Jim Purekal

Virginia lawmakers have passed the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act, groundbreaking legislation that establishes the Commonwealth’s first pilot program to unlock surplus interconnection capacity at existing solar facilities.

Virginia legislators have introduced the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act, a bill designed to deliver new gigawatts (GW) to the grid by tapping into underused capacity at existing power plants.

The Center Square reports on the election outcomes in New Jersey and Virginia, where Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger won their gubernatorial races. United’s Virginia Director Jim Purekal and New Jersey Policy Lead Katie Mettle highlighted the future governors’ focus on lowering energy prices through clean energy as a key component of their victories.

PV Magazine reports on the election results from Virginia and New Jersey, with a specific focus on unlocking new clean energy opportunities by making better use of existing interconnection capacity. United’s Virginia Director Jim Purekal emphasized that Virginia must make the most of existing energy resources to meet rising load growth, while United’s New Jersey Policy Lead Katie Mettle highlighted the need for siting and permitting reforms to get more projects online faster.

In Virginia, it’s more important than ever to quickly build and site new energy projects in the wake of H.R. 1, which could slow the pace of investment and development in critically needed initiatives. WHRO spoke with industry experts, including United’s Jim Purekal, who urged state leaders to keep costs low for ratepayers and highlighted solar as the most cost-effective form of energy generation available.

In an opinion piece for the Virginia Mercury, United’s Jim Purekal underscores the importance of federal tax credits in modernizing Hampton Roads’ energy systems, lowering electricity costs for residents, and bolstering energy security across the region. He calls on policymakers to safeguard these incentives going forward, which are essential to developing advanced energy projects and maintaining an affordable, reliable, and secure energy future for Virginians. 

Virginia Gov. Youngkin guts energy affordability measures passed by the General Assembly and industry advocates weren’t fooled by a backdoor attempt to repeal the Virginia Clean Economy Act  

Inside Climate News reports that Virginia Governor Youngkin is currently reviewing critical advanced energy legislation aimed at enhancing the state’s commitment to renewables by diversifying energy sources beyond large-scale utility projects. With concerns about energy affordability, United’s Jim Purekal argued that rising electricity costs are primarily driven by escalating fuel prices and storm recovery expenses.

Today the Virginia General Assembly passed two critical energy bills—S.B. 1040 and S.B. 1100—marking a major step forward in expanding clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for the Commonwealth.

Virginia’s Clean Cars Standard will help facilitate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the state, reducing the risks of long-term environmental impacts. United’s Jim Purekal shares his experience with The Virginia-Pilot of purchasing an EV as a second car, and why the state should do more to work toward a cleaner future by facilitating adoption of EVs.

Public News Service reports that Virginia’s clean energy initiatives are being stunted due to wide-spread misinformation. United’s Jim Purekal debunks false claims made against solar and offers alternative, reliable clean energy methods that can provide power to consumers throughout the state.