The Roanoke Regional Chamber supports HB 1752 as a way to expedite broadband expansion and remove a particular roadblock for entities involved in doing so. Thank you to the committee for its consideration.

Thank you for allowing me to provide written comments in support of adding advanced nuclear energy and hydrogen to the renewable energy portfolio standard. My name is Braden Croy and I serve as program director at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, a non-profit public private partnership founded in 2009 by the Virginia Bio-Tech Research Park Authority, Dominion Energy, Hanover County, and the Town of Ashland to support the hich-tech entrepreneurs and small business owners driving the innovations needed to achieve a net-zero carbon economy. For over ten years, the DEIC has been working with entrepreneurs at all stages of the startup journey to help them ideate and launch their innovative technology solutions. We've supported Virginia entrepreneurs with startup workshops, industry conferences, non-dilutive grants, and expert mentorship. With a recent grant from the US Department of Energy we are designing entirely new programming focused specifically on supporting Virginia's advanced energy entrepreneurs with a series of Statewide innovation challenges seeking to identify, fund, and ultimately commercialize cutting edge advanced nuclear and hydrogen technology. For decades Virginia has been an energy innovator, bringing to market projects that ensure every citizen and business is provided an opportunity to access clean, affordable and always-on electricity. By taking an all-of-the-above approach to the State's diverse energy mix and codifying the importance of advanced nuclear energy technology and other advanced energy systems such as hydrogen, this legislature will ensure the State maintains its leadership position and serves as an international role model for advancing commonsense energy policy. The State's four nuclear reactors have served an important role for over 40 years by supplying Virginians with 24/7 clean energy, providing 32% of the State's total power production and an astounding 95% of its carbon-free energy. As the State marches toward net-zero by 2045, the importance of advanced nuclear energy and clean hydrogen cannot be overstated. Both nuclear and hydrogen are widely known and trusted sources of energy. Hydrogen is an adaptable energy carrier that can be used to stabilize the grid when there are imbalances, power zero-emission long-haul transportation, and decarbonize heavy industries like steelmaking. Hydrogen is also unique in that its source of production is variable, from natural gas with carbon capture to electrolysis using electricity produced by renewable sources. However, to maximize the efficiency and affordability of these energy systems, the Commonwealth must take the important step to identify them as renewable energy sources, thus unlocking access to key Federal, State, and Local project development support. The growth of Virginia's advanced energy sector will touch every corner of the state and fully showcase the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Virginia a top place for business. The DEIC is ready to serve as a community partner; providing space, coaching, and funding to our future energy leaders.

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is the national trade association representing the nuclear energy industry. Our members include the owners and operators of the U.S. nuclear fleet, a global supply chain, academic institutions training the nuclear workforce, national labs researching nuclear technology and others. Several of our members have businesses in Virginia. Nuclear energy is the single largest carbon-free electric generating source in both the United States and around the world. In the United States, our 92 nuclear reactors produced about half of all carbon-free energy. In Virginia, your nuclear assets provide 30.3% of the electricity and 87.2% of the carbon-free energy. It is essential to include nuclear’s contributions to decarbonization in meeting Virginia’s clean energy goals. NEI is excited for policies enabling Virginia to recognize the value of the nuclear assets in the Commonwealth and explore advanced nuclear technology. NEI urges you to support HB HB 2333, HB, 2311, and HB 2197 and make Virginia a national leader in nuclear energy.

The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance supports HB 2197 at its recognition that renewable energy includes energy from advanced nuclear energy technology. To meet the Commonwealth’s goal of 100% carbon-free energy by 2045, it is critical for Virginia to utilize all available clean energy technologies. This should include nuclear energy. Thank you to the committee for its consideration.

