Patrick Larsen

Richmond

Reporter at VPM

Reporter @myVPM - Climate and energy - he/him

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Articles

Repair Cafe RVA works to keep Richmonders’ favorite items in use longer

1 month ago | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

This March at the Robinson Theater in Richmond’s East End, I walked in holding my recorder, my camera and my favorite pair of pants. The pants were torn. It was a small tear — I caught them on the gears while biking — but enough that I knew if I didn’t catch it soon, it would grow. So I brought them to Kyle Taylor, who was volunteering hand-stitch repairs at Repair Cafe RVA. “What I wanna do is kinda just … almost like whipstitch, it’s called, pull the sides back together,” Taylor explained.
Richmond kicks off Cool the City campaign

1 month ago | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

The City of Richmond is celebrating Earth Day by throwing a party — specifically, one that kicks off its Cool the City campaign. Cool the City is a five-year greening and capacity building project, funded by a $6 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. It’s based on years of planning, outreach and research on the part of the city and partner organizations. You can plant a lot of trees with millions of dollars — and that’s part of the plan. But there’s more to it.
Gilpin Court lease transfer fails in RRHA board vote

1 month ago | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners rejected a proposed transfer of the Gilpin Court public housing development to its own nonprofit subsidiary in a 5–4 vote Wednesday night. The RRHA proposed moving ahead with approving the transfers, which it said would happen in stages, to its board despite not having a final plan for redevelopment of the city’s oldest public housing complex.
Trump executive order targets state-level climate policies

1 month ago | whro.org | Patrick Larsen

This story was reported and written by VPM News. A new executive order issued by President Donald Trump could affect Virginia’s energy and environmental policies.
Dominion Energy Virginia proposes 15% base rate increase

2 months ago | whro.org | Patrick Larsen

This story was reported and written by VPM News. Dominion Energy asked state regulators in filings this week to raise customer power bills by about 15% over the next two years — a product of fuel costs, new construction, infrastructure upgrades, and the cost of doing business on the grid. The company says it’s the first time it has increased its base rates since 1992.
Dominion Energy Virginia proposes 15% base rate increase

2 months ago | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

Dominion Energy asked state regulators in filings this week to raise customer power bills by about 15% over the next two years — a product of fuel costs, new construction, infrastructure upgrades, and the cost of doing business on the grid. The company says it’s the first time it has increased its base rates since 1992. As VPM News has previously reported, those base rates don’t include riders, which have been the main driver of Dominion’s bill increases since 2007.
Richmond City Council to consider plastic bag tax, polystyrene ban

2 months ago | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

The Office of Sustainability presented a Richmond City Council committee this week with information on three proposals set to be considered during Earth Month (aka April). They include a plastic bag tax, a balloon release ordinance and a polystyrene ban. Two of those are or will be required by existing state law — more on that later.
Virginia’s power grid is changing to meet data center demand - but who pays?

2 months ago | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

Wide ranging factors are contributing to increases in Virginia energy bills — inflation, fluctuating fuel costs and renewable generation among them. But electricity demand for new data centers is driving expected costs, according to state research. Running an electric grid is expensive work. Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest utility, is investing in renewable generation, as required by the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
Richmond People's Budget pilot is entering a new phase

Mar 7, 2025 | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

Richmond’s participatory budgeting pilot is entering its next phase. Leidiana Delgado, civic engagement coordinator for the Richmond City Council, presented councilors with the results of outreach work so far on the People’s Budget. That program sets aside $3 million of the city’s funds — about 0.1% of the total budget — to be allocated through a process of public engagement and voting.
Virginia Democrats pass proposal to incentivize small solar projects

Mar 3, 2025 | vpm.org | Patrick Larsen

Though a proposal intended to increase the commonwealth’s buildout of utility-scale solar farms failed this year, another that could incentivize smaller projects fared better. The bill, sponsored by Del. Katrina Callsen (D–Charlottesville) and state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D–Henrico), avoided much of the controversy around the other proposal by alleviating some of the need for rural land, according to the patrons.

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