Virginia

Clean and fair energy

Virginia is a national leader in expanding clean energy and reducing air pollution, and SELC helped get it there. Laws in the state put Virginia on the path to a zero-carbon electricity grid by 2050. SELC attorneys are ensuring these laws benefit all Virginians. We promote broad access to solar power and energy efficiency, affordable and clean energy for all, and transitioning away from gas, which has been a major driver of rising electricity bills. SELC played an important role in advocating for the construction of the first offshore wind farm in the South, the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project which is expected to be fully operational in early 2027.

Data centers

With more than 600 data centers on the ground and a lack of any meaningful state oversight, Virginia is the epicenter of reckless data center development.  Data center growth is already causing electricity bills to increase in Virginia, a problem that will only get worse as utilities continue to use projected increasing demand from data centers as an excuse to build expensive new gas power plants and infrastructure. Left unchecked, this model will lock our Commonwealth into fossil fuels for decades, jeopardize our mandatory clean energy transition, and significantly increase unhealthy air and noise pollution as well as water impacts for local communities. Irresponsible data center development represents one of the top threats to a just energy transition for Virginia.

Environmental justice

Our successful challenge to a proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline compressor station set a strong legal precedent for considering environmental justice in permitting decisions. No longer can the impacts of polluting projects on Black, Brown and Indigenous Virginia communities be ignored. We work with local partners to ensure the law protects Virginians from facing unjust environmental harm—opposing gas infrastructure sited in overburdened communities, addressing sources of harmful air pollution, and amplifying the voices of those impacted by other projects that threaten public health and cultural resources.

Land & Community

Transportation is by far the leading source of climate pollution in Virginia, as well as a primary source of other pollutants that harm our environment and our health. In addition, highway projects often destroy natural, historic, and cultural resources while spurring sprawling development that causes further damage. We are working to advance cleaner, more equitable transportation and Virginia is making significant progress–expanding alternatives to driving such as passenger rail and transit services as well as promoting cleaner vehicles by increasing access to electric vehicle charging.

Our attorneys also focus on land use concerns ranging from data centers and other zoning issues to preservation of historic places. We work locally, at the state level, and with our Federal Affairs team to improve the resilience of communities from the coast to the mountains and make it easier for communities to recover from natural disasters, stronger storms, severe floods, and the increasing impacts of sea level rise. This includes advocating for policy solutions and funding that upgrade existing infrastructure, support nature-based solutions, and lift up the most vulnerable communities, and steer new development away from flood-prone areas.

National forests

Virginia’s national forests, the largest in our region, offer beautiful places to enjoy nature, help support local outdoor recreation businesses, provide key fish and wildlife habitats, and supply drinking water to millions downstream. We continue to oppose reckless projects that threaten national treasures and work to permanently protect outstanding places within these forests.