2007 General Assembly Wrapup

The General Assembly ended a whirlwind legislative session--on time!--and conservation issues, including land use and transportation, local growth authority, and energy regulations were the most talked about subjects in the halls of the General Assembly Building, on news and editorial pages, and in communities around Virginia.

Here's a wrapup of conservation wins during the 2007 General Assembly session:

 

Energy and Powerlines:

VALCV fought against industry sponsored proposals that would fail to set Virginia on the path to energy independence.  VALCV stopped bills that would make it easier for utilities to build powerlines without local control and fought for bills that promote energy conservation.  VALCV lobbied in Richmond to:

  • Improve the Dominion Virginia Power-endorsed re-regulation plants to provide for renewable energy and energy efficiency components. VALCV is continuing to work with the Governor to improve this legislation (HB3068 - Del. Hogan; SB1416 - Sen. Norment);
  • Enable the State Corporation Commission to review more powerline projects and study whether they are necessary and if they can be undergrounded (HB2614 - Del. May; SB1362 - Sen. Colgan - both passed!);
  • Afford a Sales Tax Holiday for energy efficient appliances (HB1678 - Del. Cosgrove; Sb867 - Sen. Watkins - both passed!);
  • Secure real estate tax abatement opportunities for energy efficient buildings (HB2618 - Del. Fralin; SB1051 - Sen. Edwards - both passed!); and
  • Fight attempts to drill offshore for oil and gas (SB1396 - Sen. Wagner - failed!).

Citizen Involvement:

VALCV helped protect Virginia’s long-standing history of inclusive government, making sure citizens have say in their communities.  VALCV lobbied in Richmond to:

  • Protect citizens who speak out at public hearings from fear of intimidating lawsuits waged by developers (SB1250 - Sen. Herring - passed!; SB858 - Sen. Reynolds and HB3194 - Del. L. Ware were conformed to SB1250);
  • Ensure our effective system of citizen involvement and environmental boards are not dismantled by requiring a reenactment clause on the bills. This will require the 2008 General Assembly to adopt the legislation again before it goes into effect and allow more time for stakeholder involvement (HB3113 - Del. Landes; SB1403 - Sen Puckett);
  • Expand citizen representation in the Fort Monroe Federal Area Redevelopment Authority (HB3180 - Del. Gear; SB1392 - Sen. Williams - both passed!); and
  • Ensure power plant projects are not placed on "fast-track" permitting processes that would exclude citizens (SB1031 - Sen. O'Brien - passed with significant improvements).

Land Use, Transportation, and Billboards:

VALCV fought development interests seeking easier means to overdevelop our communities and spoil our countryside.  VALCV worked with key leaders to make land use reform a critical issue in the 2007 General Assembly session and in the upcoming 2007 elections.  VALCV lobbied in Richmond to:

  • Instill important land use reforms to help control unchecked development and protect rural lands (HB2227 - Del. Wardrup; HB2814 - Del. Sickles; SB1181 - Sen. Williams; SB1254 - Sen. Herring);*
  • Reform transportation principles in Richmond to encourage truth in reporting and ensure roads alleviate congestion and improve air quality rather than open new lands to sprawl (HB2854 - Del. Moran - passed!; SB1259 - Sen. Herring - failed; HB2922 - Del. Shannon - failed);
  • Promote transit investments over building new, sprawl-inducing highways; and
  • Protect the rural and historic character of our communities by stopping special interest billboard legislation (HB2128 - Del. Hugo - passed, asking Governor to veto; SB1102 - Sen. Williams - failed!).

*HB2227 (Del. Wardrup) and SB1181 (Sen. Williams) require developers and local governments to build subdivision streets with important new design standards that include promoting connectivity and mitigating stormwater runoff.  Both bills passed and a modified version of the legislation appears in the omnibus transportation bill – HB3202.

HB2814 (Del. Sickles) and SB1254 (Sen. Herring) clarified that local governments have the right to say no to a rezoning if it will overwhelm existing infrastructure.  Unfortunately, the developer lobby killed these bills in close committee votes.