Strome Business Minute With Dr. Jeff Tanner

Dominion Energy just released a green energy plan that consumers can purchase. But big customers like Walmart are pushing back. The pushback stems from the fact that Dominion is packaging energy from four coal-based plants with eight solar and two hydroelectric sources and calling it renewable. State regulations allow that because some coal plants also burn biomass. According to the Virginia Mercury, Walmart’s Lisa Perry told state regulators that Dominion’s plan would stifle renewable energy investment and innovation. The Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, which includes General Motors, Google and Amazon, opposes Dominion’s proposal, because if regulators approve the proposal, Dominion is granted a monopoly on renewable energy, effectively ending investment by potential providers.