When the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reviews permits for proposed projects that would impact water, air, or land, the agency must consider whether projects would be in or near environmental justice communities, areas that are low-income or whose residents are mostly people of color who experience a disproportionate rate of environmental harm.
See the full story at the Virginia Mercury.
More DMV News
Montgomery Co. Considers 18-Month Pause On Data Centers
WTOP News
A Montgomery County Council committee is recommending that the Maryland county put action on data centers on hold for 18 months.
Va. Lawmakers Want More Time For State Review Of Proposed Dominion Energy Merger
WTOP News
Some Virginia lawmakers are urging Gov. Abigail Spanberger to call a special session to give the State Corporation Commission more time to review Dominion Energy’s proposed merger with NextEra Energy.
Climate Groups Concerned By Proposed Maryland Building Code
Maryland Matters
A handful of environmental groups, and at least one legislator, are raising alarm about proposed changes to Maryland’s building code for new large commercial sites, arguing that the state’s amendments would weaken the national energy code that it is supposed to follow.
Alexandria To Brief Residents On Upcoming Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban
ALX Now
With about four months to go until the City of Alexandria completely bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, the city government will hold a meeting Tuesday on specifics of the ban.
National and International News
Balcony Solar Is Sweeping The US, But Who’s Actually Selling It?
Canary Media
A hands-on form of solar power has electrified the U.S. in the past year. Plug-in solar lets anyone hang a few panels in the sunlight and send the power straight into their wall sockets to partially offset their utility bill. It extends the benefits of clean energy, a little bit at a time, to renters and anyone else who hasn’t been able to access traditional rooftop solar.
Nonprofits Go To Court To Recoup Canceled Solar Grants
E&E News
Nonprofit organizations are heading to federal court to recover millions of dollars in canceled EPA grant funding aimed at bolstering nationwide access to rooftop solar and cutting energy costs.
Why States Are Making It Harder To Save Money With Solar Panels
New York Times
President Trump ended the federal tax credit last year, but the story goes back further than that. Over the last decade, more than a third of U.S. states have changed their rules to allow utilities to pay homeowners less for the energy they send to the grid.
Why Did Energy-Saving Tips Disappear From The Energy Department Website?
Grist
If you wanted to save some money by learning how to check your home for air leaks, poor insulation, and power-hungry lightbulbs, the Department of Energy’s website was ready to help. And if you needed an expert, the site guided you to another page for help lining up a professional energy assessment, a well-established first step to cut utility bills and curb pollution at the same time.
US Data Center Electricity Use Could More Than Double By 2030: Report
Utility Dive
Data centers for AI and other digital use cases are consuming increasing amounts of energy and water, complicating the jobs of policymakers and community planners looking to protect residents’ health and safety, according to a new report from the Kansas Health Institute.