Dominion Energy is re-opening two coal-fired power plants in Virginia, in order to be prepared to meet power needs during peak hours this summer. The plants were shut down to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mercury Air Toxics Standards rule (which the Supreme Court later ruled was improperly issued). However, PJM Interconnections, a company that manages the electrical grid in many eastern states, including Virginia, requested the plants be allowed to temporarily remain open...
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Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a one million dollar contract to the Minerals Refining and Rare Earth Consortium (MRREC), of which Virginia Tech is a member. The consortium consists of two other universities, University of Kentucky and West Virginia University. This award is one the three selected by the DOE. The $1 million DOE funding will be used to support the Phase 1 activities, which include laboratory tests, preliminary plant design, economic analysis, and others. In about a year’s time...
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Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) recently introduced legislation to promote closed-loop pumped storage hydropower. The possibility of developing pumped-storage in Virginia’s coalfields is a developing idea that has potential to generate substantial economic activity. Congressman Griffith said, “Our state legislators have worked hard to facilitate the deployment of this technology in the coalfields, and my bill provides the support necessary to complement their work from the federal level.” “At...
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As information is being reported about the attack at the Republican Congressional baseball practice this morning, Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said: “This morning’s attack was terrible and my prayers are with my friends and colleagues, Congressional staffers, and the police men and women, all who were in harm’s way. I hope Congressman Steve Scalise and all who were injured have a speedy recovery. Our prayers are also with all who were present at the shooting.” “As we wait for more informat...
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June 13, 2017 – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) introduced the ‘‘Pipeline Fairness and Transparency Act.” Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced similar legislation in the Senate. The House and Senate bills were drafted to reflect the concerns of constituents, in regard to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval process of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). In his bill, Congressman Griffith includes language to re...
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President Trump today announced that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord regulating carbon emissions. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: “The Paris Climate Accord is a bad deal for Americans, as I’ve been saying since the deal was announced. The United States can be the world leader in energy innovation; this symbolic, expensive, and poorly negotiated deal doesn’t change that. The United States is ALREADY a clean energy and fossil fuel en...
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Rep. Loudermilk (R-GA) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) partnered on a bill to reverse an Obama-era EPA rule that incorrectly defines truck trailers as self-propelled vehicles. The Truck, Trailer, and Transport Efficiency Act (T3E) changes the regulation issued by the EPA, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which illegally extended the EPA’s legislative authority by defining truck trailers as motor vehicles. “The EPA’s rule, finalized under the last Administra...
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Later today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is expected to come out with their updated score to the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said, “As I have told many people regarding the original scoring, I do not have confidence in the scoring of CBO. So whether the score shows improvement or not, I stand by my previous position. This is not to say that a CBO score is not a benchmark to be reviewed, but because of the methodology they generally use, I believe...
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Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2288, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017. The bill creates a new process for veteran disability appeals so those appeals can be resolved faster and hopefully shorten the backlog of cases awaiting a decision. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said, “This bill makes the appeals process more efficient for veterans. Veterans deserve quicker answers to their disability claims and it is important that we address the current b...
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President Trump announced he will formally renegotiate NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said: “I have no problem trading with our friends to the North and South, however there needs to be a more balanced and fairer trade deal between our respective countries. Southside Virginia’s economy was devastated from the effects of NAFTA and other initiatives. I look forward to reviewing potential updates or modifications to NAFTA, particularly those that wil...
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