Latest news with #Virginians'
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
The wisdom of ending wind and solar subsidies
Diana Furchtgott-Roth and Ryan Strasser, Tribune News Service The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act signals a major shift in federal energy policy. Among its provisions, the law accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for new wind and solar projects and eliminates long-term subsidies for renewable developers on public land. The law revives a principle that should guide all energy policy: Let the best ideas win on their own merit. Rolling back the subsidies should relieve pressure to use valuable land for solar and wind farms. Consider the direct land use involved in today's energy sector. Wind projects take up approximately 30,000 acres to produce the same amount of electricity as a 2,500-acre coal plant. Solar is also land-intensive, requiring about 5,000 acres for equivalent output. However, when government subsidies reduce the use of public land for renewable energy sources, investors are no longer incentivised to look at the tradeoffs of their land-use footprint. Land is a finite and valuable resource. Using it for energy comes at the expense of other potential uses. When developers receive subsidies, they do not have to account for the value of alternative uses for the land. If an energy source requires more land, it should pay for that land. Communities across the country are voicing concerns, objecting to large-scale wind and solar developments that disrupt local land use, strain water resources, and alter rural landscapes. According to Robert Bryce's Renewable Rejection Database, more than 800 wind and solar projects have been rejected or restricted by local governments in the United States since 2015. One example of the disadvantages of large-scale renewable energy projects is the Spotsylvania Solar Energy Center in Virginia, a solar facility that spans over 6,300 acres, one of the largest solar projects east of the Rockies. Locals raised their concerns over the project's environmental effects, particularly the clearing of 3,500 acres of forested land, which involved the removal of around a million trees. Residents feared toxic substances leaching from panels into groundwater, in addition to the heat generated by the installation of 1.8 million solar panels, manufactured by Chinese companies. Despite the opposition, full operation began in 2021. Virginians' average electricity rates rose from 10 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in 2019 to 15 cents/kWh in June 2025. This 50% rise in energy prices over less than 6 years underscores that wind and solar projects generally don't save money and entail serious environmental and community costs of their own. Supporters of climate-change subsidies often argue that a rapid shift to renewable energy is necessary as they believe resource depletion or environmental harm is on the horizon. Even though America still holds centuries' worth of recoverable fossil fuels, this argument is flawed in its understanding of energy production. Coal, oil, and gas are the most efficient and profitable energy sources available. Over the past 20 years, wind and solar have received global subsidies of $9 trillion. The most recent data from the Energy Information Administration show that renewable energy sources received over $15 billion in federal subsidies in 2024, compared to $3 billion for fossil fuels. If renewable energy is truly the cheapest and most competitive option, why do its supporters call for lavish government support? Some argue that without such incentives, renewable energy investment will dry up. However, when the government gives special financial help to one type of energy, it makes it harder to see which energy sources are the best and most affordable. This distorts fair competition. If wind and solar energy are the future of America's energy sector, they should compete without the crutch of federal aid. Subsidizing large-scale land for renewable energy development raises electricity prices and uses public, taxpayer-owned lands. The result is not cleaner and more reliable energy, but misallocated resources. Spain offers a cautionary tale. With over half of its grid supplied by renewables and a national push toward 100% by 2050, the country suffered a 12-hour blackout on April 28. Two solar panels in southwest Spain went down, and the grid had insufficient inertia, or backup, to continue operating. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents more than just a shift in federal spending; it reflects a renewed commitment to competitive land use in America's energy sector. By phasing out preferential tax treatment and below-market land deals, the law encourages energy developers to compete on merits and meet America's rising energy demands with an approach rooted in efficiency, reliability, and competition.
