When the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) was signed into law, its supporters celebrated a bold step toward a carbon-free future. But the ink was barely dry before the realities of the 21st century began to overtake its assumptions.
Just a few years later, Virginia’s energy demand has exploded. Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, data centers and the everyday needs of our growing population are consuming electricity at unprecedented rates. What once seemed like a gradual transition is now a race — not just to keep our economy competitive with national and international rivals but to keep the lights on.
At the center of this challenge is the absolute necessity of baseload power — the steady, reliable supply of electricity that powers our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses 24/7. The hard truth is that the VCEA, as written, does not provide for that need.
This is not a challenge unique to Virginia. Across the nation, utilities and policymakers are scrambling to find ways to meet skyrocketing demand while reducing emissions. But Virginia has a choice: we can either add to the national problem or position ourselves as part of the solution.
The original goals of the VCEA are noble — reducing carbon emissions and protecting our environment. But if we want an economy that works, we cannot let “perfect” become the enemy of “good.” A truly responsible energy policy balances environmental progress with the need for constant, reliable power. That means embracing more nuclear power and modern natural gas technologies, not fewer.
Both parties in the General Assembly are now showing willingness to revisit the VCEA and address its unintended consequences. That’s a step in the right direction. We need to stop treating this as an ideological fight and start treating it as an engineering and economic challenge.
Nuclear energy must be at the core of that solution. Right now, nuclear makes up roughly 32% of Virginia’s energy mix. That’s simply not enough to support our current and future needs. We should be expanding this share dramatically — and we can do it without compromising safety. Whether through financial incentives via the Virginia Innovative Nuclear Hub or by streamlining the permitting process, we should be building the next generation of nuclear facilities now, not years from now.
But nuclear alone won’t close the gap in time. We also need to use cleaner natural gas technologies as a bridge. Modern gas plants equipped with carbon capture systems can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions while delivering round-the-clock power.
There’s also an inconvenient fact we can no longer ignore: Virginia is now the nation’s largest importer of electricity. That means we’re buying power — often from coal-heavy grids — instead of producing our own. Is that really cleaner? Wouldn’t it make more sense to generate cleaner, reliable power right here at home, where we control the emissions and the jobs it creates?
Emerging solutions, like renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen blending, make this even more promising. Both can use much of the infrastructure we already have, while cutting emissions even further. These aren’t far-off dreams — they’re technologies ready to deploy now, if we have the will to use them.
Some argue that we should focus solely on wind and solar. These sources have their place, and we should keep building them where they make sense. But they cannot serve as the backbone of our energy grid. The sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow. Until large-scale, affordable energy storage becomes a reality, we must pair renewables with sources that deliver constant, predictable power.
This isn’t about rejecting clean energy — it’s about broadening our definition of it. Nuclear energy produces zero carbon emissions. Modern gas plants with carbon capture cut emissions to a fraction of traditional plants. Renewable natural gas and hydrogen blending push the bar even higher. Combined with renewables, they form a balanced, realistic energy portfolio that meets both our environmental and economic goals.
Virginia’s energy future is not a political talking point — it’s an urgent challenge with real consequences. If we don’t act, we will see higher prices, more blackouts and lost economic opportunities. If we do act, we can secure reliable power, cleaner air and a stronger economy for decades to come.
Virginia can’t afford to gamble its energy future on intermittent sources alone. The responsible path forward demands a backbone of reliable, clean and technologically advanced baseload power. That means embracing both nuclear and clean gas technologies alongside renewables. Let’s build an energy policy rooted in realism — one that keeps the lights on, the air clean and our economy strong.
Michael Webert is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He is a Republican from Fauquier County.
