Chesapeake Alliance Energy Reliability Discussion
April 30, 2026, Chesapeake, VA
Conservatives for Clean Energy – Virginia (CCE-VA) was honored to accept an invitation from two distinguished leaders in the clean energy space — 2025 Clean Energy Champion David Ropp, Chairman, and Dawn Matheson — to attend the Chesapeake Business Alliance’s monthly community social. The event featured a timely and substantive presentation by John Larson, a Dominion Energy alumnus and former Director of Public Policy, whose remarks centered on a topic of growing urgency across the Commonwealth: energy reliability and its critical relationship to the energy market.
Larson opened by offering attendees a comprehensive look at Virginia’s evolving energy landscape, drawing on his years of experience navigating the intersection of energy policy and business. A centerpiece of his remarks was the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Project, one of the largest offshore wind developments in the United States. Despite facing some headwinds at the federal level in recent months, the project has continued to advance at an impressive pace. Larson reported that construction is now 75% complete, with all 176 monopiles successfully installed, along with all three offshore transition pieces and jacket foundations. All deep-water cables are in place, and 66% of the nearshore export cables have been installed. Perhaps most significantly, as of March, the project has begun delivering energy to the grid — a milestone that speaks to the determination and resilience of those driving this effort forward.
Rather than framing offshore wind as a standalone solution, Larson carefully situated the CVOW Project within Dominion Energy’s broader strategic vision. He described the company’s commitment to what he called an “all-of-the-above” energy approach — a diversified portfolio that includes wind, solar, natural gas, and nuclear power. Each source, he emphasized, plays a distinct and essential role in maintaining a reliable, resilient grid that can meet the demands of Virginia’s growing residential, commercial, and industrial customers. In a world of increasingly complex energy systems, no single technology can carry the load alone.
That message resonated deeply with State Senator Christie Craig (R – Chesapeake/Virginia Beach), who was in attendance and offered remarks of her own in response to the presentation. “By embracing a balanced energy strategy that includes nuclear, natural gas, hydro, wind, and solar,” Senator Craig said, “we can ensure that Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth can have a reliable and affordable energy supply.” Her words reflected a pragmatic, solutions-oriented perspective that transcends partisan lines — one that CCE-VA has long championed.
For CCE-VA, the evening was a powerful reminder of why conversations like these matter. The organization was proud to be part of a room filled with business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders who share a common understanding: when it comes to meeting Virginia’s energy needs, nothing can be left on the table. The challenge ahead is not simply about generating more power — it is about strategically and thoughtfully deploying the right mix of resources to serve not only our domestic energy needs, but also the broader imperatives of national security and energy independence.
As Virginia continues to chart its energy future, CCE-VA looks forward to continuing this vital conversation alongside organizations like Chesapeake Business Alliance — voices who recognize that a strong, reliable, and diverse energy grid is both an economic necessity and a conservative value worth defending.