Re-Regulation Plan is Opposed / Groups Hoping Kaine Will Amend Dominion-Backed Plan on Electricity

By GREG EDWARDS

Environmental, consumer and faith-based groups continued their assault yesterday on Dominion Virginia Power-backed legislation to re-regulate electricity supply in Virginia.

The measure, which passed both houses of the General Assembly by comfortable margins this year, is awaiting Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s pen. He can accept it, veto it, amend it or let it become law without his signature.

Dominion says the bill has a good balance between competing economic and environmental concerns.

Opponents, however, are hoping that Kaine – who must decide what to do by midnight Monday – will amend the measure to provide for more conservation and use of renewable sources of electricity. Renewables include wind, solar, hydro and other types of power not generated by burning fossil fuels or by nuclear fission.

Opponents have written to Kaine and met with his advisers. Kaine, however, has given no public indication what he might do.

Liz Martin, a climate-policy specialist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said her group and other opponents are asking Kaine “to fix this Dominion Power giveaway bill.”

Lawmakers mandated taxpayer subsidies for unneeded new coal and nuclear-power plants that pollute the environment, rather than requiring renewables and more efficient energy use, said Mike Tidwell, executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

The legislation, as passed, would allow utilities a half-percent extra profit if they voluntarily showed progress toward providing 12 percent of their electricity by renewable means by 2022. Utilities could get the extra profit by buying renewable energy from out-of- state.

Opponents say that because hydropower is already part of the electric generation mix, the effect of the legislation will be to provide a 6 percent increase in renewable energy.

They also point to a study by the Washington advocacy group, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, that ranks Virginia last among the states in spending on energy efficiency.

Dominion spokesman David Botkins said the bill “provides a good balance of renewable energy and efficiency initiatives as well as construction [of power plants] to address all the energy needs of Virginia.”

The legislation, Botkins said, marks “the first time ever these conservation provisions have been in a bill – and they will move Virginia forward on these fronts.”

Paul Ferguson, chairman of the Arlington County Board of Supervisors, said Kaine should increase the renewable-energy goals, if the program is going to be voluntary. The state should consider mandating renewable energy to address global-warming concerns, he said.

Opponents say the process by which the legislation was developed was flawed. The environmental community spent a year working with Dominion and others on a renewable-energy bill, and Dominion then sprung its re-regulation proposal with opposition to a renewable requirement in December, Tidwell said.

The process is an offense to the democratic sensibilities of the state of Virginia, he said. Opponents would like the assembly to study the legislation more and have to vote on it again next year before it becomes law.

Contact staff writer Greg Edwards at gedwards@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6390.

MEMO: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2007

(c) 2007 Richmond Times – Dispatch. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.