March Newsletter

In this edition ● Chesapeake Sustainability Network ● Green Drinks Chesapeake - Survey ● General Assembly ● Native Plants ● Planning Commission ● City Council ● Action Alerts ● Volunteer Opportunities ● In the News

The next Green Drinks meeting will be on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 6 pm at El Toro Loco, 109 Gainsborough Square (off Battlefield).  Come out and enjoy some good conversation with others working to improve the environment.  We'll have some updates on the Data Center policy efforts, what bill passed the General Assembly - including a Tree Bill, a request from Tidewater Compost, and what's happening during Earth Month in Chesapeake.  
See Events Coming Up during Earth Month in Chesapeake
Topics of Interest
General Assembly 2026

 Data Center Policy
Greenbrier Area Plan
Streetscape rendering from Plan
Chesapeake Comp Plan
Urban Forestry

 Bike & Ped Facilities
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Earth Month Chesapeake 2026

 


Calendar of Events


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March Newsletter

March Newsletter

In this edition ● Chesapeake Sustainability Network ● Green Drinks Chesapeake - Survey ● General Assembly ● Native Plants ● Planning Commission ● City Council ● Action Alerts ● Volunteer Opportunities ● In the News

Chesapeake Sustainability Network

Join the Chesapeake Sustainability Network for a call on Thursday, March 5, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to discuss our local efforts.  We'll use Google Meet - see the e-mailed newsletter for the link or reach out to us at greeningchesapeake@gmail.com

The agenda will include the Data Center Working Group, Green Drinks Review, and General Assembly Updates.

Green Drinks Chesapeake - Survey

We need your input on a 3-minute survey about our Green Drinks meetings.  Since YNot Italian closed in late 2024, we've been trying out different venues for our Green Drinks gatherings; none have been ideal and attendance has suffered.  We ask you to please take a few minutes to tell us about your preferences for meeting dates, location, and topics.  Your input is valuable to us.  Take the quick anonymous survey at  https://forms.gle/XKAzeFfGJBoooENLA

Our next Green Drinks meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The location will be based on the survey input.  The theme will be Earth Day and Earth Month.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is in session.  Numerous bills have been submitted to address a variety of environmental topics, including renewable energy, data centers, invasive species, land conservation, PFAS, environmental justice, and more.  See the bills we're tracking here.  Stay tuned for various Action Alerts on bills by joining our Greening Chesapeake Facebook Group or going to our Action Alert page.  

Native Plants

The Throwing Shade Virginia program from the Virginia Department of Forestry incentivizes customers to purchase and plant native species of trees and shrubs by providing discounts of $25 on eligible purchases valued at $50 or more.   Chesapeake's Southern Branch Nursery is one of the participating nurseries.  Learn more at https://dof.virginia.gov/urban-community-forestry/urban-forestry-community-assistance/throwing-shade-va-program/

Southern Branch Nursery is also hosting a community screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar on March 20th at A Place for Girls, the Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast headquarters in Chesapeake.  Registration required.  Suggested donation: $5 per person.  Each registered attendee will receive a free native pollinator host plant to take home.  There will also be a native plant pop-up shop.  Concessions will be available.  Register at https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML4YD83RCNXR3/checkout/U4CZG5RCFG67RMUYNCET4TOC

The Extraordinary Caterpillar film features Doug Tallamy and other leading voices exploring the essential role caterpillars play in sustaining the food web — and how native plants can help rebuild biodiversity right here in Chesapeake. This inspiring 60-minute film reveals how small actions in our own yards can make a meaningful difference for wildlife, pollinators, and the health of our ecosystems.

Planning Commission


Agenda items for the Planning Commission on March 11:

  • Concurrent advertising to go to the City Council on March 17:
    PLN-REZ-2025-017 in Great Bridge at 1733 & 1737 Battlefield Boulevard South, to build General Business District (4.2 acres), Multifamily Residential (10.6 acres), and Single Family Residential District (11.3 acres).  Potential tree canopy loss - 6 acres

Find the full agenda at Planning Commission Agenda


City Council


At the City Council in February



Going to City Council in March:


  • PLN-REZ-2025-009 in Great Bridge to build Low Density Residential development on a 25.3 forested lot.  The site contains forested wetlands; it is not in CBPA.  Sets aside 3 acres for park site.  Sets aside 4.2 acres for conservation. Potential Canopy loss of 16 to 18 acres. Planning Commission recommended denial, partially due to the loss of open space, trees, and wetland from development
  • PLN-REZ-2025-017 in Great Bridge (see March Planning Commission above).

