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Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #3

Thursday, January 22, 2026·1h 23m·▶ Watch / Listen

The subcommittee advanced six energy and utility bills — including measures on PJM transparency, grid utilization, virtual power plants, and a utility consultation requirement for vegetation management — while tabling a controversial SMR ratepayer-protection bill (HB 74) after last-minute amendments left stakeholders without time to reach consensus.

Key Actions

·HB 84 – PJM Vote TransparencyNo Vote

+ 3 more actions

Controversies

Whether existing SMR ratepayer protections are adequate (HB 74)

Chrissy Noonan (Dominion Energy) argued the topic 'was heavily negotiated two years ago and has numerous built in ratepayer protections,' listing a $1.40 monthly bill cap, a five-year sunset, single-facility limitation, and commission prudency review, and warned the bill sets a dangerous precedent for future utility projects. Delegate Keys Gamarra countered that there is 'no provision within the legislation to handle funds from that where the funds that had not been used had not been invested,' pointing to a gap in existing law when costs were not spent.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“It's SMR today, and if the winds change. Bad pun. It's offshore wind tomorrow. What happened was out of our control on offshore wind. This is a dangerous precedent and will have a chilling effect on the utility's ability to build generation in Virginia.”

Chrissy Noonan (Seven Hill Strategy Group/Dominion Energy) — Noonan was testifying against HB 74, which would have added ratepayer refund requirements if Dominion's small modular reactor project fails to meet an SCC-established deadline.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 492 with amendmentPassed
Adopt patron's amendment to HB 74 (85% SMR cost credit)Failed
Lay HB 74 on the tablePassed
Report HB 120 substitutePassed
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TranscriptPreview
Ladies and gentlemen. All right. If I could call you to order, please. Ladies and gentlemen, for this Thursday meeting of the mighty sub three, the clerk open the roll. Take, take attendance. We have a quorum. Thank you. First, we will have. Yeah, I do so a couple administrative proceedings. I have three. Bill more than three. We have several bills we're going to take by for the day. HB 323, House Bill 369, HB 420, GB 422, House Bill 466 and HB 617. Do I hear a motion? Motion properly made, properly seconded. All in favor of taking that list of bills by for the day, say aye. Any opposed? Those are by for the day. At the request of the patron, we're going to strike HB565. That's a recorded vote. Mr. Clerk, could you put. Put us on the. Please close the roll. HP 565 is stricken from the docket. Okay, let's start with HP 492. Delegate Siebel, good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Early last year, my constituents were devastated, rightfully furious, when a utility company clear cut more than four miles of trees along the WOD trail, one of the most heavily used multi use…
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