Four Ways to Reduce the Power Sector Emission Rate in Virginia

Virginia can achieve nearly 80 percent of the EPA's emission rate target for 2020-2030 through planned coal plant retirements and the use of combined heat and power (CHP) and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants. To meet the remainder of the target, the state can implement energy efficiency measures to achieve 1.3 percent annual energy savings and increase renewable energy generation to 15 percent by 2025, leveraging untapped wind and solar potential.

• Virginia can meet nearly 80 percent of the EPA's emission rate target for the period between 2020 and 2030 by combining planned coal plant retirements with the use of combined heat and power (CHP) systems and running existing and planned natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants at 75 percent capacity.
• To reach its emission rate target, Virginia can adopt energy efficiency policies to achieve 1.3 percent annual energy savings, which would help curb a projected 63 percent increase in electric generation driven by Dominion Power's demand expectations.
• While Virginia generated only 3 percent of its electricity from renewables in 2012, meeting the voluntary renewable portfolio standard goal of 15 percent by 2025 through wind and solar potential would assist the state in meeting its emission rate target.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Four Ways to Reduce the Power Sector Emission Rate in Virginia. https://www.wri.org/research/power-sector-opportunities-reducing-carbon-dioxide-emissions-virginia

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Four Ways to Reduce the Power Sector Emission Rate in Virginia. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/power-sector-opportunities-reducing-carbon-dioxide-emissions-virginia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Four Ways to Reduce the Power Sector Emission Rate in Virginia |url=https://www.wri.org/research/power-sector-opportunities-reducing-carbon-dioxide-emissions-virginia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendfour, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Four Ways to Reduce the Power Sector Emission Rate in Virginia}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/power-sector-opportunities-reducing-carbon-dioxide-emissions-virginia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }