FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Amy Bacigalupo, Communications Manager
August 6, 2026
Governor and Legislative Leaders Should Strengthen Oversight by Calling a Special Session to Extend Statutory Review Period
Charlottesville, Va. — Clean Virginia welcomes Governor Abigail Spanberger’s leadership in intervening in the proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy by NextEra Energy.
“We are confident that a thorough hearing of NextEra’s deeply troubling track record of failed acquisitions, rate hikes and political corruption in Florida will make one thing clear: Virginia’s soaring bills and substantial energy challenges won’t be solved by creating an even bigger monopoly,“ said Clean Virginia executive director Brennan Gilmore. “Virginia needs an energy system built for our families and businesses, not utility shareholders.”
While the Governor’s leadership is a significant step, the default timeline for the State Corporation Commission to review the merger application — a 180-day period for a $67 billion decision that will shape Virginia’s energy system for decades — is insufficient. Such a short timeline will limit the impact of all intervenors, including the Governor. The Governor and legislative leadership can strengthen protections for Virginians by calling a special session to extend the review period to one year, allowing adequate time for a full fact-finding process and real regulatory scrutiny.
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Clean Virginia is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to removing corporate money from Virginia politics and reforming utility regulation to put customers first. Learn more at cleanvirginia.org.