THE CONSERVATIVE ENERGY CAUCUS
Energy Right announced the creation of the Conservative Energy Caucus ahead of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly Session.
Led by co-Chairs Delegate Carrie Coyner and Delegate Tony Wilt, these weekly caucus meetings will cover a range of topics within clean energy! Take a look at the schedule below and join us for a lively discussion! Dates, times, and locations will be updated as details are finalized!
Wednesday, Jan 17
7:00AM in Room 700A
Virginia General Assembly
Clean Energy and VA
Small Businesses
Week 1:
A discussion with the South Central Virginia Business Alliance
The South-Central Virginia Business Alliance (SCVBA) connects local businesses with opportunities in all aspects of solar growth including construction, infrastructure projects, maintenance, and operations. SCVBA will share how their group sees solar projects benefiting local economies.
Week 2:
Local Tax Revenue from Energy Generation
Solar and Storage as leading taxpayers in VA
Legislation passed in 2020 changed the way localities could tax solar and storage projects. Since then, counties have received millions in tax payments to support their budgets; some counties have cut taxes on residents as a result of these new revenues.
Attorneys from Gentry Locke helped create the 2020 legislation and have worked with dozens of counties to negotiate these tax packages. This discussion will provide legislators with an update on these tax policies and their impact across the Commonwealth.
Thursday, Jan 25
4:30PM in Room 700A
Virginia General Assembly
Wednesday, Jan 31
7:30AM, 9th Floor, House Committee Room 9
Virginia General Assembly
Week 3:
Next Generation Clean Energy
A discussion on Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) and the promise of green Hydrogen
Virginia Department of Energy Director, Glenn Davis, will share updates on the promise of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) and Hydrogen Energy in the Commonwealth. Director Davis spearheads these energy portfolios for Governor Youngkin to help make Virginia a leader in these technologies.
Thursday, Feb 15
7:30 AM, Subcommittee Room 8
Virginia General Assembly
Week 5:
Solar + Farming
An agrivoltaics discussion with solar grazers
Marcus Gray of Gray's Lambscaping and Eric Bronson of James River Grazing will share their experience grazing their flocks of sheep under panels. Marcus is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Eric holds a position at the American Farmland Trust as the Mid-Atlantic Smart Solar Specialist.
During this conversation, we will discuss how solar and farming already co-exist in Virginia. While creating a new agricultural economy, solar grazers are benefiting the soil and ecosystem over time with the rotation of their flocks.
Week 6:
Renewables and the Grid of the Future
A conversation with Thomas Bowen, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
This presentation from NREL will highlight the progress renewables have made over the past decade, and the advancements we can expect in the future. Thomas will bring legislators up to speed on how renewables are added to the grid without compromising security or stability. Legislators will have access to one of the nation's foremost experts on renewables to answer questions that matter to their districts!
