Gov. Northam has announced the appointment of Jehmal Hudson to the State Corporation Commission (SCC). Hudson, from Arlington, Va., would be one of three SCC commissioners elected by the General Assembly.  Over the next few years, the SCC will play a key role in ensuring implementation of the Clean Economy [...]

Led by Clean Virginia, 11 environmental and marginalized community advocacy organizations today joined statewide calls for the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to extend its moratorium on utility disconnections during the COVID-19 pandemic. A joint comment submitted by the organizations questions the SCC’s assumption that a moratorium extension will harm ratepayers given [...]

Over the past week, more than 25 Virginia Conservation Network partners have released statements in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and countless others whose names we may or may not know. The Virginia Conservation Network joins these organizations in standing in [...]

The University of Richmond School of Law Summer Public Service Fellowship Program provides summer funding to students working in qualifying government, nonprofit, and private sector employment settings. The Fellowship Program makes it financially possible for students to gain valuable, but unpaid, law-related summer employment experience, ensures students are prepared to [...]

Happy Earth Day! Fifty years ago today, advocates mobilized more than 20 million people to demand action on the environmental challenges of the time. Today, Earth Day is observed in around 190 countries, celebrated by almost 100,000 organizations, and is the largest civic observance in the world. While we can’t [...]

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had suspended enforcement of U.S. environmental laws indefinitely, blaming the global COVID-19 pandemic. With this lawless and unprecedented decision, the EPA is avoidably placing communities in danger through unchecked air pollution and other pollution that threatens our air, water, land and wildlife resources [...]

VCN Network Partners and advocates with VCEA bill patrons Sen. McClellan and Del. Sullivan.  Updates on VCN Priorities VCEA heading to the Governor's desk (HB1526/SB851). In a whirlwind 18-hours, the Senate version of VCEA (SB851) cleared the House after defeating several floor amendments. It was then passed by the Senate this morning [...]

The Virginia legislature has passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act, establishing the Commonwealth as a national leader in the fight against climate change. Introduced by Sen. McClellan and Del. Sullivan, the landmark legislation puts Virginia on a path to a 100% carbon-free electricity grid and eliminates pollution by Virginia’s utilities [...]

Passage of the SB1027 to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Photo credit: Danielle Simms, VaLCV. Updates on VCN Priorities Budget conferees selected. The House and Senate money committees conferees have been selected and they have some significantly different budgets to work with. Governor Northam also just released a letter to the [...]

Updates on VCN Priorities VCN budget memo now available. Investing in our natural resources is essential to ensure every Virginian has access to clean air, clean water, and our natural landscapes. Our 202-22 budget priorities include a commitment to meet our Chesapeake Bay clean up goals, investments in land conservation programs, [...]