Virginia and Beyond: Climate and Energy Shifts in 2026

Energy and Innovation

Virginia is ramping up efforts to lower energy costs and boost sustainability.

• Battery Storage and Efficiency: The incoming governor plans to reduce electricity bills by focusing on battery storage and energy efficiency to avoid costly new power lines.
• Offshore Wind Project: A $5 million daily loss for Dominion Energy after the Trump administration paused work on the project, leading to a lawsuit.
• Electric Planes: The Shenandoah Valley Airport is testing electric and hybrid-electric planes for short trips, cutting emissions and noise.
• Data Center Charges: Virginia is making data centers pay more for electricity due to their high energy consumption.

Climate and Environmental Efforts

• Solar Canopies and Offshore Wind: Democrats are pushing for solar canopies over parking lots and more offshore wind jobs, previously vetoed but now reconsidered.
• Climate Assessment: Virginia’s first Climate Assessment provides insights into climate change impacts.
• Hampton’s Nature-Based Solutions: The city is combating sea-level rise with rain gardens and oyster reefs.

Global Climate Challenges

• Floods and Wildfires: Southeast Asia faces floods and landslides worsened by warm sea temperatures. Wildfires release more carbon than expected.
• Slowing Ocean Currents: Scientists warn of slowing ocean currents due to global warming.

Political Shifts in Climate Policy

• Trump Administration Moves:
• Shutting down a major climate research center.
• Suspending offshore wind projects.
• Pressuring Europe to exempt U.S. oil companies from methane laws.
• New York’s Slowdown: The governor is slowing down climate efforts.
• EU’s Ambitious Goals: Aiming to cut emissions by 90% by 2040.

Energy Transition

• EV Charging Stations: Wawa and Sheetz are installing EV charging stations.
• Solar and Battery Growth: Solar and battery storage are expanding rapidly, while fossil fuels stall.
• China’s Leadership: 26% of cars sold in 2025 will be electric or hybrid, with China leading the way.
• Nuclear Fusion Investment: China is investing heavily in nuclear fusion research.

Agriculture and Food Security

• Corn’s Environmental Impact: Fertilizer use for corn is warming the planet and polluting water.
• Perennial Grains: Scientists suggest perennial grains as a solution.
• CO2 and Nutrition: More CO2 makes food calorie-dense but less nutritious.

Climate Justice and Land Rights

• Indigenous Land Rights: Indigenous communities are fighting for their land rights.
• Chinese Clean Energy Projects: These projects have environmental and social impacts.
• Global Repression: Climate activists face growing repression worldwide.

Innovations and Challenges

• Cornell’s Geothermal Drilling: The university is drilling for geothermal energy to heat its campus.
• Solar Geoengineering: Private companies are raising funds to block the sun, with potential unintended consequences.
• Data Center Impact: Tech firms are trying to reduce the environmental impact of high-energy data centers.
• Diesel Train Replacement: Replacing old diesel trains could cut pollution.