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Friday afternoon, the Biden campaign is holding a roundtable discussing the range of benefits and opportunities that the Vice President’s Build Back Better Clean Energy plan (announced Tuesday) will create for the Commonwealth, Virginia businesses, and Virginians.

Join Team Joe, Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Donald McEachin, and Delegate Kathy Tran for a virtual Biden for President roundtable in Virginia on Joe Biden’s plan to help America’s economy Build Back Better and create the good-paying union jobs we need to deliver an equitable clean energy future. Joining McEachin and Tran will be President of the Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council Jason Parker and Virginia Climate Leader Harrison Wallace.

This online event is from 3 to 4 pm Friday.  Specific details will be sent to you after your register here.

There is a lot to discuss here.

With Democratic control of the legislature, Virginia has now gone from being a laggard to real leader – especially for the South – when it comes to clean energy and climate issues. A path toward a 100% clean power system has become law. There are significant investment paths for energy efficiency. Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).  Virginia’s first two offshore wind turbines have been installed and there is now a legal basis for these 12 megawatts to become 2.6 gigawatts (2,600 megawatts) of capacity by the middle of the decade. And there’s a lot more. The measures passed by Democratic Delegates and Senators will create jobs, boost Virginia’s economic competitiveness, foster a more resilient energy system, and reduce the Commonwealth’s pollution with a wide range of benefits from reduced asthma rates to lowered climate impacts.

The plan that Vice President Biden laid out earlier this week calls for $2 trillion of investments in clean energy. Building on the progress that Virginia’s elected Democratic leadership was able to establish in the legislative session and Governor Northam initiatives like using VW settlement money for electrification projects across the Commonwealth, Virginia will be well positioned to leverage (soon to be) President Biden’s program to accelerate and expand what is already planned for Virginia. And, in the process, create even more jobs, boost the economy even more, have an ever more resilient energy system, and even more significantly reduce pollution impacts on Virginians’ health and Virginia’s environment.

There is far more to discuss than one hour can accommodate but this hour should be a good start for that discussion.

When Trump thinks climate, he thinks hoax. When I think about climate, I think JOBS! Vice President Joe Biden, 14 July 2020

Is it any surprise that the clean energy world is mobilizing to help elect Joe Biden, a Democratic-controlled Senate, and a larger Democratic Party majority in the House?

Amid his Rose Garden ranting against (soon to be President) Joe Biden yesterday, Trump went after Biden’s Build Back Better powerful Clean Energy plan. Evincing his normal shallow ignorance and gaslighting bravado, Trump fumbled through fossil-foolish talking points. Amid this, Trump attacked Biden’s call for a move toward net zero buildings. Of course the facts are wrong about what Biden proposed. The more absurd gaslighting is how ever-so-tremendous building developer Donald Trump stated absurdity after absurdity.

According to Trump, net zero building

basically means no windows

When it comes to gaslighting, a simple summary would be that the (would-be) demagogic autocrat demands that cult followers don’t believe their lying eyes.

Here are a few images of net zero buildings.

As per Trump

How are your eyes?

For well over a decade, I (and others) have been calling and waiting for forceful Presidential language and speeches directly tying economic performance, job creation, and climate mitigation. Today, our next President, Joe Biden pretty much gave that speech in a strong call for job creation with significant clean-energy investment that will boost U.S. economic competitiveness while setting the United States on a path to a net-zero emission economy.

In this speech, (our next) President Biden draws a strong contrast between Trump’s destructive anti-science, anti-clean energy, anti-economic performance antics and Biden’s plans for rejuvenating the American economy and creating millions of well-paying clean energy jobs in a package that will reduce pollution and the nation’s climate risks.

In the associated plan to build a modern, sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future, (soon-to-be) President Biden lays out seven key elements:

1. Build a Modern Infrastructure
2. Position the U.S. Auto Industry to Win the 21st Century with technology invented in America
3. Achieve a Carbon Pollution-Free Power Sector by 2035
4. Make Dramatic Investments in Energy Efficiency in Buildings, including Completing 4 Million Retrofits and Building 1.5 Million New Affordable Homes 
5. Pursue a Historic Investment in Clean Energy Innovation
6. Advance Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation 
7. Secure Environmental Justice and Equitable Economy Opportunity

Within each, Biden(‘s team) lays out serious proposals that will have real impact … these are Win-Win-Win paths to boost the economy, create jobs, and reduce climate impacts.

Regretfully, I have allowed (over the years) my Energy Bookshelf to build up (and up and up) to all too many bookshelves. Simply put, Marie Kondo wouldn’t be pleased with me. In this process, there are many books which have left a lasting impression and which I quote/reference in interactions which I have not given just recognition with reviews but I haven’t held up my end by giving recognition in blogging space to those who are influencing me. Therefore, I will strive to do some catching up beginning with Randy Olson.

