Dominion Energy plans to merge with Florida-based NextEra Energy to create the world's largest electricity company, the companies announced yesterday.

Why it matters: The deal could have a big impact on Richmonders' power bills and possibly on Dominion's more than 5,000 local workers.

The big picture: The all-stock merger between the two energy giants lands amid soaring electricity demand, driven largely by AI and the data centers that power it.

• It would also give NextEra, which owns the utility Florida Power & Light, a foothold in Virginia, the data center capital of the world, where electricity sales are growing at twice the national rate, per a NextEra investor presentation.
• The merged mega power company, still called Dominion in Virginia, would also have dual headquarters, with one in Richmond and one in Juno Beach, Florida.

The deal has to be approved by state and federal regulators.

The intrigue: As part of the merger, NextEra is proposing $2.25 billion in electric bill credits, spread over two years, for Dominion customers — with 79% of that going to Dominion's Virginia customers, per a NextEra investor presentation.

• That breaks down to about $1.78 billion for Dominion's roughly 2.7 million Virginia customers, or about a $27-a-month bill credit that locals could see for 24 months if the deal is approved.

Yes, but: Those amounts are proposals.

• "The final amount and monthly bill impact will be decided by state regulatory commissions," Dominion spokesperson Aaron Ruby tells Axios.

Context: Dominion customers' bills saw the first of three looming rate hikes at the start of the year.

• Meanwhile, NextEra's Florida customers are paying for what critics have dubbed "the largest rate hike in American history" — $7 billion more over four years.

Zoom in: Dominion has about 15,000 employees, including 5,433 in Richmond, making it the region's fifth largest private employer, per the region's economic development group.

• After the deal closes, Dominion's workers will have 18 months of job protection and two years of compensation and benefits guaranteed, per NextEra's investor presentation.
• After that, it's unclear what will happen to those local workers and jobs.

What they're saying: "We expect there to be good jobs for our talented teams across all the states we serve and wherever we have operations across the country," Ruby tells Axios.

Keep reading for how much Dominion contributes to Richmond

Google's proposed western Chesterfield data center campus could disturb wetlands, streams and possible unmarked graves, according to newly released federal permit filings.

Why it matters: The documents offer one of the clearest looks yet at "Project Loch," which is part of Google's broader $9 billion expansion in Virginia.

State of play: The tech giant is seeking federal approval to build a three-building campus near Route 288 and Watkins Center Parkway, per filings published last week.

• The roughly 350-acre project, announced last year with few public details, is intended to support the growing demand for AI and data processing.

Zoom in: Federal filings estimate the project could impact 4.8 acres of wetlands and over 2,800 feet of streams, triggering review from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act.

• Google redesigned parts of the campus to avoid about 74% of wetlands on-site and proposed restoring or preserving wetlands elsewhere to offset the remaining damage.

Plus: Consultants said the area could contain unmarked graves because Dry Bridge Cemetery sits on-site.

Google didn't directly address questions about the project's potential impacts.

• But a spokesperson told Axios it's prioritizing minimizing environmental effects and adjusting designs based on site evaluations.

What's next: Public comment is open through June 11.

Full story with why Google chose Chesterfield

🚍 GRTC buses will remain free for another year, per the transit authority's latest budget presentation. (The Richmonder)

• They're using budget surplus to cover the cost and hope to make free buses a permanent offering for locals.

🎓 It's graduation season for area high schools, so locals should expect traffic delays around the Siegel Center for the rest of the month. (News release)

💻 Hanover's years-long plan to bring broadband to the most remote parts of the county is on track to be done by end of year. (VPM)

💦 Richmond High School for the Arts (formerly called George Wythe) closed yesterday after a faulty HVAC system flooded the school. (The Richmonder)

• A new high school is under construction next door and expected to open this fall.

Stella's Grocery opened their newest location last week in the Winterfield Crossing shopping center in Midlothian.

Why it matters: Chesterfield got itself a Stella's market.

Driving the news: Stella's opened Wednesday at 14310 Winterview Parkway, making it the Richmond-based gourmet market's eighth location — or ninth, if you count the outpost inside the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

• The markets specialize in grab-and-go meals and dessert, wine and beer, gourmet market items and made-to-order food.
• The Midlo location also has an espresso bar and nice-sized gift section.

Fun fact: With the newest location and the River Road store, which opened in 2023, there is now a Stella's in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield.

What we're watching: For a Stella's Grocery in Hanover.

Tell someone in Chesterfield

Ukrop's bite-sized rainbow cookies have become a critical part of Richmond's culinary identity, and even one TikTokker declared them "the best cookies on earth."

Why it matters: With so many newcomers in Richmond, we wanted to see whether rainbow cookies are loved by everyone or mostly longtime locals.

The big picture: The colorful, buttery cookies have been a Richmond favorite for decades, especially among generations who remember getting a free one at Ukrop's.

• Though Ukrop's stores closed in 2010, Ukrop's Market Hall has kept the free rainbow cookie tradition alive.

Sabrina's theory: Lifelong Richmonders love them out of nostalgia, locals who skipped Ukrop's don't, and transplants pretend to.

What's next: Share your rainbow cookie opinion here.

Spread the word