Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi Launches Energy Costs Listening Tour with More Than 200 Attendees in Loudoun

See below for a press release from VA Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi about the launch this evening of her ” Energy Costs Listening Tour with more than 200 Loudoun residents and community members in attendance.” This is the first in  ” a series of community conversations across the Commonwealth examining rising energy costs and the proposed $67 billion takeover of Dominion Energy by NextEra, which would create the largest utility merger in U.S. history.”  Also participating in the Loudoun event this evening were State Senators Danica Roem and Russet Perry, plus Delegate John McAuliff. The video is from earlier today, and also includes remarks by State Senator Kannan Srinivasan, Delegate JJ Singh and Delegate Atoosa Reaser.  A few highlights include:

• Lt. Gov. Hashmi argued: “A takeover of this magnitude and with such long-term consequences for Virgini’s energy system must have a rigorous and transparent review. Energy is one of our most critical public goods; it is important that the SCC weighs the public benefit of this decision. The impacts on Virginia families, ratepayers, and our communities must be the first consideration.” She said this is about Virginia jobs, Virginia energy infrastructure, etc., that the “public can’t be an afterthought” in the proposed Dominion-NextEra merger.  Also, per reporter Michael O’Connor, “Lots of questions about a special session and why one hasn’t been called yet. Hashmi says people can put pressure on their state reps because the GA can call a special session, too.”
• State Senator Perry “highlighted that unchecked data center growth has increased the desirability of the acquisition for NextEra, while raising concerns that billion-dollar corporate interests are being prioritized over Virginia families and consumer protections. She called for rejecting the merger and enacting a moratorium on new data center development.” She said we should extend the timeline for the Dominion-NextEra (which she called a “Florida mega-monopoly”) merger, but that months after her initial ask, nothing has happened. She said she’s “flat-out and unequivocally opposed to the merger.”
• State Senator Roem “spoke about the risks of corporate consolidation and monopolies, and the importance of protecting Virginia consumers from excessive corporate power.”
• Delegate McAuliff “discussed how the proposed merger, the rapid growth of data centers, and the need for new transmission infrastructure are all interconnected, and what this continued growth means for Virginia’s energy future and ratepayers.”
• State Senator Srinivasan said: “A transaction of this magnitude should be a reason for utility prices to go down, not an excuse to push them up. That is the standard this review has to meet. A company of this size taking over Virginia’s largest utility poses a real independent look at the numbers and the track record behind them. Dominion is a regulated public utility. It answers to us Virginians, not to their just shareholders.” He said the Dominion-NextEra merger should deliver “scale, efficiency and lower costs” for power consumers. He called for full transparency and a rigorous review.
• Delegate Singh said: ““I don’t know if my math is correct or not, I’d encourage NextEra or Dominion to clarify. But I will say, if this money is going to the data center industry, why can’t it go to consumers to lower their bills?” He also called for data centers to do more on noise and air pollution, on-site renewable energy generation, etc.
• Del. Reaser said the State Corporation Commission needs to consider “public good” of the Dominion-NextEra merger – which would create “the largest electric utility in the world.” She asked how would this merger would impact electric rates, energy reliability, Virginia jobs, clean energy, etc. Also, what would the risks be of giving control over decisions about Virginia power to a Florida-based company? Does the General Assembly need to take further action? Why is there no plan for regional, in-person public comment?

P.S. For some more background on the proposed Dominion-NextEra merger, see Dominion Energy Shareholders to Vote 9/3 on the NextEra Merger; There’s a Shareholder Movement to Stop It, NEW: Gov. Abigail Spanberger Formally Intervenes in Proposed NextEra-Dominion Merger, Outlines Focus on Energy Affordability, Video, Highlights: Experts on Public Utilities Regulation Argue Proposed NextEra-Dominion Merger Should Provide BENEFITS to Virginians, Not Just “Do No Harm”…, VA Gov. Abigail Spanberger Emphasizes “Three Nonnegotiable Priorities” for Proposed Dominion-NextEra Merger; “will formally request to be a party to the case”, Clean Virginia Says NextEra-Dominion Merger Filing Is Incomplete, Urges SCC to Delay Review, Dominion Files NextEra Merger Application, Starts Clock Ticking on Proposed $66.8B Deal, etc.