Thank you for allowing me to provide written comments in support of adding advanced nuclear energy and hydrogen to the renewable energy portfolio standard. My name is Braden Croy and I serve as program director at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, a non-profit public private partnership founded in 2009 by the Virginia Bio-Tech Research Park Authority, Dominion Energy, Hanover County, and the Town of Ashland to support the hich-tech entrepreneurs and small business owners driving the innovations needed to achieve a net-zero carbon economy. For over ten years, the DEIC has been working with entrepreneurs at all stages of the startup journey to help them ideate and launch their innovative technology solutions. We've supported Virginia entrepreneurs with startup workshops, industry conferences, non-dilutive grants, and expert mentorship. With a recent grant from the US Department of Energy we are designing entirely new programming focused specifically on supporting Virginia's advanced energy entrepreneurs with a series of Statewide innovation challenges seeking to identify, fund, and ultimately commercialize cutting edge advanced nuclear and hydrogen technology. For decades Virginia has been an energy innovator, bringing to market projects that ensure every citizen and business is provided an opportunity to access clean, affordable and always-on electricity. By taking an all-of-the-above approach to the State's diverse energy mix and codifying the importance of advanced nuclear energy technology and other advanced energy systems such as hydrogen, this legislature will ensure the State maintains its leadership position and serves as an international role model for advancing commonsense energy policy. The State's four nuclear reactors have served an important role for over 40 years by supplying Virginians with 24/7 clean energy, providing 32% of the State's total power production and an astounding 95% of its carbon-free energy. As the State marches toward net-zero by 2045, the importance of advanced nuclear energy and clean hydrogen cannot be overstated. Both nuclear and hydrogen are widely known and trusted sources of energy. Hydrogen is an adaptable energy carrier that can be used to stabilize the grid when there are imbalances, power zero-emission long-haul transportation, and decarbonize heavy industries like steelmaking. Hydrogen is also unique in that its source of production is variable, from natural gas with carbon capture to electrolysis using electricity produced by renewable sources. However, to maximize the efficiency and affordability of these energy systems, the Commonwealth must take the important step to identify them as renewable energy sources, thus unlocking access to key Federal, State, and Local project development support. The growth of Virginia's advanced energy sector will touch every corner of the state and fully showcase the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Virginia a top place for business. The DEIC is ready to serve as a community partner; providing space, coaching, and funding to our future energy leaders.

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is the national trade association representing the nuclear energy industry. Our members include the owners and operators of the U.S. nuclear fleet, a global supply chain, academic institutions training the nuclear workforce, national labs researching nuclear technology and others. Several of our members have businesses in Virginia. Nuclear energy is the single largest carbon-free electric generating source in both the United States and around the world. In the United States, our 92 nuclear reactors produced about half of all carbon-free energy. In Virginia, your nuclear assets provide 30.3% of the electricity and 87.2% of the carbon-free energy. It is essential to include nuclear’s contributions to decarbonization in meeting Virginia’s clean energy goals. NEI is excited for policies enabling Virginia to recognize the value of the nuclear assets in the Commonwealth and explore advanced nuclear technology. NEI urges you to support HB HB 2333, HB, 2311, and HB 2197 and make Virginia a national leader in nuclear energy.

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is the national trade association representing the nuclear energy industry. Our members include the owners and operators of the U.S. nuclear fleet, a global supply chain, academic institutions training the nuclear workforce, national labs researching nuclear technology and others. Several of our members have businesses in Virginia. Nuclear energy is the single largest carbon-free electric generating source in both the United States and around the world. In the United States, our 92 nuclear reactors produced about half of all carbon-free energy. In Virginia, your nuclear assets provide 30.3% of the electricity and 87.2% of the carbon-free energy. It is essential to include nuclear’s contributions to decarbonization in meeting Virginia’s clean energy goals. NEI is excited for policies enabling Virginia to recognize the value of the nuclear assets in the Commonwealth and explore advanced nuclear technology. NEI urges you to support HB HB 2333, HB, 2311, and HB 2197 and make Virginia a national leader in nuclear energy.

Louisa County Supports HB2333 Virginia is a leader in clean energy production with over 30% of the state’s power based on zero emission nuclear generation. Nuclear power provides reliable, competitively priced electricity to consumers in the Commonwealth, and low energy costs play a critical role in maintaining Virginia’s stature as an attractive location for business. The Commonwealth is also home to numerous facilities and operations in the nuclear energy sector including BWX Technologies (engineering), Framatome (industrial computing and regulatory compliance), Newport News Shipbuilding and many others. These entities sustain thousands of jobs throughout the Commonwealth which support Virginia families, generate substantial tax dollars, and trigger beneficial relationships with higher education in the state to train the future nuclear workforce. Dominion Energy operates the North Anna Nuclear Power Station in the County, and has set “net zero” emissions goals for its overall generation portfolio. Achieving these goals represents a substantial benefit to the environment and will require diversification of generation resources beyond that which is achievable by wind, solar, and energy storage alone. Additional nuclear generation represents a viable path forward in this important effort. Small Modular Reactors (SMR) represent an innovative, safe alternative to traditional nuclear power stations. Ranging from 50-300MW and fabricated in a factory environment, SMR’s incorporate advanced features including scalable output and safe shutdown even in the absence of operator action, and their reduced complexity results in lower infrastructure requirements. HB894 (2022) directed the Department of Energy to study the development of SMR’s and convene a stakeholder group for “promoting the development of advanced small modular reactors in the Commonwealth.” Louisa County supports this effort.