Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she’ll intervene in the proposed $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy in a move she said is aimed at lowering energy costs and protecting jobs.
Spanberger wrote in The Washington Post about the action she said is a first for a Virginia governor.
“As a Virginian, I am deeply skeptical about whether selling our primary, state-regulated utility to an out-of-state company is good for the commonwealth,” she said. “I have serious questions about what this deal would mean for us. And as governor, I intend to get answers and be a voice for Virginians in the process.”
Spanberger said she will request to be a party to the case.
NextEra Energy is seeking to acquire Dominion Energy in an all-stock deal, creating a massive power company as the energy needs of artificial intelligence drive demand higher in the U.S.
It is one of the biggest proposed mergers so far this year and would create the world’s biggest regulated electric utility business by market capitalization, the companies said this spring.
The combined company would serve approximately 10 million utility customer accounts across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
Prior reporting contributed by the Associated Press.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
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