Lt. Gov. Hashmi Launches Energy Costs Listening Tour with More Than 200 Attendees in Loudoun

STERLING, VA — On Wednesday evening, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi launched the Energy Costs Listening Tour with more than 200 Loudoun residents and community members in attendance. The Tour is a series of community conversations across the Commonwealth examining rising energy costs and the proposed $67 billion takeover of Dominion Energy by NextEra, which would create the largest utility merger in U.S. history.

The Loudoun event brought together residents, community organizations, elected officials, and energy experts for a discussion about the proposed takeover and its potential impacts on Virginia families. Lt. Governor Hashmi was joined on stage by Senator Danica Roem, Senator Russet Perry, and Delegate John McAuliff.

Senator Roem spoke about the risks of corporate consolidation and monopolies, and the importance of protecting Virginia consumers from excessive corporate power.

Senator Perry highlighted that unchecked data center growth has increased the desirability of the acquisition for NextEra, while raising concerns that billion-dollar corporate interests are being prioritized over Virginia families and consumer protections. She called for rejecting the merger and enacting a moratorium on new data center development.

Delegate McAuliff discussed how the proposed merger, the rapid growth of data centers, and the need for new transmission infrastructure are all interconnected, and what this continued growth means for Virginia’s energy future and ratepayers.

More than 200 attended the event, with community members raising questions and concerns about rising utility rates, grid reliability, data centers, corporate ownership, clean energy, and regulatory oversight.

Shelby Green, serving as the Energy Costs Listening Tour’s energy policy researcher for Loudoun, provided attendees with expert insight into the proposed acquisition, including its implications for utility regulation, ratepayers, and Virginia’s broader energy system. Green is an expert on utility law and energy policy and will help provide Virginians with the information and context they need to better understand the proposed takeover.

“Virginia stands at an energy crossroads, and this case could decide the Commonwealth’s energy future for generations. The State Corporation Commission has less than 150 days to determine whether Virginians would be better served by NextEra Energy, a company facing allegations that it misled investors about its role in bribing elected officials and interfering in elections. If the SCC grants NextEra’s petition, NextEra would become the new owner of Dominion and the world’s largest regulated electric utility. The SCC has a tall task, and state leaders must ensure regulators are equipped with the time and resources to determine whether Virginia’s grid should be handed to an out-of-state company outside of the state’s oversight.” Shelby Green said.

At the Loudoun stop, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network was also present to listen to residents, document public comments, and help ensure that the perspectives shared by members of the community are preserved and brought forward to the State Corporation Commission (SCC).

The Energy Costs Listening Tour builds on conversations that have taken place across the Commonwealth this summer, and is part of Lt. Governor Hashmi’s Virginia’s Voices initiative. On July 6, Lt. Governor Hashmi sent a letter to the Virginia State Corporation Commission  urging it to seek answers from both Dominion Energy and NextEra to 64 detailed questions about the proposed takeover. The letter followed her earlier Richmond Times-Dispatch op-ed in which she called for a stronger review process and additional scrutiny of the proposed takeover.

“A takeover of this magnitude and with such long-term consequences for Virgini’s energy system must have a rigorous and transparent review. Energy is one of our most critical public goods; it is important that the SCC weighs the public benefit of this decision. The impacts on Virginia families, ratepayers, and our communities must be the first consideration.” said Lieutenant Governor Hashmi.

The Loudoun event marked the first of five stops on the Energy Costs Listening Tour. The tour will continue with further conversations in Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottesville, and Roanoke, giving Virginians across the Commonwealth an opportunity to learn more about the proposed acquisition and share their perspectives.

Upcoming Energy Costs Listening Tour Stops

• September 8 | Norfolk — The Slover, 6:00–7:30 PM

• September 9 | Richmond — Diversity Richmond, 6:00–7:30 PM

• September 14 | Charlottesville — Jefferson School, African American Heritage Center, 6:30–8:00 PM

• September 24 | Roanoke — Roanoke City Market Building, 6:30–8:00 PM

Virginians who wish to participate directly in the SCC proceedings can register as a public witness through November 2, with public witness testimony scheduled for November 5, 9, and 10. Written comments will also be accepted through November 9, before the evidentiary hearing begins on November 17.

The public input gathered throughout the Energy Costs Listening Tour will help inform ongoing discussions about Virginia’s energy future and underscore the importance of a transparent, rigorous, and accountable regulatory review process.

Virginians can learn more about upcoming tour stops and participate in the conversation at VAEnergyTour.com.

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