/11/2020G Approved by Governor-Chapter 1192 (effective 7/1/20)
04/11/2020G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1192)