OUR MISSION
Our mission is to advance clean government and clean energy by fighting utility monopoly corruption in Virginia politics.
OUR Vision
Clean Virginia is working toward a future where every Virginian has access to clean, affordable energy and where elected officials are accountable to the people they serve. Today, corporate monopoly utilities and special interest groups hold disproportionate influence in Virginia politics, leading to real costs for families and the environment. We envision a future where the public interest comes first – driving decisions that benefit communities, families and businesses across the Commonwealth.
In our vision for the future:
Virginia’s electric utilities operate as stewards of the public good, aligning their operations with the needs of the communities they serve to foster a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for all Virginians.
Our energy system is reliable, affordable and clean. With a focus on energy efficiency, and renewable resources like solar and wind, Virginia’s energy system is safe, low-cost and resilient in the face of extreme weather and natural disasters. Distributed energy solutions like rooftop solar are accessible and give Virginians the ability to generate their own power, strengthening the grid and increasing energy independence.
Elected leaders represent the will of the people. Elections and policy outcomes are driven by passion, good ideas and grassroots energy — not by money or insider connections. Elected officials are held accountable to the people they represent, ensuring that decisions reflect the voices and priorities of Virginians. Governance is guided by transparency, trust and integrity, with a commitment to advancing community well-being and long-term prosperity over short-term profits.
Everyone has a seat at the table. People living, working and raising families in the Commonwealth have a meaningful role in shaping decisions, ensuring their voices are heard and represented.
Our North Star is a Virginia where anyone – regardless of who they are, where they’re from or how much money they have – can run for office, shape public policy and access clean, affordable and reliable energy.
Bringing this vision to life requires driving meaningful change across all levels of government, with a particular focus on the Virginia General Assembly and State Corporation Commission.
wins for virginians
Since our founding in 2018, we have fought to accomplish bipartisan progress and have succeeded in:
- Restoring regulatory oversight over Virginia’s monopoly electric utilities through the passage of the Affordable Energy Act. This change is expected to save ratepayers billions of dollars over the next decade.
- Securing $330 million in refunds for Dominion Energy customers after the passage of House Bill 528 in 2020.
- Establishing protections for Virginians facing utility shut-offs in times of extreme temperature and public emergencies.
- Helping elect 55 state lawmakers who have taken a principled stance against accepting money from the utilities they have a duty to regulate.
- Expanding access to community solar and energy efficiency programs to lower families’ bills and cut down on pollution.
- Empowering Virginians to participate fully in the legislative and regulatory decisions that impact their lives, such as the Appalachian Power Company 2024 rate case.
The path ahead
We are committed to realizing our vision by continuing to fight for:
- Limiting the influence of money – especially from publicly regulated utilities – in Virginia politics.
- Ensuring utilities are incentivized to earn fair profits for providing reliable, affordable and sustainable service that benefits everyone.
- Protecting families and small businesses from bearing the economic, health, and environmental costs of increased energy demand driven by data centers and wealthy corporations.
- Strengthening the integrity of electoral campaigns by banning the personal use of campaign funds by candidates and lawmakers.
- Preventing Virginians from being stuck paying the costs of polluting utility projects like Dominion Energy’s proposed methane gas plant in Chesterfield County.
- Making sure Virginia’s legislature is independent from corporate influence and has the resources it needs to make smart policy decisions that serve the public interest.
how we work
At Clean Virginia, we are committed to driving systemic change through collaboration, advocacy and accountability. Our approach is guided by transparency and a steadfast focus on the public good. Here’s how we work to bring our vision to life:
- Advocacy, policy, and legislative action: We engage the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Virginia General Assembly and other stakeholders in the policymaking and regulatory process. By developing policy, providing fair and accurate information, and mobilizing public support, we push for laws and regulations that prioritize the well-being of Virginians.
- Supporting principled candidates and lawmakers: Through our Political Action Committee, Clean Virginia Fund, we financially support candidates for Virginia’s General Assembly and Executive Branch who are committed to good governance, environmental justice, and affordable, clean energy. We back those who have taken a principled stance against accepting public utility contributions, ensuring elected officials remain accountable to their constituents and free from monopoly utility influence. Clean Virginia’s funding comes from our Board Chair, Michael Bills. For details on our financial reports and political giving, visit Virginia’s Public Access Project.
- Empowering communities: We work to ensure that Virginians have a seat at the table in decisions that affect their energy bills, the environment and the future of their communities. This effort includes organizing grassroots campaigns, providing small grants through our Community Giving program, supporting community leaders and leveraging media resources to amplify the voices of those who are often underrepresented in the policy-making process.
- Transparency and accountability: Through rigorous research and monitoring, we shine a light on the negative influence of monopoly utilities and special interest groups in Virginia politics. Our goal is to create a political environment where decision-makers respond to Virginians, not corporate agendas.
- Educating and informing: We create and distribute straightforward information about energy issues, political developments and ways Virginians can take action to our email list and social media followers. By fostering greater public understanding and engagement, we ensure that the movement for clean, affordable energy and clean, ethical government in Virginia is both powerful and inclusive.
Join us in this fight for a better, brighter Virginia — because the future we envision is one where everyone thrives.