Find details on the City Council agenda page.

Action Alerts
  • The Planning Department will hold informational meeting detailing a proposed new land conservation option for rural property owners on Monday, March 9, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways Museum (1775 Historic Way).  Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) is a proposed tool the City is exploring to assist with accomplishing goals to promote the preservation of agricultural and environmentally sensitive land.  The meeting will include a presentation and time for staff to answer individual property owner questions. 
  • The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) is seeking public input to identify and address congestion concerns. It includes opportunities to rate the importance of Alternative Transportation Modes, such as biking and walking, and Land Use Planning, such as building walkable communities.  Take the survey  https://www.hrtpo.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/276
  • Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) is seeking public input for Hampton Roads Horizon, a long-range regional strategic plan focused on improving the quality of life and strengthening economic competitiveness. Take the survey at  https://hrpdcva.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/280 
  • Chesapeake Recycles Day will be on March 7, 9 am - Noon, at Oscar Smith Middle School.  https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1089/Chesapeake-Recycles-Day
  • The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council (CEIC) is taking nominations for its Environmental Awards through March 16.   The Awards Program is an annual celebration to recognize those individuals, groups, or organizations that have been involved in outstanding recycling, beautification, litter control, and environmental projects in Chesapeake. https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1261/Environmental-Awards-Program
  • The Chesapeake Clean & Green Poster Contest is taking entries through March 30. https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1255/Chesapeake-Clean-Green-Poster-Contest

Volunteer Opportunities

In the News

Stay on top of the latest news and join the conversation in our Facebook group at Greening Chesapeake

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February 2026 Newsletter

February Newsletter

In this edition ● Chesapeake Sustainability Network ● General Assembly ● Data Center Policy ● Comp Plan ● Renewable Energy ● HRT Microtransit Service ● Planning Commission ● City Council ● Green Drinks ● Action Alerts ● Volunteer Opportunities ● In the News

Chesapeake Sustainability Network

Join the Chesapeake Sustainability Network for a call on Thursday, February 5, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to discuss our local efforts.  We'll use Google Meet; see the e-mailed newsletter for the link or reach out to us at greeningchesapeake@gmail.com

The agenda will include the Data Center Policy, Renewable Energy, and Earth Day Planning.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is in session.  Numerous bills have been submitted to address a variety of environmental topics including renewable energy, data centers, invasive species, land conservation, PFAS, environmental justice and more.  See the bills were tracking here.  Stay tuned for various Action Alerts on bills by joining our Greening Chesapeake Facebook Group or going to our Action Alert page.  

Data Center Policy

On January 13, the City Council approved an Initiating Resolution requesting the Chesapeake Planning Commission to consider and make recommendations concerning Data Centers.  This would start the process to make amendments to the Chesapeake zoning Ordinance to provide that Data Centers are a conditional use in appropriate zoning districts when certain conditions are met.  The associated memo from the Director of Planning states that it is anticipated that the recommendations will call for data centers to require a conditional use permit in industrial zoned areas and within the Fentress Airfield Overlay, and that they will not be permitted within business and office districts.    

We submitted comments on behalf of the Chesapeake Sustainability Network supporting the Initiating Resolution and urging the Planning Department to work with the community, hold public meetings, and seek public input on the proposed policies.   We asked that the policies address required setbacks, permissible noise and vibration levels, power and water consumption, backup power generation (e.g., diesel vs. gas turbine), landscaping, security, construction, and other such factors.  How noise analysis is done before zoning approval should be carefully defined; bad assumptions can provide misleading noise analysis.   It is also crucial that the policy address how the City will handle violations after operations begin.  For example, the City Noise Ordinance currently exempts HVAC and backup generator operation and needs to be amended.

Comprehensive Plan

The City Council approved the new, revised Chesapeake 2045 Comprehensive Plan for the City on January 20.   Overall,  the document presented a strong vision for creating a high-quality future for the City that is proactive about developing necessary infrastructure, protects green and open space, works to connect people, and respects the unique character of different parts of the City.   We should thank the Planning staff for their diligent work in developing a plan that covers so many critical areas.  

