HB 1635 Virginia House of Delegates · 2019 Regular Session

Fossil fuel projects moratorium; clean energy mandates.

Summary
Establishes a moratorium, effective January 1, 2020, on approval by any state agency or political subdivision of any approval required for (i) electric generating facilities that generate fossil fuel energy through the combustion of a fossil fuel resource; (ii) import or export terminals for fossil fuel resources; (iii) certain maintenance activities relating to an import or export terminal for a fossil fuel resource; (iv) gathering lines or pipelines for the transport of any fossil fuel resource that requires the use of eminent domain on private property; (v) certain maintenance activities relating to such gathering lines or pipelines; (vi) refineries of a fossil fuel resource; and (vii) exploration for any type of fossil fuel, unless preempted by applicable federal law. The measure also requires that at least 80 percent of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier in calendar years 2028 through 2035 be generated from clean energy resources. In calendar year 2036 and every calendar year thereafter, all of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier is required to be generated from clean energy resources. The clean energy mandates apply to a public utility or other person that sells not less than 1,000 megawatt hours of electric energy to retail customers or generates not less than 1,000 megawatt hours of electric energy for use by the person. The Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is authorized to bring actions for injunctions to enforce these requirements. The measure requires the Department to adopt a Climate Action Plan that addresses all aspects of climate change, including mitigation, adaptation, resiliency, and assistance in the transition from current energy sources to clean renewable energy. The measure provides that residents of the Commonwealth and organizations shall have the legal standing to sue to ensure that its provisions and any Climate Action Plan are enforced.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2018
Committee Review
Jan 2019
House of Delegates Passage
Jan 2019
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 14, 2018 Last action Jan 31, 2019
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House of Delegates by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
3
Jan 31, 2019
Introduced
Motion to pass by the amendments by Delegate Rasoul agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
lower
Jan 31, 2019
Introduced
Motion to pass by the amendments by Delegate Toscano agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
lower
Jan 31, 2019
Introduced
Motion to pass by the amendment by Delegate Toscano agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
lower
Jan 31, 2019
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment agreed to (51-Y 48-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2019
Lower · Passed
Passed by for the day
lower
Jan 29, 2019
Lower · Passed
Passed by for the day
lower
Jan 28, 2019
Lower · Passed
Passed by for the day
lower
Jan 25, 2019
Lower · Passed
Passed by for the day
lower
Jan 18, 2019
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
lower
Jan 18, 2019
Committee
Referred from Rules by voice vote
lower
Nov 14, 2018
Committee
Referred to Committee on Rules
lower
Nov 14, 2018
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/19 19100460D
lower
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors

Sponsors