Environment & Energy

Conserve Our Environment By Transitioning to Clean Energy

Renewable energy can create affordable, efficient, and sustainable energy to support Virginians now and in the long-term future. I support investing in wind, hydropower, solar power, and nuclear power to ensure Virginians’ access to energy while conserving natural resources and moving toward energy independence.

Investing in Clean Energy

I support Virginia adopting the Switch Together Program, an initiative designed to help homeowners lower the cost of installing solar panels through group purchasing. The U.S. Department of the Treasury estimates the average household could save approximately $2,200 a year on electricity costs after installing solar. Rising natural gas energy prices continue to threaten Virginians financially, making this program an innovative game-changer in sustainable energy.

Blocking Data Center Implementation

Data centers are overwhelming communities across the country by exploiting tax dollars, water sources, and land. I am committed to restricting the power and effects of big tech companies. Moderating data centers will shield them from further spiking utility prices, while protecting our water sources, air quality, and ensuring the conservation of natural and agricultural land. Together, we can put people over profits and reject the greed of big tech corporations.

Agriculture

Agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry, providing more than 381,800 jobs with an annual economic impact of $82.3 billion.

Our farmers and watermen deserve stable markets, strong reinforcements, and reliable assistance. By enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act, I will defend Virginia’s farmers from destructive tariffs and rebuild trade relationships.

I stand to prioritize small to mid-size family farms, reinforce disaster relief programs, introduce funding resources for federal regulatory compliance mandates, and initiate fair healthcare and tax programs.

Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026

SNAP

No American should go hungry. With legislative action, we can work to redirect funding to citizens who face food insecurity through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

SNAP creates a steady market demand and boosts revenue for agricultural producers and food retailers.

This program makes food accessible for large demographics in America, such as families in poverty and people with disabilities. Eligibility for this program is determined by household income. According to the USDA, the vast majority of recipients have gross incomes at or near the federal poverty line.

The Save Our Bacon Act allows livestock to be cruelly raised in intensive confinement. By pushing back against this bill, we can ensure that farming practices maintain humane standards while proceeding with their work efficiently.

By supporting programs like Virginia Fresh Match, a program that doubles the value of SNAP/EBT dollars when spent on locally grown produce, we can support Virginians in need of food assistance while funding local farmers.

The Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan

This bill encourages Virginia K-12 schools to source meal ingredients from local producers, enforces the Forest Sustainability Fund to protect the Chesapeake Bay, and protects local Virginian livestock producers by enforcing strict labeling rules for manufactured protein/alternative meat products. Defending this bill ensures Virginians’ access to fresh nutrition while also protecting our environment.

Bay Cap Reduction Fisheries

I support the Marine Resources Commission’s oversight of commercial reduction fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay. The solution is limiting commercial fishing’s ecological damage by navigating the intersection between environmental health and economic stability. Sustaining the health of the Chesapeake Bay is key to maintaining the lives and businesses that it supports.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science is currently studying the menhaden population. While menhaden fishing supports large industries, they are also essential to the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem. With research that determines the local stock dynamics, the Marine Resources Commission can oversee limits on corporate reduction fisheries to mitigate damage to the bay’s ecosystem that millions of local businesses and Virginians depend on.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Protecting Natural Land

Virginia is home to millions of Americans and hundreds of wildlife species. Conserving the natural environment sustains the state's economy, preserves biodiverse ecosystems, and supports public health.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Aside from its role in combining the East Coast freshwater systems with the Atlantic Ocean, it provides vital wildlife habitats for over 3,600 species of plants and animals and sustains an economy around a local seafood industry. This culturally significant bay hosts over 18 million residents who rely on it for drinking water, coastal protection, recreation, and tourism. The bay is one example of the many ecosystems that are invaluable to Virginia. I support initiatives that aim to conserve and preserve the environment.

Dredging

Dredging is necessary to maintain shipping lanes, keep harbors and ports navigable, and reduce toxic sediment. However, excessive use of commercial underwater excavation damages Virginia’s natural aquatic ecosystems. This threatens the thousands of species within these ecosystems as well as the people that depend on them.

With congressional support for the Water Resources Development Act, we can ensure the safety of citizens, local businesses, and environmental stability by preventing commercial businesses from overexploiting our resources.