4/16/26 - Gov. Abigail Spanberger takes aim at utility costs in bill amendments

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You're listening to you're listening to to the VPM Daily Newscast, the recap of today's top stories in central Virginia. From the VPM newsroom in Richmond, I'm Sean McGoey. Governor Abigail Spanberger made several changes to one of the most consequential pieces of electric utility regulation this year. VPN news reporter Patrick Larson breaks down the adjustments. A bill sponsored by Delegate Destiny Levier Bowling would extend Dominion Energy's strategic undergrounding program and potentially shield rate payers from subsidizing some, data center related costs. Governor Abigail Spanberger is watering down the language, leaving it up to state

regulators to determine how to make data centers pay their fair share. And she wants to limit the strategic undergrounding program, a popular but expensive initiative meant to reduce power outages. Now, undergrounding is very valuable for a whole host of reasons, but the most important thing for me as governor is that the full cost of that type of upgrade is not born on the backs of rate payers. Abigail Spanberger also moved to retroactively cut Dominion's profits for the current two-year rate cycle. Lever-Boling, a Henrico Democrat, told VPM News she would oppose most of the governor's amendments when the legislature reconvenes next week. Patrick Larson, VPM News. Henrico County's Board of Supervisors approved the county's $2 billion budget for the upcoming

fiscal year. The plan includes a 3% salary increase for all county government employees and over $300 million in capital improvements without raising property tax rates. Decreased state funding could affect the school division's $900 million spending plan, but board chair Roscoe Cooper said education remains a priority. When you're on a school ward and running a division with 76 buildings, 50,000 students, 7,000 employees, they're allowed a needs. And I want to say that we are committed along the county manager and our peers on school water, making sure that those needs are met.

Henrico's school board has an opportunity to adopt or amend its budget proposal at its meeting Thursday. A multi-million dollar investment will expand turkey processing capacity in Rockingham County. The Virginia poultry growers cooperative will spend $114 million for a series of upgrades, including a state-of-the-art feed mill, new railroad lines in Linville, and improvements to the water treatment system in Hinton, according to Governor Abigail Spanberger's office. The planned 2 million cubic foot mill will allow the co-op to process 4.5 million more turkeys and purchase 2.4 million more bushels of corn and wheat from Virginia's farmers over the next three years.

Governor Abigail Spanberger unveiled Virginia's statewide strategic tourism plan for 26 through 2029 in Charlottesville on Wednesday. The plan identifies ways to grow family-friendly attractions, invest in sports and event infrastructure, and enhance lodging and outdoor recreation. During the event, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Kerry Chenery said tourism is a cornerstone of Virginia's economy. The role that tourism plays in that, in the places to live and grow and learn and love and enjoy, it's such an integral part of our Virginia's story. The new plan was developed by the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

More information can be found at vatc.org. Finally, today, Charles III III and Queen Camilla of Britain will visit the Commonwealth later this month. The royal couple announced they'd be making stops in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and New York during a four-day trip, April 27th through the 30th. Buckingham Palace said that while in Virginia, the king and queen will visit an unspecified U.S. National Park, meet with Native Americans, and join a block party to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

There are also planned stops at the White House and to meet with family members of victims of the September 11th attacks in New York. This has been the VPM daily newscast.

VPM.