At the City Council meeting, we raised concerns that the Staff did not give itself enough time to consider inputs to the final draft last year.  The draft document was out for review for two months late last summer, but the staff only gave itself 4 or 5 working days to incorporate any feedback before delivering the final draft to the Planning Commission.  Several of our comments were not acted upon.    When the City Council was voting on the Plan, Council Member Amanda Newins made a statement that the City should do more about conservation landscaping and environmental education; these were two key policy recommendations we had been making all along.   But ultimately, the document was adopted as presented.    



Renewable Energy

Renewable energy has been in the news this month.  In late December, the Trump administration issued a 90-day stop-work order to five major East Coast offshore wind projects, citing national security risks regarding radar interference.  This included the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.   Like the other developers, Dominion Power filed suit to resume work, citing a cost of $5 million per day as the specialized installation vessels were idled by the stop-work order.  By mid-January, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction allowing work to resume.   The first of the 176 turbine towers and blades was installed a few days later. The first power is expected to flow from the farm in the coming weeks.  

Meanwhile, in Richmond, Governor Spanberger has started work to have Virginia rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).  While Virginia was operating in the RGGI framework from 2020 to 2023, carbon emissions declined by 22% according to the Environmental Protection Agency, a reduction that was mostly reversed between 2023 and today after we exited the program.  Leaving RGGI was ruled illegal by a judge in 2024, although the ruling was appealed.  In parallel,  HB397 is now making its way through the General Assembly to remove any future ambiguity on whether Virginia shall participate in the program. 

Locally, Eastport Energy has been holding information meetings about its plans to build a Battery Energy Storage System facility, named the  Mill Stone Energy Center, in Chesapeake.  This facility would be able to store 600 megawatt-hours of energy from the offshore wind project.  At peak output, this project will be able to provide the electricity necessary to power all the homes in Chesapeake, and then some, for a 4-hour period.  The project will sit on approximately 112 acres,  most of which will remain forested, along the existing 230 kV power transmission line, approximately two miles south of the Fentress Substation on the western side of Centerville Turnpike South.




Hampton Roads Microtransit


Hampton Roads Transit and the City of Chesapeake have initiated a pilot program to provide microtransit rides.  Residents can get $2 on-demand rides from HRT across central Chesapeake (area in the map below).  The pilot program will be operational through October, at which point both Chesapeake can evaluate usage and participation.  Learn more at https://gohrt.com/ondemand/


Planning Commission


Agenda items for the Planning Commission on February 11 include:

  • PLN-REZ-2025-009 in Great Bridge to build Low Density Residential on 25.3 forested parcel. This parcel contains forested wetlands but is not in the CBPA.  Aerial photos indicate the parcel was clear-cut in 2009 and has regrown since.  Sets aside 3 acres for park site.  Sets aside 4.2 acres for conservation. Potential Canopy loss - 16 to 18 acres.
  • PLN-COMP-2026-001 - Deep Creek Area Plan

Find the full agenda at Planning Commission Agenda


City Council


In January, the City Council approved


  • PLN-REZ-2025-008 in Great Bridge to build Low Density Residential at the south side of Hanbury Road West between Kingsbury Drive and Madison Lynn Way.

and denied
  • PLN-REZ-2025-014 in Western Branch at 5028 Portsmouth Blvd. to build Gas Station.  Includes landscaping. 

The Parks, Recreation and Tourism Master Plan is expected is expected to be on the City Council agenda in February.


Green Drinks Chesapeake - Wednesday, February 25, 2026

The next Green Drinks meeting will be on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the Black Pelican at the Greenbrier Mall, 1625 Ring Rd.  Our speaker will be Dylan Mason, Public Policy Manager for LRNow.  He will talk about his work on Offshore Wind, including workforce development, and Single-use Plastic reduction, abatement, and alternatives.

Action Alerts

Volunteer Opportunities

In the News

Stay on top of the latest news and join the conversation in our Facebook group at Greening Chesapeake

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, e-mail greeningchesapeake@gmail.com with Unsubscribe in the subject line.
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General Assembly 2026

 

This is a roundup of some of the Environmental Bills at General Assembly that we're tracking.  Overall, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters is tracking 136 Bills at https://valcv.org/2026-bill-tracking/

Key budget items related to environmental issues highlighted by the Virginia Conservation Network related to VCAP Funding, RGGI, Data Centers, PFAS, and State Park : https://app.glueup.com/view-in-browser/6269:469712:82e083d8-b1b9-487a-8db0-a60c3947b046

Links below go to the https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-search

RGGI: HB397 – Direct DEQ to establish auction program (rejoining RGGI) - Passed House (63‑Y 35‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A);

Trees: HB549 – strengthen canopy requirements, amended to be less stringent - passed House (64‑Y 34‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (24‑Y 16‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (63‑Y 34‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by Senate (22‑Y 17‑N 0‑A).

Invasive Species: HB88 – not plant and remove along highways; passed House Block Vote (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate Block Vote (37‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); HB109 – close commercial viability loophole; adds phase out period for any such plant commercially propagated in Virginia; passed House (96‑Y 2‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate Block Vote (37‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); SB89 – permit local service district to control invasive species - Passed Senate  (38‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed House (92‑Y 6‑N 0‑A);

Data Centers: HB155 – SCC would have to permit facilities > 25 MW; Left in Labor and Commerce HB507 – limit CO2 emissions from backup generators; set emission limits for generators; passed House (61‑Y 34‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate (25‑Y 15‑N 0‑A). HB897 - require renewable energy to get tax credits; passed House (61‑Y 34‑N 0‑A); Passed by indefinitely in S-Finance and Appropriations committee (15‑Y 0‑N).  SB465 - require renewable energy to get tax credits; Left in Finance and Appropriations; SB339 allocate cost of transmission infrastructure; Directs the State Corporation Commission to conduct proceedings to review cost allocation among different customer classifications for certain electric utilities; passed Senate (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Senate LC Subcommittee #3 recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote); HB496 – disclose water usage; passed House (74‑Y 23‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (25‑Y 15‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (78‑Y 19‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (63‑Y 34‑N 0‑A); HB589 – water usage; Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources HB153 – noise assessment - passed House (90‑Y 7‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (26‑Y 14‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (93‑Y 2‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by Senate (29‑Y 10‑N 0‑A). SB94 – restrict data centers to Industrial Zoning; subsitute now requires noise assessment as in HB153; passed Senate (21‑Y 18‑N 1‑A); Passed House with substitute (80‑Y 14‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (91‑Y 4‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by Senate (29‑Y 10‑N 0‑A).  SB130 noise assessment; merged into SB94. HB641 Continued to 2027 in H-Finance committee;/SB393 – $3/sq. ft. tax to fund Great Outdoors Act; Continued to 2027 in S-Finance and Appropriations;

Renewable Energy: HB628 ammended bill passed House  (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (22‑Y 18‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (97‑Y 1‑N 0‑A); SB175 – strengthen standards for more small-scale solar; passed Senate (23‑Y 16‑N 0‑A); Passed House with amendment (93‑Y 5‑N 0‑A); House amendment agreed to by Senate (23‑Y 16‑N 0‑A); HB895 ammended bill  passed House (65‑Y 32‑N 0‑A);Passed Senate with substitute (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (68‑Y 30‑N 0‑A). /SB448 – Energy Storage requirements; ammended bill  passed Senate (22‑Y 17‑N 0‑A);Passed House with substitute (66‑Y 33‑N 0‑A); House substitute agreed to by Senate (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A). HB590  passed House (61‑Y 34‑N 0‑A);Passed Senate with substitute (23‑Y 17‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by Senate (22‑Y 17‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (64‑Y 33‑N 0‑A). /SB382  – streamline rooftop solar permitting; passed Senate (22‑Y 17‑N 0‑A); Passed House with substitute (73‑Y 26‑N 0‑A);Conference report agreed to by Senate (22‑Y 17‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (64‑Y 32‑N 0‑A). HB395   ammended bill passed House (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (30‑Y 8‑N 1‑A)Senate substitute agreed to by House (93‑Y 4‑N 0‑A), /SB250 – permit small solar < 1200 W; passed Senate (30‑Y 7‑N 1‑A); Passed House with substitute (96‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); House substitute agreed to by Senate (29‑Y 11‑N 0‑A). SB26 passed Senate (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A); Passed House with amendments (75‑Y 21‑N 0‑A); House amendments agreed to by Senate (20‑Y 19‑N 0‑A); /HB1234 – allow localities to require solar over parking;  passed House (76‑Y 22‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (21‑Y 18‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (67‑Y 30‑N 0‑A)

Climate Change: HB1356 – adjust precipitation design standards;Continued to 2027 in H-Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; HB1092 – protection of employees from heat illness; passed House (62‑Y 35‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by Senate (21‑Y 18‑N 0‑A); Conference report agreed to by House (61‑Y 35‑N 0‑A).

