about Virginia Energy
Virginia Energy is the state agency charged with advancing Virginia's energy, mining, and mineral policies and initiatives. Our mission is to lead the Commonwealth to a safe, reliable and responsible energy future by:
- - Providing for safe and environmentally sound stewardship of Virginia's mineral and energy resources;
- - Encouraging economic development through the sound stewardship of Virginia's energy, mineral, land and water resources; and
- - Successfully pursuing federal funding and implement the Virginia Energy Plan to ensure the Commonwealth has abundant, reliable, affordable and clean energy.
Virginia Energy Divisions:
- - Division of Mines
- - Division of Mined Land Repurposing
- - Division of Geology and Mineral Resources
- - Division of Gas and Oil
- - Division of Mineral Mining
- - Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency(State Energy Office)
- - Division of Offshore Wind
History:
Established as the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy in January 1985 under Governor Chuck Robb, the agency was rebranded in 2021 as Virginia Energy to reflect a greater emphasis on renewable energy programs and economic development. Worker safety remains the agency's top priority, a commitment rooted in its founding after a 1983 coal mining disaster to enhance service efficiency for the mining, energy, and mineral resources industries.
Virginia Energy's Coal Mine Safety, Gas and Oil, and Mineral Mining teams originated from the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency programs were previously part of the State Office of Emergency Services. Additionally, the Mined Land Repurposing team joined from the Department of Conservation and Economic Development.
The Virginia Department of Energy maintains offices in Big Stone Gap, Charlottesville, and Richmond.
For more information about Virginia Energy's divisions, purview, and role as indicated in the Virginia Code, please visit: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title45.2/