Fox News
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'Don't fret' response to massive job losses in Virginia under Trump won't cut it for me
Print Close By Abigail Spanberger Published July 18, 2025 Virginians recently learned that our commonwealth has lost our spot as "America's Top State for Business." One major factor was singled out as leading to the downgrade — the widespread economic impact of DOGE's attacks on the jobs of thousands of Virginians. I've always supported responsible efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse — as well as corruption. In the U.S. House of Representatives, I even led the bipartisan push to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading individual stocks. I believe that our leaders have a responsibility to restore trust in our government, make sure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently, and keep more money in people's pockets. But in the months since the Trump administration launched DOGE, I've been hearing from Virginians — across the political spectrum — who have lost their jobs or are worried their jobs will be targeted next. And I'm hearing from local business owners and contractors who are worried about their financial futures, as well as business leaders who are concerned about the long-term damage done to Virginia's economy; not just in northern Virginia, but in every corner of our commonwealth. We are home to more than 320,000 federal workers — not even including the private-sector workers who support federal contracts or the small business owners who are seeing Virginians cut back on family budgets. LOOK BEYOND THE BIG APPLE'S SOCIALIST VICTORY TO FIND DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS IN 2025 It isn't just federal workers who are taking a hit as a result of workforce cuts. A recent University of Virginia study projects that more than 32,000 Virginia jobs will be lost over the course of 2025 in large part because of DOGE. These include federal jobs, manufacturing jobs, food service jobs — real Virginians' jobs across many industries. The new "America's Top States for Business" rankings make one thing clear: the Trump administration's approach is not working for Virginia. This year, the results specifically cited the disproportionate impacts of the president's actions surrounding federal job cuts, but we haven't seen meaningful guidance from our statewide leaders for Virginians whose lives were upended. Earlier this year, our governor and lieutenant governor told Virginians who have lost their jobs to simply update their resumes and log on to LinkedIn. That isn't leadership. Virginia's lieutenant governor, who is also asking Virginians to let her serve as their next governor, has repeatedly laughed off Virginians' job losses. She offered these words of advice: "don't fret." I don't think Virginians in the throes of an unanticipated job search would call that leadership. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION I will never dismiss threats to Virginia's economy. This year's rankings make clear that Virginia's economy remains under threat, and we need a governor who has a plan to build a more resilient economy. Virginians deserve a governor who will put Virginia's economy first in the face of ongoing threats, no matter if it's a Democrat or a Republican in the White House. If elected to serve as Virginia's next governor, I will take action to make sure Virginia is the best place in the country to start or grow a business. I will focus on leveraging our commonwealth's strengths to attract new investment. Not only will we champion economic development in every corner of Virginia, including our rural communities, but we will focus on the strengths that keep businesses here — including our world-class community colleges and universities, our infrastructure, and our strong workforce. Whether we agree or disagree on every issue, I hope all Virginians can agree on the need to keep Virginia's economy competitive. Protecting Virginia's economy should be a bipartisan priority. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP I love Virginia, and that's why my husband and I are raising our three daughters here — in the place where we grew up. I want to protect the financial security and opportunities of everyone who calls our commonwealth home. That's why I've focused on lowering costs for all Virginians, not making life harder or creating chaos — and that's why I've already announced my Affordable Virginia Plan to lower health care, housing, and energy costs for Virginia families. If given the opportunity to serve Virginians as their next governor, I will put a plan in place on day one that is clear-eyed about the challenges ahead of us — not for political gain, but because that's what the people of Virginia deserve at this moment of uncertainty. Print Close URL
CNBC
27-06-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
University of Virginia president resigns amid Trump admin investigation of diversity initiatives
The president of the University of Virginia is resigning following pressure from the Trump administration to step aside amid a Justice Department probe into the school's diversity practices. James E. Ryan convened a meeting with his senior leadership on Friday and announced that he would be stepping down, according to a source who attended the UVA Board of Visitors meeting. The Justice Department had demanded Ryan step down in order to resolve an investigation over the school's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, according to The New York Times, which was first to report the news of his resignation. The university's governing Board of Visitors voted in March to end its DEI office under the Trump administration's order that U.S. schools end diversity programs or risk losing federal funding. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin had praised the decision, saying the board "voted for common sense." "DEI is done at the University of Virginia. We stand for the universal truth that everyone is created equal, and opportunity is at the heart of Virginians' and Americans' future," he said in a March 7 news release. But the Justice Department accused the school of failing to completely dismantle DEI and sent a letter dated June 17 warning that it needed to act fast, the NYT reported. The DOJ and the University of Virginia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said in a joint statement Friday that it was "outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth's globally recognized university remove President Ryan." They called him a "strong leader" who served the school "honorably and moved the university forward." "Virginia's economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system," the statement read. "Decisions about UVA's leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia's well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia's future." The school's board accepted Ryan's resignation, The New York Times reported. He has served as the school's ninth president since 2018.