Land Conservation: SB519 – assess how to conserve 20% of land in Virginia; passed Senate (39‑Y 1‑N 0‑A); H-RUL Studies Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote);  HB237 include floodplains in conservation mapping; passed House Block Vote (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote; Senate amendment agreed to by House (99‑Y 0‑N 0‑A). HB390 – establish Habitat Policy Oversight Committee; passed House Block Vote (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A)  HB521 – ensure no net loss of wetlands while permitting;  passed House (74‑Y 24‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (70‑Y 25‑N 0‑A); HB889 – transmission line construction to use existing ROW first;  passed House Block Vote (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate Block Vote (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A);

Housing energy efficiency HB2 passed House (65‑Y 30‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate (24‑Y 16‑N 0‑A);  HB3 passed House (78‑Y 18‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate (38‑Y 2‑N 0‑A); SB5 passed Senate Block Vote (39‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed House with amendment (72‑Y 24‑N 0‑A); House amendment agreed to by Senate (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); SB72 passed Senate (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A); Passed House (64‑Y 34‑N 0‑A);

Conservation Funding: HB70 – Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund; passed House (82‑Y 16‑N 0‑A);Passed Senate (36‑Y 4‑N 0‑A).  HB386 – Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund; Left in Committee Appropriations HB1038 - Virginia Student Environmental Literacy Plan Grant Fund; Left in Committee Appropriations SB420 – Extreme Weather Taxpayer Protection Fund - (defeated) in committee (6‑Y 8‑N);

Fisheries: HB389 – Climate adaption plan - Continued to next session; HB1048 – Menhaden fishery pause; Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources HB1049 – Menhaden quotas; Left in Committee Appropriations

PFAS:  HB938 passed House (88‑Y 7‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate Block Vote (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A).  HB1443 passed House  (67‑Y 29‑N 0‑A); assed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (74‑Y 24‑N 0‑A). SB138 passed Senate Block Vote (39‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Passed House Block Vote (95‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); HB880 incorporated into HB 1443; HB1072  passed House (62‑Y 34‑N 0‑A);Passed Senate (23‑Y 17‑N 0‑A).  HB348  Left in Committee Appropriations

Environmental Justice: HB256 – include in Comp Plans - passed House (63‑Y 35‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (21‑Y 19‑N 0‑A);Senate substitute agreed to by House (63‑Y 35‑N 0‑A). HB1266 public hearing notice - passed House (63‑Y 34‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (22‑Y 18‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (65‑Y 34‑N 0‑A). 

Bicycles: HB661 – “Idaho Stop” bikes yield at stop signs; passed House Block Vote (98‑Y 0‑N 0‑A); Reported from S-Transportation committee and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13‑Y 1‑N); Continued to 2027 in S-Finance and Appropriations committee (14‑Y 0‑N).  SB84 - Traffic Camera - funds to be used for projects, or programs that improve traffic safety, speed management, bicycle and pedestrian safety, public transit, and local systemic safety initiatives - passed Senate (27‑Y 11‑N 0‑A); Passed House with substitute (63‑Y 35‑N 0‑A); House substitute agreed to by Senate (22‑Y 17‑N 0‑A).

Affordable Housing: HB594 - Allows a locality to authorize a zoning administrator to use an administrative process to approve rezoning applications for affordable housing developments. - passed House (89‑Y 10‑N 0‑A); Passed Senate with substitute (28‑Y 12‑N 0‑A); Senate substitute agreed to by House (81‑Y 15‑N 0‑A).

Oppose

Rollback renewable energy standards: HB615 Left in Labor and Commerce, HB1031 Left in Labor and Commerce, SB40 - Passed by indefinitely in S-Commerce and Labor committee (9‑Y 6‑N)

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See also the Chesapeake Sustainability Network's Legislative Priorities

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