Latest news with #CharnieleHerring
Business Upturn
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Summit Ridge Energy to Deliver Energy Savings to Virginians with New 4.1MW Solar Installation
Elkton, VA, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Summit Ridge Energy (SRE), Virginia's leading solar developer, announced the energization of its Scenic Farms Shared Solar Project, a 4.1-megawatt solar installation located in Rockingham County, VA. The project is part of the Commonwealth's expanded Shared Solar program, which provides Dominion Energy Virginia customers with broader access to solar energy bill credits—without requiring them to install panels on their own homes. State officials, including Deputy Secretary of Commerce & Trade Maggie Beal and House of Delegates Majority Leader Charniele Herring, joined Summit Ridge leadership, key investors, and community partners to mark the official opening of the site. The Scenic Farms Solar Facility is part of a portfolio of 25 projects that make up Summit Ridge's 100 MW footprint in Virginia—positioning the company as the largest developer in Virginia and expanding access to locally generated energy. The Arlington-based company is now the owner and operator of nearly half of all capacity in the Virginia Shared Solar Program. 'The Summit Ridge team is proud to call Virginia home, and even prouder to play a role in meeting the Commonwealth's growing energy needs. As Virginia has expanded its Shared Solar policy, we've had the opportunity to scale our efforts in tandem—now owning and operating 100 MW of projects across the state,' said Steve Raeder, Chief Executive Officer at Summit Ridge. 'We're committed to supplying locally generated power to Virginians while continuing our investment in the state.' The construction and operation of this project and others in development represent Summit Ridge's $250 million investment in Virginia—providing more than 1,000 jobs for construction workers, vendors, and local businesses. That investment is supported by Summit Ridge's joint venture with Osaka Gas USA Corporation, with construction financing led by MUFG, a leading global financial group. 'It means a lot to know that this land is continuing to support our community—not only by producing food, but also by generating local energy,' said Leroy Heatwole of Scenic L Farms, the landowner where the solar facility is located. 'We're proud to still be raising poultry and growing wheat here, while also supporting the local education system and contributing to energy savings and economic growth. It's an honor to be part of something that gives back and builds a legacy for my children and grandchildren.' Once operational, the Scenic Farms site alone is expected to generate over 6.5 million kWh annually, delivering meaningful energy savings to over 600 local subscribers. Summit Ridge's fleet of assets will reduce energy costs for nearly 16,000 Virginia households once energized. This significant development underscores Summit Ridge's commitment to improving grid stability, boosting local economies, and providing tax benefits to the community. The Scenic Farms development reflects a growing interest in shared solar across the region, as consumers, policymakers, and businesses seek locally generated energy that expands America's Energy Independence and long-term grid resilience. Residential customers located within Dominion Energy service territory will be able to subscribe and benefit from this project with bill credits beginning in the summer of 2025. Virginia residents interested in enrolling in the state's Shared Solar Program can get more information about subscribing by reaching out to Summit Ridge's partner, Perch Energy, which recently merged with Arcadia's community solar business. About Summit Ridge Energy As the nation's leading commercial solar company, Summit Ridge Energy merges financial innovation and industry-leading execution to deliver locally generated energy via a more resilient and secure electric grid. This has made Summit Ridge one of the fastest-growing energy companies in America, with over 2 GW of solar power operating and in development. Since launching in 2017, Summit Ridge has raised over $5B in project capital to finance 200+ solar farms, providing energy savings to more than 42,000 homes and businesses while contributing to American energy independence. Learn more at and connect with us on LinkedIn. Attachments Scenic Farms Solar Facility Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Scenic Farms Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
License plate reader bill survives, but surveillance concerns loom
Flock Safety cameras capture license plates. (Photo courtesy of Flock Safety) Despite near defeat and intense debate, a proposal to regulate automated license plate readers is still alive in Virginia's General Assembly — though not without significant revisions and shifting alliances. House Bill 2724, sponsored by Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, aims to rein in the widely used but loosely regulated surveillance technology. Initially, Herring sought to cap law enforcement's data storage at 30 days, but opposition from criminal justice and immigrant rights groups led her to slash the limit to 21 days. That move, however, cost her the support of police and sheriffs' associations, who spoke against the bill during Monday's Courts of Justice Committee hearing. The same panel defeated the measure last week before reviving it for further consideration. The bill has already cleared the House of Delegates, and Senate amendments now limit storage to 21 days, though departments can choose to retain data for even shorter periods. Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis, for instance, said his department keeps records for only seven days, a policy shaped by local community concerns. He has backed the legislation since it was first workshopped in the state crime commission last year. Herring said her bill would make Virginia the most restrictive state when it comes to regulating the technology, though New Hampshire limits storage for just three minutes. Among the 18 states that currently regulate the technology, 17 of them limit data retention. A report to the Crime Commission, which Herring chairs, shows how many states range from a few weeks to a few months. New Hampshire has the tightest restrictions on data retention while Alabama is one of the most loose at up to five years. Advocates and some lawmakers have also raised alarms that license plate data could be subpoenaed by federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or by states with abortion bans, potentially exposing Virginians who travel for reproductive health care. Herring has acknowledged that the pending state law 'cannot wholly avoid federal warrants and subpoenas' but argues her bill at least sets guardrails for existing and future plate reader use. Sens. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, and Jennifer Carrol Foy, D-Prince William, have speculated that the devices are more likely to be installed in predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods — areas that have historically experienced more negative interactions with law enforcement. Herring's bill also faced backlash for its proposal to allow state law enforcement to install readers along state roads. Critics argue this could lead to an expansion of surveillance before existing oversight measures are fully tested. 'I think we are doing real harm by expanding this by not allowing additional time to see how these guardrails will work and how they will be applied,' Aird said last week. 'I don't think limiting the legislation to existing cameras will be a detriment to law enforcement. This is not the time to expand them — we need to see how this legislation will work with the cameras that are in place.' To address those concerns, lawmakers adopted a reenactment clause on Monday. This means that while the bill would regulate existing cameras if signed into law, and any expansion of readers along highways would require further legislative approval next year. While additional adjustments could still be made if the bill advances, this compromise may remain in place. With the 2025 legislative session set to end this weekend, the bill's fate now rests in the Senate. If it clears that hurdle, Gov. Glenn Youngkin will have the option to approve, veto, or amend the legislation before it becomes law. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
VA House & Senate caucuses to hold joint press conference on key legislation
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia House and Senate Democrats is expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. on the front steps of the Virginia State Capitol to highlight accomplishments from the 2025 legislative session. Last month, House Democrats released their report titled, 'Unleashing Virginia's Potential,' outlining priorities for the session. Participants include: House Speaker Don Scott, House Leader Charniele Herring, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell and Sen. Mamie Locke. Location: Virginia State Capitol front steps. Time: Feb. 5, at 10:15 a.m. Press inquiries should be directed to Amber Gantt at amber@ or Nia Nyas at nia@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
License plate reader bill clears the House, but privacy concerns persist
Flock Safety cameras capture license plates. (Photo courtesy of Flock Safety) Virginia lawmakers are moving to regulate automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) for the first time, but privacy advocates warn that the legislation could expand surveillance rather than rein it in. The House of Delegates passed a proposal Tuesday that would impose rules on the use of ALPRs, a technology that has become widely adopted by law enforcement, private businesses, and homeowner associations but has largely operated in a grey legal area. House Bill 2724, sponsored by Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, seeks to limit how police can use the data collected by the cameras and restrict how long it can be stored. It also authorizes the Virginia Department of Transportation to issue permits for ALPR installation along the state's highways. The legislation follows growing concerns over the potential misuse of the technology. In Norfolk, residents have filed a federal lawsuit arguing that ALPR cameras violate their Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. In another troubling case, a mother and children were held at gunpoint after being mistakenly identified as driving a stolen car based on an ALPR alert. While Herring's bill is meant to create safeguards around ALPR use, critics argue it actually paves the way for a major expansion of surveillance across Virginia. Justice Forward Virginia founder Brad Haywood took to social media this week to accuse Herring of pushing legislation that benefits private companies selling ALPR systems rather than protecting civil liberties. Haywood said Herring was 'passing it off as 'regulation' when she knows full well that it gives Flock Safety 60,000 more miles of highways on which to install its Big Brother cameras.' Flock Safety, one of the leading manufacturers of ALPRs, has aggressively marketed its cameras nationwide, partnering with police departments and private entities to expand their use. With Herring's bill now headed to the Senate, it is likely to face continued scrutiny and pushback. When lawmakers examined ALPR regulations last year, Sen. Danny Diggs, R-Yorktown, defended the technology and its use to law enforcement from his perspective as a former sheriff. Meanwhile, Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, raised concerns about potential misuse, warning that ALPRs could disproportionately impact people of color. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