After six years of battling, Virginians concerned about climate change, environmental injustice, and a prosperous energy future had reason for Sunday afternoon celebration with Dominion Energy’s and Duke Energy’s announcement of cancellation of the fossil-foolish Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP).

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Platform Committee is holding a series of (pseudo-)public hearings this week en route formalizing the Platform. Amid the reality and necessity of tRump’s mismanagement of Coronavirus response, these hearings reasonably are being held online. “(Pseudo-)hearings” as these are scripted events with no active public comments and engagement other than the chance to submit videos for DNC consideration with between-the-lines implications that what is really wanted are paeans to the DNC’s perspicacity and brilliance rather than actual comments seeking to fill gaps and strengthen the platform.

A bit earlier this morning, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation on offshore wind and then headed out to see the first two offshore wind turbines installed in Federal waters.

I’m in Virginia Beach this morning to sign important legislation that will help make our Commonwealth a national leader in offshore wind. Tune in: https://t.co/ejZhYmTQnm

— Governor Ralph Northam (@VAGovernor73) June 29, 2020

This 12-megawatt (two 6-megawatt turbines) Dominion Energy demonstration project is now entering a testing phase, with final connection to the grid to occur before the end of the summer. These 12 MW are the leading edge for a 2.6-gigawatt (e.g., 2,600 MWs) Dominion offshore wind farm, with likely double that amount (5.2GW) to be actively powering Virginia homes before the end of the decade.

This is a major milestone — a physical, tangible example of the Commonwealth moving away from fossil-foolish electricity generation and towards cleaner electrons, produced in ways that will foster job creation and otherwise boost the economy while reducing pollution.

Orsted-DE CVOW BROLL from Dominion Energy on Vimeo.

Globally, offshore wind has undergone a massive transformation over the past few years, from a seemingly high-cost option requiring expensive markets or significant subsidies (or mandates) for deployment to an increasingly cost-competitive option. That’s the case, even without considering offshore wind’s multiplicative benefit streams – from lowered pollution to job creation to (in many circumstances) boosted marine life/fisheries to reducing total electricity system costs by flattening electricity cost curves (by shaving off peak hours).

Virginia is well positioned to be a true offshore wind leader and to boost the economy through that leadership.

• Virginia’s coasts have extensive offshore wind resources –  potentially enough to power the entire Commonwealth economy (even as it doesn’t make sense to put all the energy system “eggs in one basket”).
• The Tidewater region has the best resources (harbors, maritime industries, skilled workforces, transportation) to support an offshore wind industry along the East Coast. With tens of GWs already being built or en route to construction from Maine down to North Carolina, a strong Virginia offshore wind program could enable massive job growth supporting projects across the region.
• Offshore wind’s plunging prices offer a pathway — with increasing deployment driving lowered prices — for having cleaner and lower cost electrons with every passing year.

These are, by the way, good reasons why the Virginia Clean Energy Act (VCEA) made offshore wind a centerpiece of the plan to transform the Commonwealth’s electricity system away from fossil-fuel generation to clean electrons.

Gov. Northam responsibly masked: an offshore wind mask

Today, with the Governor signing the legislation and touring the first wind turbines in Federal waters, Virginia is marking a significant milestone to that clean energy future. And that’s something to celebrate, even as we still have a lot more to do.

Coast Guard escorting @GovernorVA boat tour to see the 1st two in stalled wind turbines in federal waters. We’re headed 27 miles out off the coast Va Beach. We’re Almost there! #windenergy #cleanenergy @DominionEnergy pic.twitter.com/4AslsWKij5

— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) June 29, 2020

A simple truth: the Commonwealth of Virginia (its businesses, its citizens, its built environment, …) is an energy hog with mediocre (perhaps even dismal) energy efficiency.

• The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranked Virginia 29th in the nation.
• According to WalletHub, Virginia’s Home Energy Efficiency Rank is 35th … out of 48 assessed states.

Simple truths behind those numbers are one of the reasons why legislators made sure to include substantial energy-efficiency measures in the Clean Economy Act (VCEA). While the VCEA sets a better path forward, it isn’t comprehensive across all the economy and its measures don’t relieve other parties’ responsibilities for acting responsibly in the interest of the Commonwealth and its Citizens.

So much that matters in our lives is shaped out of sight, out of mind for most of us. When boarding a plane, we assume that the plane’s design has been improved and there are inspectors out there making sure it’s safe to fly. The same is true with so much throughout our lives — from washing machines to automobiles to elevators to … Well-managed standards and regulations are critical to our ability to function in the complex reality of modern society.

