Launched with bipartisan congressional support, Virginia's offshore wind project is nearly done. That doesn't seem to matter to the feds, though. 

Dominion Energy, the state's electric utility, is now suing the Trump administration for pausing the build for "national security" reasons. Keep scrolling to learn what this could mean for Virginians (hint: maybe steeper electric bills). 

Speaking of the government, expensive dinners near the White House are out for 2026. So are mass layoffs — at least that's the hope. See what local leaders see as being on trend for this year, and what should be left behind. 

—  Kaela, Technical.ly lead reporter in DC and Virginia

Higher electric bills could be incoming 📈

Through charges on electric bills, Virginia residents have already helped fund the state's $11.2 billion offshore wind project. Because of a 90-day pause instituted by the federal government, they may need to shell out more. 

This delay will likely result in more costs to consumers as Dominion scrambles to find alternative sources of energy to meet demand — likely natural gas, per Paul Bledsoe, a climate and energy policy expert. The utility filed a complaint against the government, and a hearing is set for this Friday. 

Why the pause? The feds cited “national security” concerns like radar interference. But that claim is disputed.  

“Resuming the project is a key national security imperative to ensuring electricity affordability,” VA Del. David Reid told me, “[and] maintaining our national leadership in the world’s highly connected, modern economy.” Continue reading ... 

Exclusivity is soooo last year 💅

2025 was a volatile year for the region, in work and life. Tech jobs slid, there was a record-breaking government shutdown and National Guard troops landed in Metro stations and neighborhoods. Meanwhile, agentic AI hype reached feverish pace, and women founders were left out of funding rounds…again. 

But it's a new year! I asked local leaders what they see as being “in” and “out” for 2026, and searched through my recent interviews to find additional trends.

What could be in store? Open-invite meetups, digital fasts and cross-jurisdiction collaboration. Continue reading ...