Expectations vary for governor’s energy plan, which will address EPA power plant rule

E&E’s Rod Kuckro previews Virginia’s state energy plan.

The update of the 2010 energy plan will be an inclusive prescription that will maintain Virginia’s current electric power mix dominated by nuclear (36 percent), natural gas (30 percent) and coal (29 percent), with an eye toward increased deployment of solar power, a serious push to foster offshore wind farms and having the state government lead a robust effort to adopt energy efficiency, according to a senior adviser to the governor.

And for the first time — at the direction of the General Assembly earlier this year — the quadrennial exercise will include an analysis of the costs and benefits to Virginia of U.S. EPA’s proposed regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants, also known as the Clean Power Plan.