Balancing Power: Local Leadership Join Calls for More Time on NextEra Merger Decision
City and County representatives across seven localities urge Governor Spanberger to convene a special General Assembly session to extend the SCC’s review of the proposed acquisition.
(This blog was originally shared as a press release September 2, 2026)
As ongoing discussion of Dominion Energy’s acquisition with Florida based NextEra Energy simmers, leaders are taking action to voice their growing concerns. Yesterday, 26 local government representatives across 7 Virginia localities including the Cities of Charlottesville, Richmond, Alexandria, Falls Church, Albemarle County, Arlington County, and Chesterfield County, sent a joint letter urging Governor Spanberger to convene a Special Session of the Virginia General Assembly to extend the State Corporation Commission (SCC)’s review period for NextEra’s proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy from the current 180-day maximum to at least 365 days.
With only 180 days to review, localities are rushing to evaluate the unique challenges each municipality will face if Virginia proceeds with the NextEra deal. Local leadership across the state agree that more time is needed to weigh if this acquisition is right for Virginia. “Chesterfield County sits at the center of Dominion’s Virginia service territory, and this case reaches well beyond a change in ownership on paper. That is a decision our constituents have a right to weigh in on directly, not just by phone,” said Jessica Schnieder, Chesterfield County Board Member.
“While communities across the Commonwealth have diverse needs, adequate time is needed to ensure this review is thorough, complete, and guided by public interest, not a compressed statutory timeline,” added Maureen Coffey, Arlington County Board Vice-Chair. “This merger has the potential to reshape all aspects of energy for our community. Arlington County, our residents, and businesses need more time to fully understand and evaluate a proposal that would impact our clean energy goals, the rates we pay, and the grid reliability that supports the critical infrastructure on which we all rely.”
Andrew Breton, Richmond City Councilor also shared, “It’s heartening to see leaders from multiple regions of the commonwealth speaking up in unison – we need more time to fairly advocate for our residents in this merger case. That’s true for Richmonders, and true for residents in every municipality. In 2016 we spent two years considering a deal one tenth the size of this one. This proposal, to create the largest utility in our country’s history, is a massive undertaking that calls for a review process of at least one year, if not two. Without a longer timeline, many municipalities will miss the deadline to intervene on behalf of their residents.”
For many localities that are planning the future of their communities, a valuable public review process in this acquisition is critical. “The City of Charlottesville is determined to meet our climate goals and has already made strides to do so, including working to make the future of Charlottesville’s energy cleaner and more affordable; these are goals this merger would undoubtedly impact,” said Mayor Juandiego Wade of the City of Charlottesville. “Our residents deserve a thorough, meaningful review process for a deal that will alter Virginia’s energy landscape as we know it.”
“Local leaders are stepping up to protect residents where our state agencies are falling short by demanding a longer, more thoughtful review process. We encourage Governor Spanberger to answer their call,” stated Carolyn Pugh, Director of Climate Policy at the Community Climate Collaborative.
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About Community Climate Collaborative
The Community Climate Collaborative aims to bring communities together to lead on climate by working closely with schools, businesses, residents, and local governments to implement carbon emissions reductions, develop climate action plans, and enact equitable policies that accelerate climate action. Visit theclimatecollaborative.org.
