RICHMOND, VA — Today, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce convened business leaders, policymakers, and infrastructure executives for the 2026 Virginia Forum on Infrastructure. With unprecedented growth in electricity demand, rising infrastructure costs, and increasing competition for business investment, the Forum explored how Virginia can advance a comprehensive approach to infrastructure development while prioritizing affordability, reliability, regulatory certainty, and economic competitiveness.

Energy Leadership and the Future of Virginia’s Infrastructure

A featured fireside chat, Power & Possibility: The NextEra for Dominion Energy, brought together John W. Ketchum, Chairman, President and CEO of NextEra Energy, Inc., and Ed Baine, Executive Vice President, Utility Operations and President of Dominion Energy Virginia, for a discussion moderated by Brad Hall, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

The conversation examined the proposed merger between NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy, including its potential implications for infrastructure investment, energy reliability, workforce development, and Virginia’s long-term economic competitiveness.

“This combination builds on Dominion Energy’s legacy by putting NextEra Energy’s scale and proven track record behind the local team Virginians know and trust. It pairs meaningful bill relief with a path to more affordable, reliable power for decades to come,” said John Ketchum, NextEra Energy’s Chairman, President and CEO. “Today’s preliminary findings reinforce the broader opportunity to power Virginia’s growth and, at the same time, create lasting economic benefits for families, businesses and communities across the Commonwealth.”

“Virginia’s future depends on our ability to meet growing demand and continue delivering reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy. The proposed combination of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy offers an opportunity to strengthen investments in energy infrastructure and workforce development while keeping costs affordable for customers. I’m proud to have participated in today’s conversation to show how we plan to make that future a reality and position Virginia for continued economic success,” said Ed Baine, Executive Vice President, Utility Operations and President of Dominion Energy Virginia.

Virginia Chamber Previews Forthcoming Economic Impact Study

During the Forum, the Virginia Chamber announced plans to release an independent economic impact study in November examining the economic impacts of the proposed NextEra Energy–Dominion Energy merger.

The study, commissioned by the Chamber and conducted by Mangum Economics, a trusted economic research partner, will evaluate the potential implications of the proposed transaction, including opportunities for investment, job creation, and broader economic activity across the Commonwealth.

While the full findings will be made public in November, preliminary results suggest very positive job and investment numbers for the potential economic impact of the proposed merger.

“The Virginia Chamber believes conversations about major investments in our Commonwealth should be informed by independent, credible economic analysis,” said Brad Hall, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “That is why we commissioned Mangum Economics to examine the potential impact of this proposed merger While the full findings will be made public in November, preliminary results show the bill credits, new office tower, and workforce development fund would spur more than $3 billion in economic output and result in more than 6,000 direct indirect and induced jobs. We look forward to sharing the full results in November and contributing to an informed discussion about what this investment could mean for the Commonwealth.”

Forum Explores Critical Infrastructure Priorities Across Virginia

The Forum brought together industry experts, business executives, and policymakers for a series of discussions examining the infrastructure challenges and opportunities shaping Virginia’s economic future.

Featured panel discussions included:

•      Data Centers: Powering Virginia’s Next Generation of Growth
•      Reliable by Design: Natural Gas in Virginia
•      Meeting Virginia’s Infrastructure Needs

Advancing a Balanced Approach to Virginia’s Energy Future

The Forum concluded with a luncheon keynote address from Josephus Allmond, Chief Energy Officer of Virginia, who shared the Administration’s perspective on the Commonwealth’s energy priorities and the opportunities and challenges associated with meeting Virginia’s growing energy needs.

As Virginia considers its long-term energy strategy, the Chamber reaffirmed its support for an all-of-the-above approach that expands energy generation, advances emerging technologies, and maintains reliable, dispatchable resources capable of meeting growing electricity demand.

The Chamber also emphasized that Virginia’s energy policy decisions must preserve the principles of free enterprise, respect established regulatory processes and provide the certainty necessary to encourage private-sector investment.

“Virginia must remain a place where businesses can invest with confidence and where infrastructure can be developed in response to demonstrated need,” Hall said. “That requires a predictable regulatory environment, respect for established regulatory processes, and policies that encourage rather than discourage private investment. As we consider Virginia’s energy future, we cannot lose sight of the importance of free enterprise, affordability, and the ability to deliver critical infrastructure in a timely manner.”

Putting Blueprint Virginia 2035 into Action

The Forum also featured an update on Blueprint Virginia 2035, presented by Joe Hines of Timmons Group, Co-Chair of the Virginia Chamber’s Infrastructure Industry Council.

“Blueprint Virginia 2035 clearly states that Virginia’s continued economic success depends on having the reliable energy, transportation, broadband, and critical infrastructure necessary to support future growth,” said Joe Hines of Timmons Group and Co-Chair of the Virginia Chamber’s Infrastructure Industry Council. “As our Commonwealth continues to grow, we must take a proactive approach to infrastructure planning and investment, ensuring we are anticipating tomorrow’s needs rather than simply responding to today’s challenges. Blueprint provides the roadmap, and now our responsibility is to turn those recommendations into action through strategic investments, innovation, and strong public-private partnerships.”

The Virginia Chamber will continue advancing the priorities of Blueprint Virginia 2035 and working with stakeholders across the Commonwealth to support policies and investments that promote economic growth, strengthen communities, and position Virginia for long-term success.

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About the Virginia Chamber of Commerce:

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 33,000 alliance members. The Virginia Chamber is a non-partisan organization that champions the interests of the business community in the legislative, regulatory, and political arenas to serve as the catalyst for positive change in all areas of economic development and competitiveness for Virginia. Learn more at www.vachamber.com