Rubin Group Creates 5 Working Committees to Take Deep Dive into Energy for Virginia

In the first in a series of interviews with Mark Rubin, Director at the Virginia Center for Consensus Building, he shared how Virginia’s “Rubin Group” members work together to create consensus on energy policies for the Commonwealth. In this interview, Rubin shares how the group’s recent public meeting helped them create working groups designed to create consensus and potential legislation for consideration during the 2018 Virginia General Assembly.

The Rubin Group, made up of representatives from companies, solar advocacy organizations, utility firms, energy education groups, the Virginia Manufacturers Association, the MD DC DE VA Solar Energy Industries Association, Powered by Facts and others, meet regularly to debate energy policies and work to advance Virginia legislation to include more renewable energy. At a recent public hearing, the group invited citizens, companies and community representatives to join five working groups to define what problems they want to tackle and then come up with solutions and come to consensus on ways they want to tackle those problems for the Commonwealth.

The groups will then create suggested legislation that Rubin Group would vet through members of Virginia legislation, the Attorney General’s office, the Governor’s office, the Renewable Caucus in the Virginia General Assembly and other stakeholders to determine if it is a viable offering.