Environmental

 

HB 1965 - Bagby - State Air Pollution Control Board; low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program. (Reported from Senate Commerce and Labor Committee 11-Y 4-N)

  • Directs the State Air Pollution Control Board to implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. Regulations adopted by the Board to implement the program are exempt from the Administrative Process Act and shall not become effective prior to January 1, 2024.

 

SB 1282 - Morrissey - Greenhouse gas emissions inventory; regulations. (House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Subcommittee recommends reporting 6-Y 2-N)

  • Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a statewide baseline and projection inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions and to update such inventory every four years.
  • The bill requires that the inventory be published and included in the annual report of the State Air Pollution Control Board.
  • The bill also authorizes the Board to adopt regulations necessary to collect data needed to conduct, update, and maintain the inventory. The bill exempts proprietary information collected by the Department from the mandatory disclosure requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

 

SB 1284 - Favola - Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy. (House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee Recommends Reporting 6-Y 4-N)

  • Establishes the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy, replacing the Commonwealth Energy Policy. The bill sets out the energy policy and objectives of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy, which include: (i) the Commonwealth recognizes that effectively addressing climate change and enhancing resilience will advance the health, welfare, and safety of the residents of the Commonwealth and that addressing climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the Commonwealth's economy sufficient to reach net-zero emission by 2045 in all sectors, including the electric power, transportation, industrial, agricultural, building, and infrastructure sectors; (ii) the Commonwealth recognizes the need to promote environmental justice and ensure that it is carried out throughout the Commonwealth and the need to address and prevent energy inequities in historically economically disadvantaged communities; and (iii) the Commonwealth must continue to prioritize economic competitiveness and workforce development in an equitable manner.