Virginia Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in Virginia. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for Virginia. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
- State leadership
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for Virginia
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
Virginia has major reserves of coal, and the state accounts for 5% of U.S. coal production. However, Virginia has only small reserves of petroleum and natural gas.
Read a more complete energy summary for Virginia, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Virginia Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 345 (million Btu) |
State rank | 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 238.1 (million Btu) |
State rank | 30 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | 0.6% | State rank | 11 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 3.2% | State rank | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 2,496 (million kWh) |
State rank | 12 |
Virginia has a deregulated competitive market for electric power. Electricity consumption is growing at 3.2% per year, which is half-again higher than the national average. Meanwhile, the population is growing at 1.3% per year, which is 1.5 times the national average.
Virginia contains good biomass resources and some areas with good wind energy resources in the Appalachian Mountains and offshore. Currently, the state ranks 12th among states with electricity production from biomass. And the state ranks 28th in wind energy potential. Read more Virginia electric power and renewable energy statistics published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 30% of all energy consumption in Virginia, which makes it the largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy. The state ranks 13th in ethanol consumption. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in Virginia from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 530 (gallons) |
State rank | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 106,222,959 (gallons) |
State rank | 27 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 58 | State rank | 41 |
| Population | 7,558,000 | State rank | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 77.9% | State rank | 21 |
| Annual population growth rate | 1.3% | State rank | 16 |
| Per capita personal income | $37,503 | State rank | 9 |
| Gross state product | $369,260 (million) |
State rank | 12 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for Virginia put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
Virginia has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
Virginia’s building energy code is the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code and is mandatory statewide for both residential and commercial buildings.
Renewable portfolio standard for renewable energy
Virginia has a voluntary renewable energy goal that encourages investor-owned utilities to procure 12% of base year (2007) sales by 2022 of the power sold in Virginia from renewable energy sources.
State standards for public buildings for energy efficiency
Through an executive order, Virginia encourages state agencies to increase overall energy savings and purchases of renewable energy. All state agencies and institutions constructing state-owned facilities over 5,000 square feet, and renovations of such buildings will be constructed consistent with energy performance standards at least as stringent as LEED and the EPA's Energy Star rating.
State Leadership
Governor Tim Kaine (D) began serving as governor in 2006. Previously, he was elected to four terms on the Richmond City Council and to two terms as Richmond’s mayor.
The Virginia Legislature is composed of a senate with 40 members and a house of representatives with 100 members. The legislature is usually in regular session for 2–3 months starting in January. The senate majority leader is Richard "Dick" L. Saslaw (D). The senate minority leader is Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R). The speaker for the house of delegates is William J. Howell (R).
The Virginia State Corporation Commission regulates utilities, insurance, state chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads. The commission chairman is Theodore V. Morrison Jr.
The Virginia Division of Energy administers the DOE State Energy Program in Virginia and advises the state's executive and elected leaders about energy policy. The office director is Al Christopher. The DOE State Energy Program publishes contact information for the Virginia energy office.
