Virginia and Beyond: Climate and Energy Shifts in 2026

Virginia is stepping up its game to tackle rising energy costs. The incoming governor has plans to make electricity bills easier on the wallet. She wants to boost battery storage and energy efficiency to avoid expensive new power lines. Meanwhile, the state's offshore wind project hit a snag when the Trump administration paused work, leading to a $5 million daily loss for Dominion Energy, who sued in response. Innovation is taking flight at the Shenandoah Valley Airport. They're testing electric and hybrid-electric planes for short trips. These planes promise to cut emissions and noise. Virginia is also making data centers pay their fair share for electricity. These centers use a lot of power, and now they'll be charged differently than homes and factories. Democrats in Virginia are pushing for solar canopies over parking lots and more offshore wind jobs. These ideas were vetoed before but are back on the table. The state's first Climate Assessment gives a snapshot of climate change in Virginia. Meanwhile, Hampton is fighting sea-level rise with nature-based solutions like rain gardens and oyster reefs. Around the world, climate change is causing chaos. Floods and landslides in Southeast Asia affected millions. Warm sea temperatures made these disasters worse. Wildfires are also releasing more carbon than we thought. Scientists are worried about ocean currents slowing down due to global warming.In politics, the Trump administration is making big changes. They want to shut down a major climate research center and suspend offshore wind projects. They're also pressuring Europe to exempt U. S. oil companies from methane laws. Meanwhile, New York's governor is slowing down climate efforts, and the EU is aiming to cut emissions by 90% by 2040. Energy is shifting too. EV charging stations are popping up at places like Wawa and Sheetz. Solar and battery storage are growing fast, while fossil fuels stall. China is investing big in nuclear fusion research. About 26% of cars sold in 2025 are electric or hybrid, with China leading the way. In agriculture, corn is causing problems. The fertilizer used to grow it is warming the planet and polluting water. Scientists think perennial grains could help. More CO2 is making food calorie-dense but less nutritious. Climate justice is a big issue. Indigenous people are fighting for their land rights. Chinese clean energy projects have environmental and social impacts. Climate activists face growing repression worldwide. Cornell University is drilling for geothermal energy to heat its campus. Private companies are raising money to block the sun, which could have unintended consequences. Data centers use a lot of electricity, and tech firms are trying to reduce their impact. Replacing old diesel trains could cut pollution.