Dominion ratepayers on the hook again as give turns into take

September 1, 2026 Elizabeth McGowan

Ice from Winter Storm Fern clings to power lines in Tennessee on January 25, 2026. The storm brought extended subzero temperatures and ice to the Mid-Atlantic for more than a week, causing energy consumption to spike. *Photo by Reuters Connect*

Virginia’s largest utility is asking regulators to OK a long-term plan to recoup costs for high fuel prices. The new charges could wipe out a proposed customer rebate from a NextEra acquisition.

Crops and solar power? Virginia farms are ripe for the combo.

August 31, 2026 Elizabeth McGowan

Onions planted near and under 42 solar panels at Piedmont Environmental Council’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows in Aldie, VA, are ready to harvest. The site is a pilot project by PEC to integrate solar energy and crop farming.

A new Virginia law encourages farmers to mix solar generation with crops and cattle. A rural pilot program shows promise.

Virginia’s endless war - Voting rights

August 31, 2026 Philip A. Shucet

A restoration of rights form that Richard Walker used to check a former convict’s voting rights status during a fish fry in Richmond. *File Photo by Cianna Morales/WHRO*

A constitutional amendment on November’s ballot could enshrine the right to vote for ex-felons. It’s the latest chapter in the Commonwealth’s centuries-old fight over a foundational question.

Researching a dark history, Virginia lawmakers seek more from universities

August 19, 2026 Louis Hansen

A view of Vinegar Hill in the early 1960s — before Charlottesville city leaders uprooted the thriving Black community — looking north at the intersection of Main and Ridge streets. (Charlottesville Housing Authority)

A General Assembly commission is probing public universities' disruption of Black communities across the Commonwealth

Could a Dominion-NextEra marriage be bad news for rooftop solar?

August 18, 2026 Elizabeth McGowan

*A worker installs rooftop solar panels on a home in Northern Virginia. (Image via Shutterstock)*

Both energy giants have a history of trying to make small, independent solar projects more costly for homeowners and businesses.

Guns, militias and a long-running Virginia debate

July 22, 2026 Philip A. Shucet

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team march to their posts near the U.S Capitol building Jan. 17, 2021, in Washington, D.C. At least 25,000 National Guard men and women conduct security, communication and logistical missions leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. *(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)*

The Founders argued over the state’s authority to control armed forces. It remains a flashpoint.

Will a new Virginia law boost energy storage?

July 14, 2026 Elizabeth McGowan

A rendering of East Point Energy's proposed Mill Stone Energy Center in Chesapeake, Virginia. The company hopes to build an energy storage project that will connect to an existing transmission line near the Fentress Substation. *Photo Courtesy East Point Energy*

A proposed battery storage plant in Chesapeake meets the city’s requirements. Neighbors don’t see it that way.

Search our Virginia salary database

July 8, 2026 Kunle Falayi

The Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO compiled salary data for 170,000 state employees in 2025.

Virginia’s highest public earners come with a whistle or a corner office

July 8, 2026 Kunle Falayi

Tony Elliott displays the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl trophy after UVA’s 13-7 win over Missouri on Dec. 27 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The victory capped the Cavaliers’ 2025 season with an 11-3 record, the most victories ever for a UVA football team. *Photo Couresty // Grace Landini/Virginia Athletics*

A comprehensive analysis by VCIJ at WHRO of Virginia’s public salaries data shows who earns the most – and who lags behind.

The unending compromise of the Electoral College

June 23, 2026 Philip A. Shucet

Voters fill out their ballots at the early voting location at the Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center on October 21, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia., DC. *Photo bySamuel Corum/Sipa USA*

The Founders deadlocked over how a President should be elected. Virginia’s leaders feared a popular vote.

A new CEO for Virginia - Chief Energy Officer

June 16, 2026 Elizabeth McGowan

Virginia’s new Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond delivers the keynote address at a Coalition for Community Solar Access on May 29 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. *Photos by Elizabeth McGowan // VCIJ*

Environmental lawyer Josephus Allmond takes on a new cabinet position created by Gov. Spanberger. His task? Manage energy policy amidst rising consumer costs and growing demand

Virginia energy watchdogs urge caution as Dominion-NextEra deal moves ahead

June 8, 2026 Elizabeth McGowan

Tony Smith, CEO of Secure Solar Futures at his office in Staunton, Monday, June 8, 2026. *Photo by Christopher Tyree // VCIJ*

Advocates for consumers and clean energy see opportunities – and risks – to remake energy policy and practice in Virginia

Virginia Beach tech startup falls to earth

June 3, 2026 Daniel Berti

Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced an expansion of DroneUp's headquarters on Newtown Road in Virginia Beach in 2022. It was expected to create more than 500 jobs. *Photo by John-Henry Doucette // VCIJ*

DroneUp, started by a Navy veteran, launched with high praise – and up to $6 million in incentives – from state and local leaders. But the commercial drone company has failed to rise to expectations.

What can consumers expect from the proposed Dominion deal?

June 3, 2026 Kunle Falayi

Marshall, Michigan - The Cereal City Solar project, a 100 MW solar farm. It is a project of NextEra Energy Resources, a major developer of renewable energy

The planned acquisition of Dominion Energy by NextEra Energy brings together two multi-billion-dollar utilities. Here’s how they compare, and what consumers might see ahead.

The unchecked President and the Virginian debate

April 22, 2026 Philip A. Shucet

U.S. President Donald Trump signs executive orders during an indoor inauguration parade at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. *Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Sipa USA*

A strong executive worried the nation’s Founders. Centuries later, the debate continues.

Virginia police search vehicle surveillance data 24/7. ‘Why?’ isn’t always clear.

April 1, 2026 Kunle Falayi

Photo illustration by Kunle Falayi // VCIJ

A VCIJ at WHRO analysis of Flock Safety data shows a startling variety of reasons – mandated by a new state law – for vehicle surveillance. Critics say the automatic license plate reader law has made use of the technology even less transparent.

Weapon offenses rise on Virginia university campuses

March 30, 2026 Kunle Falayi

First responders block access to Old Dominion University's campus following an on-campus shooting on March 12, 2026. *Photo by Yiqing Wang // WHRO*

Weapon law violations at Virginia's colleges and universities have climbed since 2020, driven by cases at Old Dominion University and Virginia Commonwealth University, according to Virginia State Police data.

Virginia state senator’s solar plan roils conservationists

January 28, 2026 Guest Contributor

Republican Sen. Richard Stuart sits in the Senate chamber in Richmond, January 16, 2026. Stuart is trying install a solar farm on property he owns that is under a conservation easement. *Photo by Christopher Tyree // VCIJ*

Republican Sen. Richard Stuart wants to develop a large solar farm on his property. Green energy advocates say it would set a dangerous precedent.

History in Virginia - long in the making

January 20, 2026 Chris Tyree

At a time of major political divisions, Abigail Spanberger speaks about her vision for a unified and economically sound Commonwealth during her inaugural address on January 17, 2026.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger becomes Virginia’s first female governor, acknowledging generations who fought for a political voice.

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