Working Families Take Another Hit as Their Energy Bills Go Up
Virginia Beach, VA – In recent months, Virginians have seen an average 7% spike in their energy bills. Earlier this year, Rep. Kiggans voted for the Republican Tax Law, repealing clean energy tax credits, which will lead to higher energy costs, slash thousands of Virginia jobs, and jeopardize billions of dollars in investments to the Hampton Roads region.
And now, in addition to the Tax Law, Virginia communities around data centers are footing the bill for corporations’ data storage, which has led to skyrocketing energy costs.
“This year, we’ve seen the cost go up for nearly everything, including our electric bills,” said Bill Robinson, Isle of Wight resident. “Rep. Kiggans talks a lot about wanting to make Virginia more affordable, but she continues to do just the opposite. Her vote this year didn’t just cut Medicaid and SNAP, it also cut energy tax credits that many of my friends used to add solar panels to their homes, and gutted the planned offshore wind farm. This is happening as we’re seeing rising electric bills as a result of all the data centers – something we know we need, but working families shouldn’t be paying for corporations' energy usage; that’s not fair. Rep. Kiggans needs to support families trying to pay their bills, not billionaires.”
“Rep. Jen Kiggans did what she always does: she talked a big game about lowering costs, but when it came time to actually vote, she flip-flopped and sold us out, voting to eliminate the tax credits that are driving major investment and good-paying jobs to Virginia. She sided with the same giant corporations that are already squeezing working families from every angle,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaigns Director. “On top of it all, Virginians are seeing their bills go up due to data centers – just another example of corporations eroding working families’ ability to get ahead. When Rep. Jen Kiggans voted for the Republican Tax Law, she secured tax breaks for billionaires and corporations, and now working families are paying for yet another bill that isn’t theirs. Rep. Kiggans needs to stand up for working families and work to lower energy costs.”