NBC News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
University of Virginia president resigns amid Trump admin investigation of diversity initiatives
The president of the University of Virginia is resigning following pressure from the Trump administration to step aside amid a Justice Department probe into the school's diversity practices. James E. Ryan convened a meeting with his senior leadership on Friday and announced that he would be stepping down, according to a source who attended the UVA Board of Visitors meeting. The Justice Department had demanded Ryan step down in order to resolve an investigation over the school's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, according to The New York Times, which was first to report the news of his resignation. The university's governing Board of Visitors voted in March to end its DEI office under the Trump administration's order that U.S. schools end diversity programs or risk losing federal funding. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin had praised the decision, saying the board 'voted for common sense.' 'DEI is done at the University of Virginia. We stand for the universal truth that everyone is created equal, and opportunity is at the heart of Virginians' and Americans' future,' he said in a March 7 news release. But the Justice Department accused the school of failing to completely dismantle DEI and sent a letter dated June 17 warning that it needed to act fast, the NYT reported. The DOJ and the University of Virginia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said in a joint statement Friday that it was 'outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth's globally recognized university remove President Ryan.' They called him a 'strong leader' who served the school 'honorably and moved the university forward.' 'Virginia's economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system,' the statement read. 'Decisions about UVA's leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia's well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia's future.' The school's board accepted Ryan's resignation, The New York Times reported. He has served as the school's ninth president since 2018.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UVA president resigns under pressure from Trump administration, per reports
The New York Times is reporting that James Ryan, the president of the University of Virginia, will resign following pressure from President Donald Trump's administration. The school's board of visitors voted in March to dissolve UVA's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Partnerships. 'The Board of Visitors voted for common sense, saying 'no' to illegal discrimination and 'yes' to merit-based opportunity,' Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said at the time. 'DEI is done at the University of Virginia. We stand for the universal truth that everyone is created equal, and opportunity is at the heart of Virginians' and Americans' future.' Still, reports said the Department of Justice felt Ryan mispresented the steps he'd taken to eliminate the programs, and the Trump administration had pushed for his removal. At the time this story was published, UVA has not released an official statement on Ryan's resignation, but the New York Times obtained a letter to the head of the Board of Visitors saying he submitted his resignation. More: $15 million mental health crisis and detox facility to open near Augusta Health Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both United States Senators from Virginia, released a joint statement on Ryan's decision. 'Virginia's economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system,' the senators said. 'It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth's globally recognized university remove President Ryan — a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward—over ridiculous 'culture war' traps. 'Decisions about UVA's leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia's well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia's future.' Later, in a press call with Virginia reporters, Kaine called the move "a sad day for Virginia" and suggested that Ryan stepped down because he did not have the backing of the UVA Board to stand up to the administration. He urged other college boards across Virginia to stick to their appointed roles of overseeing those who run their colleges and back them to the hilt. "If you're on a board, you have to have the back of your president and stand strong," Kaine said. He likened the move to a test of loyalty to the Trump Administration. "It's like they now have a pelt and they are proud of it," Kaine said. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, said in a statement that the move by the administration goes against every foundation on which UVA was built. 'Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia to serve as a bastion of academic freedom for students to engage in intellectual curiosity without fear of censorship or retaliation. He viewed education as a shield against tyranny," McClellan said. "The bullying of his beloved university by President Trump and his Justice Department are the exact brand of government overreach he feared. University leaders should be accountable to the university community and its governing bodies, not subjected to political pressure from the president of the United States.' More: Augusta County residents speak out against Pride event cancellation — Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@ and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: UVA president resigns under pressure from Donald Trump, per reports
