It was very nice, and helpful, to read in last week’s paper about the major happenings in our region in 2025. Some good things, some not so good, and all can be reminders of how to make things even better going forward. My favorite good story is about the train service soon to connect Christiansburg to DC, and onward. This should be helpful to all of us – as it should strengthen our local economy, remove at least a bit of traffic from I-81, and provide a useful transportation link east to those who take the train. Its development is a great example of how bipartisan cooperation can help our region.
Rising energy prices are a good example of how by not working in a bipartisan way, things can get worse. It is widely accepted that Virginia needs to produce more energy. Our economic success reflects the growth of data centers and other large users of electricity. If we use more electricity but do not produce more, simple laws of economics tell us that prices will rise. It is that simple, and not a partisan position.
In 2020 Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative with 10 other states in the northeast. It was intended to promote the use of renewable energy (e.g. wind, solar, even geothermal), eventually driving down the costs of energy after making an initial investment. The governor took us out of this compact, arguing that this investment was too costly. This withdrawal from the compact was ruled by Virginia’s 28th Judicial Circuit Court as beyond the authority of the governor, who is now appealing the decision. We should learn soon if the lower court decision will stand – many expect that it will and that we will again be a member. This would mean more investment, and increasing renewable energy in the state.
During the past four years, a pattern appeared with the legislature passing bills to encourage renewable energy development that were vetoed by the governor before becoming law. So – little has happened except for falling even further behind. Of course, not everything stopped. For example, the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) was built, running through the New River Valley over the opposition of many local people. Currently, the MVP is planning to build a compressor plant in Elliston, a project also facing a lot of local opposition. I haven’t found anything about our local politicians taking a stance on this project – it would be helpful to learn their positions.
Because of the partisan standoff on energy between the outgoing governor and the legislature – very little has been done over the past four years to solve our problems with future energy generation. Important legislation is being proposed for 2026 by legislators from both parties to increase energy production. Keep in mind that in the United States, the great majority of new energy production (over three-fourths during the first nine months of 2025) came from solar energy. This mirrors the rest of the world, where solar is clearly the leading source of new energy. To keep up with the world, and maintain leadership in producing and using energy, renewables will have to be an increasing part of our energy production mix. Important to us here in the New River Valley will be for our representatives to help us improve our energy picture while lowering costs. Let us hope that they are looking to solve our energy needs in practical, bipartisan ways. Being left behind because of loyalty to last century’s power sources, or to political ideology, would not be a good way to support the future of our region.
