Virginia Case for Adding New Generation Today
How to Reconcile So Many Different Messages
Over 10 years a consensus has been reached that recognized:
• The climate crisis will cause the Earth’s temperature to rise 2.5 degrees within the next decade.
• Fossil fuel usage is a primary contributor to climate change.
• Federal and States issued laws created incentives to curtail fossil fuel use.
• Solar and wind power, which COST LESS than fossil fuels, are permitted and are currently under construction.
And now, science, costs, and climate concerns are being dismissed and replaced instead by opinions.
Consider:
Virginia passed a law phasing out fossil fuels out by 2045. The state has already incurred billions in costs tied to climate change. New construction and proposed solar and wind power plants were forecasted to meet rising demand and nuclear power was encouraged.
To capture additional business from AI data centers, Virginia is forecasting even greater energy demand. Consider the impact of NVDIA’s chip production for next year was 9% of the total US energy demand for 2024; Read More.
Instead of complying with law, Virginia’s largest utility is asking permission to build 944 MWs of natural gas fired generators.
Regulators reviewing the request concluded:
- The “cold snap” weather event used to justify construction was “unpersuasive”.
- Power exports to neighboring states continued during the “cold snap”.
- Load growth was within generation capabilities of existing power generation.
- Economically, construction of natural gas generation would increase electric costs for customers.
- No alternatives were offered.
Today’s politics are undoing more than a decade of scientific, economic, and environmental progress.
10 years from now, when these politicians are long gone, this decision (and those like it) will be costly and will be deemed wasteful and will bring us closer to environmental harm.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Soon to be 12 with the inclusion of Highland Park newest recreation center West Ridge Center – New Community Recreation Facility Coming in 2026 | Park District of Highland Park
Additional Reading:
Virginia’s data center boom tests clean energy law | Canary Media
Realgy Supreme Court Case – its not just about robocalls
In December 2021 attorney Ryan D. Watstein of KABAT CHAPMAN & OZMER LLP filed a brief before the US Supreme Court. The U.S. Department of Justice opposed our petition last month. Last week Ryan filed a reply in support of the petition.
The likelihood of the brief being decided on by the Supreme Court is less than 5%.
We should know in the next few weeks whether the court will pick this case for its calendar this year.
The case started as a complaint against Realgy by the plaintiff about receiving a sales call that he felt violated a law. The initial case was dismissed due to a change in law that exempted calls during this period. However, court overturned the ruling on appeal. The Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether the Government can advocate speech for certain people but impose crushing liabilities on others. This case against Realgy will be decided. However, the issue of free speech the appeal court ruled on could be used to have chilling effects against political opponents. And, as we have seen over the last several years, if it’s possible, it will be tried.
Realgy is proud that Ryan pursued the case and has defended all our liberties.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
Realgy, LLC, Petitioner v Roberta Lindenbaum, et al | 21-866 | Court Records – UniCourt
Realgy, LLC, Petitioner v. Roberta Lindenbaum, et al. (law360.com)