This is certainly true when it comes to buildings — standards and regulations lay a minimum basis for what will be around for decades to come. From structural soundness to fire safety to electrical wiring to energy efficiency, quality building codes are key to a quality built environment. And, as per energy efficiency, since buildings account for roughly 40% of energy use and the buildings will last for decades — poor energy efficiency codes translates to decades of wasteful energy use with higher bills and higher pollution loads.

One reason for Virginia’s poor energy efficiency rankings: a long history of lagging behind the curve when it comes to International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Currently, Virginia’s code is based on the 2015 IECC (not the 2018) with critical portions of Virginia code dating back to the 2012 code and even the 2009 code. (This isn’t new, Virginia’s building code has too long a history of lagging behind … no small part of why the Commonwealth rates so poorly on built environment efficiency.) A decade is, in today’s world, an eternity when it comes to energy efficiency and technologies. Just a few examples for an understanding:

• In 2009, the extremely efficient LED lights were an expensive and rare luxury while they are the norm in building today.
• In 2009, smart phone apps for monitoring and controlling home energy systems didn’t exist and are proliferating like crazy today.
• In 2009, induction stove-tops were incredibly expensive (many $1000s) and hard-to-find while one can buy portable induction stovetops for under $50 online today and have them at your house tomorrow.
• In 2009, home owners had few options for managing their hot water heaters while today Virginia small business Aquanta offers a “retrofittable water heater controller brings your electric or gas water heater out of the basement and into the palm of your hand to heat water only when you need it.”

For those who love energy trade show floors (like this energy geek), (pre-COVID) 2020 is a radically different world than 2009 when it comes to energy and the idea of having a building code in the 2020s based on mid-2000s technologies and processes (since it takes many years to build code, a 2009 code is really ‘up-to-date’ for 2006 or so) is painful to consider.

Virginia’s regulator, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), of building code is in the process of determining what should happen with the code. Rather than simply upgrading to the latest IECC (2018), it appears quite possible that the DHCD will simply continue many of the outdated elements of the existing code. (Here is the proposed revised code. On it, see Ivy Main’s eloquent discussion.) Among those is to keep Virginia on the 2009 insulation standard rather than moving up something closer to present day standards. Regretfully, there are special interests (e.g., builders) who are perfectly willing to lower their costs for higher profits while delivering a lower-quality and higher-cost product to people for decades to come. The DHCD, evidently, has given builders and contractors a leading voice (role might not be too strong a word) in structuring Virginia’s building code. The DHCD’s approach to the IECC appears to be ‘explain why we should upgrade’ rather than ‘make the case why we shouldn’t’ and this facilitates putting energy efficiency on the back burner. Quite simply: this is unacceptable.

The DHCD is well along the path toward setting the code. There is a hearing this Friday and the public comments period ends Friday.

If you wish, here is a Sierra Club path for submitting comments.

Some thoughts for DHCD:

• adopt the 2018 code essentially in entirety, especially when it comes to insulation.
• set (as per law) standard practice to adopt the most up-to-date codes s the norm — with active decision-making to not adopt require.
• accelerate code updating so that 2021 IECC becomes Virginia code in 2022 (rather than 2024
• require up-to-date standards for building renovations and rehabilitation (especially in rental stock)

In summary, DHCD should recognize that aggressive energy efficiency measures are in the public interest (from improved energy resiliency to reduced energy costs to reduced climate impacts) and that the legislature and the Governor have made clear that energy efficiency and climate mitigation are important for the Commonwealth. By adopting the 2018 building code and not keeping insulation at 2009 standards, the DHCD could demonstrate that recognition.

Courtesy of COVID-19, as well as to Virginia Democratic Party/grassroots attention to social distancing for Public Health, “the 4th Annual Women’s Summit has gone virtual, viral, vital” with events and interactions from 20-30 June.  Monday evening, June 22, featured a panel conversation on climate and clean energy with:

• Senator Jennifer McClellanWomen’s Summit 2020: Climate & Clean Energy Conversation
• Delegate Rip Sullivan
• Ivy Main (Renewable Energy Chair, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club)
• Dana Wiggins (Director of Outreach and Consumer Advocacy, Virginia Poverty Law Center)
• Cliona Robb (Director, Thompson McMullan, P.C.)
• moderator Sharon Shutler (Co-Chair of Climate and Clean Energy Working Group, Virginia Grassroots Coalition)

Overshadowed by over 100,000 dead Americans from Coronavirus, demonstrations of outrage about blacks being killed, and Trump’s latest reckless action and menacing tweet, voters are going to the polls and setting the stage for Blue Wave 2020. Iowa’s voters have a real opportunity to set the nation on a better path forward in next Tuesday’s Democratic Party primary. In short, a vote for

Mike Franken
Democrat for U.S. Senate

is a vote for the Rebirth of Expertise.