Virginia General Assembly Members Become “Ratepayer Champions” Against NextEra-Dominion Takeover
RICHMOND, VA — A dozen Virginia legislators have signed on as “Ratepayer Champions,”pledging to oppose NextEra Energy’s proposed $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy, protect constituents from power bill increases, and protect constituents from the impacts of data centers.
The $67 billion deal would hand control of Dominion Energy to Florida-based NextEra. The State Corporation Commission’s evidentiary hearing is set to begin November 17. These twelve legislators are going on record now, before the decision is made, to tell constituents where they stand.
“We are grateful to the Virginia General Assembly members who are stepping up as Ratepayer Champions and putting the people they represent first. They are making an important choice to stand with the families, workers, and small businesses who pay the power bills, and to demand accountability from powerful utility corporations. We’re proud to have these champions with us in this fight, and we’re calling on more lawmakers to join them.”
— Melissa Thomas of the Stop NextEra coalition
The signers include seven members of the House of Delegates and four state senators, representing regions across the Commonwealth:
House of Delegates
Marty Martinez, District 29
John McAuliff, District 30
Sam Rasoul, District 38
Katrina Callsen, District 54
May Nivar, District 57
Leslie Mehta, District 73
Charlie Schmidt, District 77
Kacey Carnegie, District 89
Senate
Schuyler VanValkenburg, District 16
Danica Roem, District 30
Russet Perry, District 31
Stella Pekarsky, District 36
As Ratepayer Champions, participating members have committed to:
Oppose the proposed Dominion–NextEra merger
Protect constituents from power bill increases driven by excessive utility profits
Protect constituents from the impacts of data centers
“I’ve been spending time listening to residents, advocates, regulators, utilities, and energy experts to better understand Virginia’s energy system and the challenges we face in meeting our growing energy needs. Those conversations have reinforced for me that any proposal involving an essential public service, especially one of this magnitude, must be judged by a simple standard: will it make life better for Virginians? I believe the burden of proof rests with those seeking approval of this merger, and based on the information available today, I have yet to be convinced that it will deliver clear benefits for Virginia families and businesses.
“When a Florida-based corporation seeks control of Virginia’s largest utility, Virginians deserve confidence that decisions affecting their energy bills, reliability, and future will put Virginia communities first. While I respect the State Corporation Commission’s ongoing review, the unanswered questions surrounding affordability, accountability, and local oversight give me serious concern.”
— Delegate May Nivar, District 57
“A $67 billion proposal to create the world’s largest electric utility ever should be disqualifying in and of itself. This is an obscene amount of money. The promises for four years of minimal tax credits, some localized jobs and more office space doesn’t negate that this would create an unprecedented mega monopoly.
“These are two mega corporations teaming up to create a monopoly powerful enough to make billions upon billions of dollars powering the data center industry at the expense of the residents with an untold amount of new transmission infrastructure that they profit from building. Don’t be fooled: they’re doing this for their shareholders, not for our ratepayers. If they gave a damn about the ratepayers, they wouldn’t be dangling a four-year credit; Dominion would have already requested the State Corporation Commission approve it indefinitely.
“Teddy Roosevelt warned us of this type of consolidated corporate greed 120 years ago when he fought a mega railroad merger. We should learn from our history. The State Corporation Commission needs to reject this merger. I support the Virginia General Assembly reconvening before the start of the 2027 session to give them every tool possible to pursue that outcome.”
— Senator Danica Roem, District 30
“Communities across Virginia know what it means when a family has to choose between paying the power bill and paying for groceries. Twelve legislators just told their constituents they won’t let a $67 billion corporate takeover make that choice harder. That’s what moral leadership looks like.”
— Patrice Smallwood, State Governing Board Chairperson, Virginia Organizing
“Immigrant and working-class families are already stretched thin by rising costs of energy. These twelve legislators are putting their constituents ahead of a Florida corporation’s bottom line, and that’s exactly the kind of accountability and leadership we need from our elected officials right now. We’re hopeful and calling on more support from the rest of our elected officials.”
— Luis Aguilar, Virginia Director, We Are CASA
“The people who’ll actually pay for this merger, through higher bills, through the cost of powering data centers, haven’t had a seat at the table while a $67 billion deal gets decided. State lawmakers standing up for their constituents are changing that. These twelve legislators are telling Virginians plainly: we see what this could cost you and your neighbors, and we’re not going to let it happen without a fight. Thank you to every one of these Ratepayer Champions for putting their community ahead of a corporate takeover.”
— Colleen Bohlman, Neighbors for Change
“NextEra’s $67 billion bid would put Virginia’s largest utility in the hands of an out-of-state company with no commitment to meet the Virginia Clean Economy Act’s targets. We believe NextEra’s priority is fossil fuel power and shareholder profits, not clean energy. These twelve legislators are standing up for Virginia’s clean energy future. We’re grateful for their leadership and need more of it before this case is over.”
— Sharon Shutler, Co-Chair, Climate & Clean Energy Working Group
About the Stop NextEra Coalition
The Stop NextEra coalition is a statewide coalition of Virginians and organizations working to ensure that the proposed NextEra-Dominion acquisition receives meaningful public scrutiny and that Virginia’s energy future puts families, communities, affordability, accountability, and a clean energy transition first. Learn more at StopNextEra.com.
About We Are CASA
With over 189,000 lifetime members across 46 U.S. states, We Are CASA is a national powerhouse organization building power and improving the quality of life in working-class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. CASA creates change with its powerbuilding model blending human services, community organizing, and advocacy in order to serve the full spectrum of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members.
Virginia Organizing
Virginia Organizing is a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization dedicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. Virginia Organizing especially encourages the participation of those who have traditionally had little or no voice in our society. By building relationships with individuals and groups throughout the state, Virginia Organizing strives to get them to work together, democratically and non-violently, for change.
About Neighbors for Change
Neighbors for Change is a progressive grassroots organization that strives to educate, empower, and inspire action on the issues that shape daily life in Western Henrico County.
About the Climate & Clean Energy Working Group of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition
The Climate & Clean Energy Working Group (CCEWG) of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition is a nimble, action-driven team of volunteers advancing legislation to accelerate the transition to zero-carbon energy, curb fossil fuel pollution, protect Virginians from the environmental and health impacts of unchecked data center growth, and ensure Virginians aren’t stuck paying the bill for Big Energy’s expansion.