NextEra Energy recently agreed to pay $150 million to settle allegations that the company lied about its involvement in political interference schemes in Florida.
A Republican congressman seeking reelection owns stock in a controversial energy company looking to do business in Virginia.
US Rep. Rob Wittman, the Republican who represents Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, reported owning stock in NextEra Energy that’s worth between $1,001 and $15,000, according to an annual financial disclosure report he filed Aug. 12.
NextEra has proposed merging with Dominion Energy in a $67 billion deal that’s under review by the Virginia State Corporation Commission and state regulators in other affected states.
The prospect of the deal has raised worries among environmental groups about the impacts to Virginia’s air and water. It’s also raised concerns over how such a deal would impact Virginians’ rising energy costs.
NextEra recently agreed to pay $150 million to settle allegations that the company lied about its involvement in political interference schemes in Florida. It’s a highly profitable company that’s been criticized for benefiting from a $7 billion rate hike in Florida.
The Democratic candidate running against Wittman, Shannon Taylor, opposes the proposed merger. On Friday, she called on Wittman to sell his shares of NextEra and to speak out against the deal.
“Handing control of Virginia’s power to out-of-state interests and creating the largest utility monopoly in the country is not the answer at a time of rising energy costs,” Taylor said in a press release.
Wittman did not respond to a request for comment.
But he’s said he’s “not interested in prejudging the regulatory process” and wants “to see the facts and ensure Virginians come first,” according to an Aug. 21 WRIC report.
