In the period from April 2025 to March 2026, Virginia saw a diverse mix of electricity generation sources, with almost 40% coming from fossil fuels. Gas made up the bulk of this fossil energy at around 37%, while coal contributed close to zero with just over 2%. Net imports accounted for roughly a third of the state's electricity, indicating a reliance on electricity generated outside its borders. On a more positive note, low-carbon electricity sources comprised about 26% of the total, suggesting a growing but still insufficient commitment to clean energy. Nuclear energy accounted for the majority of this low-carbon generation at 18%, complemented by solar, which contributed a little over 6% when combined with utility-scale solar, and biofuels, adding just over 2%.

Is Electricity Growing in Virginia?

Electricity consumption in Virginia is showing a trend of slight growth, reaching a new height in 2026. The average per capita consumption reached 18,158 kWh, marking an increase of 95 kWh compared to the previous year's record. Similarly, low-carbon electricity per person also saw a modest uptick, growing by 83 kWh to 4,810 kWh per person, suggesting that clean energy's role in satisfying demand is indeed expanding, albeit slowly. However, this incremental rise in electricity use indicates a need for proactive measures to ensure that electricity, especially clean electricity, keeps pace with potential future demand, driven by electrification and emerging technologies.

Suggestions

To further expand low-carbon electricity in Virginia, a focus on enhancing existing nuclear capacity could be instrumental. Nuclear power already plays a significant role and has shown effective application in regions like France, where it covers an impressive 67% of electricity needs, as well as in neighboring states such as South Carolina and New Hampshire, each generating over 50% of their electricity from nuclear sources. Virginia also stands to benefit from increased solar capacity, drawing lessons from states like Nevada, where solar accounts for 34% of the electricity mix, and California with around 31%. These examples demonstrate that a strategic emphasis on nuclear and solar expansions could substantially cement Virginia’s path towards a cleaner electricity landscape.

History

Virginia's history of low-carbon electricity generation over recent years shows varying levels of progress. In the mid-2020s, nuclear energy saw setbacks with declines in generation in both 2024 and 2025, losing 0.7 TWh each year. However, in 2026 there was a rebound, reversing the previous declines and underscoring nuclear's importance. Biofuels and hydro have largely maintained a steady presence without notable increases, while wind did not experience any visible growth during this period. These trends indicate that while some progress has been made, particularly in nuclear recovery, there remains a critical need for active investments in expanding nuclear and solar to secure a stronger, more resilient clean electricity system for the future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.