by Mair Famet
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger unveiled her statewide energy affordability plan this week, pledging to expand access to existing programs, increase local energy production, and protect Virginia families from rising utility costs.
Spanberger’s plan includes scaling up weatherization programs, improving energy efficiency in homes and public buildings, and ensuring that large energy consumers such as data centers pay their fair share of infrastructure costs.
Spanberger told WHSV that a central pillar of her plan is ensuring that more Virginians, especially those in underserved areas, are aware of and can access state-level energy programs.
“It’s important that the governor’s office does the valuable work of ensuring that people know the programs that are available to them,” Spanberger said. “Programs that exist for weatherization of homes, they keep your house warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and ultimately, they lower costs”
The proposal also includes provisions to extend grace periods for renters facing hardship, arguing that more flexible eviction policies can help prevent long-term instability and support both tenants and landlords.
”It is about ensuring that there is a statewide strategy recognizing the trajectory we are on for our energy needs and that Virginia is able to pursue greater independence by generating much more energy to meet the needs of our community now and our communities into the future” Spanberger said.
Spanberger also added that to meet rapidly increasing demand and reduce cost hikes on Virginia families, data centers must pay their fair share of the cost of new electricity generation and transmission that must be built to power them.
Spanberger’s campaign said the plan is part of her broader commitment to making Virginia more energy resilient, economically secure, and equitable.
WHSV contacted Lieutenant Governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears for comment, but did not hear back.