Virginians Face Rising Energy Costs as Democrats Take Control
Virginia stands at a crossroads, not just in energy policy, but in the values that guide its future. As the state moves forward under Democratic leadership, one truth is becoming impossible to ignore: the cost of electricity is rising faster than wages, and the burden is falling hardest on working families. The Virginia Clean Economy Act, championed as a progressive milestone, is reshaping the state’s energy landscape—but not in ways that serve the common good.
Since the act’s passage, Dominion Energy has repeatedly warned that full compliance will lead to a tripling of residential electricity bills over the next decade. In 2020, a thousand kilowatt-hours cost $116.18. By 2023, that had climbed to $159.57. Projections now suggest the price could reach $290 by 2035. These are not hypotheticals. They are real numbers that affect grocery budgets, heating bills, and the ability to keep a home warm in winter.
The push to phase out coal, natural gas, and oil is rooted in environmental goals. But energy is not just a matter of emissions—it is a matter of stability, affordability, and access. When traditional power sources are removed without reliable replacements, the grid becomes vulnerable. In Virginia, the growing number of data centers—driven by demand from tech companies and federal agencies—has already increased electricity demand. These facilities consume massive amounts of power, often running 24/7. Yet the state’s energy policy restricts the construction of new natural gas plants, even as grid reliability becomes more precarious.
Dominion Energy has urged caution, advocating for a balanced approach that includes natural gas as a transitional fuel. But political mandates block such solutions. The result is a system that relies heavily on wind and solar—sources that depend on weather, produce intermittently, and require expensive storage solutions. These technologies cannot yet provide consistent baseload power. When the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow, power can go out. And when it does, families suffer.
Low- and middle-income households feel this most acutely. A family already spending a large share of its income on utilities cannot afford to pay twice as much. For seniors on fixed incomes, rising bills mean harder choices—heat or medicine, food or electricity. These are not abstract concerns. They are the daily reality for many Virginians.
Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has offered little clarity on how her administration plans to manage this crisis. Without a clear path to affordability, the state risks deepening inequality under the banner of progress. Sustainability should not come at the expense of basic human needs.
This is not just a Virginia issue. It is a warning for the nation. When governments prioritize ideological purity over practical outcomes, the people pay. Energy is not a luxury. It is a necessity—essential for safety, health, and economic life. When energy becomes unaffordable, freedom itself is compromised.
A better path exists—one that respects both the environment and the well-being of citizens. It means investing in clean technology, yes, but also preserving reliable, affordable energy sources. It means allowing responsible development of natural gas infrastructure while pursuing innovation. It means planning with foresight, not ideology.
Virginia’s experience should serve as a lesson: true progress does not come from discarding what works in favor of what is unproven. It comes from building on strength, not dismantling it. The foundation of a strong society is not a perfect environmental record—it is the ability of every family to keep their lights on, their homes warm, and their futures secure.
The question is not whether we should care for the earth. We should. But we must care for people too. And that means choosing energy policies that are not only green in theory, but sustainable in practice.
Published: 11/16/2025
