Some Good News for Clean Energy in Virginia

Results in Virginia’s off-year election cycles often forecast broader results nationally the following year. That makes the outcome of a key Democratic primary there potentially a good sign for 2026 in North Carolina and beyond.

Former Virginia state legislator Jay Jones last week won the Democratic primary for the state’s influential Attorney General post, defeating Shannon Taylor, Henrico County commonwealth’s attorney (Virginia’s version of a District Attorney) in an expensive campaign featuring donations and dueling independent expenditures from competing energy interests.

Jones was backed by the clean energy group Clean Virginia, while Taylor was supported by donors associated with Dominion Energy, the state’s largest electric utility. 

Voter turnout was strong in the primary, suggesting motivated voters who will back the clean energy supporter Jones in the fall. In North Carolina, we can hope for similar backlash against legislation (and legislators) who impede affordable, reliable clean energy in favor of public subsidies for overpriced gas and nuclear plants.

Learn More About Clean Energy in NC

NC has a goal to reduce 70% of its carbon emissions by 2030, and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. But politicians in Raleigh just passed a bill that would remove these climate goals. This bill is headed to the desk of our pro-environment Governor, who we hope will veto the bill. Read more about this bill!

And if this work is important to you, help us make more of an impact by becoming a recurring donor today.