Wind developer allegedly gave money to Tim Kaine since 2011.

Wind Energy Developer Funneled Money to Sen. Tim Kaine for Over a Decade

Background

A wind energy developer based in Richmond, Virginia has been funneling money to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) for over a decade. Dominion Energy has given $23,000 to the Virginia Senator since 2011, with the most recent contribution, $1,500, made in February earlier this year. Dominion Energy has also given another $44,500 to Common Ground PAC, the leadership political action committee affiliated with and chaired by Kaine. Additionally, executives at the developer have donated $19,600 to Kaine’s campaign since 2021, according to Fox News.

“Dominion Energy believes in full transparency of its political donations,” a Dominion Energy spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “We give to a bipartisan mix of leaders at the state and federal levels and have supported Sen. Kaine since his bid for lieutenant governor in 2001, after he was mayor of the city Dominion Energy calls home.”

Offshore Wind Farm

Dominion Energy’s contributions to Kaine come as the developer is working on Virginia’s first offshore wind farm, known as Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. The wind farm will be located off of Virginia’s southeastern coast near Virginia Beach, and is set to be fully constructed by 2026 across 112,800 acres.

Kaine has voiced his support for the wind farm, writing with other Virginia lawmakers in a letter that they were “proud” that the first two wind turbines of the project “are off our Commonwealth’s coast.” The March 2021 letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management also asked for quicker approval of the project.

Response

A spokesperson for Kaine has stated that campaign contributions had no bearing on his decision making or what projects he chooses to support.

Reelection

Kaine, who has served as a senator since 2013, announced in January that he is seeking reelection in 2024, according to CNN. Prior to the Senate, he served as the governor of Virginia from 2006 through 2010, and in 2016, during his first term as senator, he ran as a vice presidential candidate alongside Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Scott Parkinson, who announced his candidacy for the GOP Senate race in April, is the first potential Republican challenger Kaine faces in 2024. Parkinson held a fundraiser in April, with guests at the fundraiser including both supporters of former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Summary

• Dominion Energy has funneled $23,000 to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) since 2011, with the most recent contribution, $1,500, made in February earlier this year.
• Dominion Energy has also given another $44,500 to Common Ground PAC, the leadership political action committee affiliated with and chaired by Kaine.
• Executives at the developer have donated $19,600 to Kaine’s campaign since 2021.
• Kaine has voiced his support for Virginia’s first offshore wind farm, known as Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.
• A spokesperson for Kaine has stated that campaign contributions had no bearing on his decision making or what projects he chooses to support.
• Kaine announced in January that he is seeking reelection in 2024.
• Scott Parkinson is the first potential Republican challenger Kaine faces in 2024.