energy | FFXnow

Gov. Spanberger signs energy, contraception bills from Fairfax County legislators

Published April 9, 2026 at 11:45AM

Abigail Spanberger speaks at a campaign event in Annandale (staff photo by Jared Serre)

As the deadline for her to act on 2026 General Assembly legislation approaches, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed additional bills yesterday (Wednesday) on health care, housing and energy, including a few championed by Fairfax County lawmakers.

The governor has approved hundreds of bills since the General Assembly session ended on March 14. The latest round of bills includes a codified right to contraception, limits on prior authorizations on prescription drugs from insurance plans, stricter emissions standards for data centers, tools to incentivize and preserve affordable housing, and a longer mandatory waiting period before landlords pursue evictions.

Countywide

Fairfax County proposes new zoning rules on facilities for large-scale battery storage

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 13, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated January 14, 2026 at 10:40AM

Battery Energy Storage System (photo by Dennis Schroeder/National Renewable Energy Laboratory, via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (Jan. 13) set a pair of future public hearings on proposed revisions to zoning rules for large-scale battery storage in the county.

The proposed changes would impact what are known as Battery Energy Storage Systems, or BESS. Language in the amendments would add a new definition for BESS and add new use standards and submission requirements, including minimum setbacks and the completion of a noise study before a site plan can be approved.

Countywide

Potential bill would exempt Lorton waste incinerator from Va. carbon reduction regulations

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

Reworld's I-95 Energy Resource Recovery Facility off of Furnace Road (via Google Maps)

A requirement established by the Virginia Clean Economy Act could force a Lorton incinerator that converts waste into energy to shut down, undermining the intent of the law, state Sen. Scott Surovell (D-34) says.

The Senate majority leader plans to introduce a bill at the Virginia General Assembly’s upcoming session that would exclude Fairfax County’s I-95 Energy Resource Recovery Facility (9898 Furnace Road) from regulations requiring larger electricity generators to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, starting in 2031.

News

Dominion Energy sues Trump administration for halting wind projects

By Associated Press

Published December 26, 2025 at 2:45PM

Wind turbine bases, generators and blades are positioned along with support ships at The Portsmouth Marine terminal at the staging area for Dominion Energy's wind turbine project Monday Dec. 22, 2025, in Portsmouth, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The developers of a Virginia offshore wind project are asking a federal judge to block a Trump administration order that halted construction of their project, along with four others, over national security concerns.

Dominion Energy Virginia said in its lawsuit filed late Tuesday (Dec. 23) that the government’s order is “arbitrary and capricious” and unconstitutional. The Richmond-based company is developing Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, a project it says is essential to meet dramatically growing energy needs driven by dozens of new data centers.

News

Virginia offshore wind project among those halted by Trump administration

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published December 22, 2025 at 3:45PM

Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Charybdis works to install generators for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project near Hampton Roads (via Dominion Energy)

The Trump administration on Monday suspended leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon.

Among the affected projects is Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which has been under construction about 27 miles off of the Virginia Beach coast since 2023.

Countywide

Fairfax County solidifies new rules for electrical substations as energy demand grows

By Nolan Stout

Published December 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

An electrical substation in Idylwood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is requiring future electrical substations to be built at least 100 feet away from residential property lines.

At its meeting last week (Dec. 9), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a zoning ordinance amendment governing substations.

Countywide

Report: Fairfax carbon emissions trending down, despite post-Covid travel uptick

By Nolan Stout

Published December 5, 2025 at 8:30AM

Westbound traffic passing through the Oakton area on I-66 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County has reduced greenhouse gas emissions nearly 30% since 2005, with officials optimistic the downward trend will continue toward the county’s goals for 2030.

County staff provided a draft report of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) greenhouse gas inventory to the Board of Supervisors’ environmental committee last week (Nov. 25).

Countywide

FCPS celebrates progress on solar panel, electric bus initiatives, even as federal support fades

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 3, 2025 at 8:30AM

Langley High School student Shriya Gubbi speaks at a Sun Day event celebrating clean energy outside James Madison High School in Vienna (photo by Scott Peterson)

Half a decade after Fairfax County launched a solar panel initiative touted as the largest in Virginia to date, the first major installation at a public school is nearing completion.

Rooftop solar panels have been under construction at Olde Creek Elementary School (9524 Old Creek Drive) since Aug. 1 and are on track to become fully operational by Oct. 13, according to Fairfax County Public Schools.

News

Program to boost energy-efficient homes wins praise, draws some concern from supervisors

By Scott McCaffrey

Published September 19, 2025 at 8:30AM

Solar panel roof installation (via Raze Solar/Unsplash)

Will Fairfax County’s latest energy-efficiency initiative deliver enough bang for the buck to make it viable in an era of constrained budgets?

County supervisors weren’t so sure, but the new Energy Compass initiative will have the coming year to prove its worth.

News

Cause of Reston house fire traced to rooftop solar panels

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 5, 2025 at 8:30AM

Firefighters extinguish solar panel fire on Reston house (courtesy FCFRD)

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) has confirmed that a recent house fire in Reston was sparked by an electrical issue related to its rooftop solar panels.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 2300 block of Colts Brook Drive around 6 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 3) for the blaze, which could be seen around the solar panels when they arrived, the FCFRD said yesterday (Monday) in a blog post.