From the Co-op to the Commonwealth: A Milestone Moment for Women’s Leadership

Virginia’s light is shining brighter than usual for Women’s History Month of March 2026. The election of Abigail Spanberger as Virginia’s first female governor is a milestone that will cement her name in the history books forevermore.

Gov. Spanberger has identified energy policy as a key element of her “Affordable Virginia Agenda.” Additionally, she has created a new cabinet position for a chief energy officer, has supported measures to boost energy storage technologies to lower peak electricity prices, and has backed programs to help low-income residents increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Many of her energy goals are outlined in her "Affordable Virginia Plan." (see www.abigailspanberger.com/issue/abigails-affordable-virginia-plan/). Meanwhile, the General Assembly is considering scores of bills to address energy and affordability issues during the current legislative session, which ends in March.

Only time will tell whether the national trend of rising electricity prices can be eased or reversed in Virginia, particularly given the extent to which data centers are driving up the demand for power within the state.

“Data centers proliferating across the U.S. will require 22 percent more grid power by the end of 2025 than they did one year earlier and will need nearly three times as much in 2030, according to the most recent forecast from 451 Research, part of S&P Global … 451 Research forecasts Virginia's data-center demand for grid power will reach roughly 12.1 gigawatts in 2025, up from 9.3 gigawatts in 2024, made up of leased and hyperscale facilities,” S&P Global reported last October.State Sen. Emily Jordan, whose district includes Community Electric Cooperative’s service territory, said it will be imperative that ratepayers are protected against the cost pressures created by data centers’ demand for power. "It also is important that localities retain control over data center siting," she said. Jordan is one of a record-high 56 women serving in the 2026 General Assembly. Her district includes portions of four electric cooperatives.

Throughout the state legislature, electric cooperatives are respected for their advocacy, and co-op employees are recognized for the passion and commitment with which they provide high-quality services to their member-owners, Jordan said.

To help its member-owners conserve energy and save money, Community Electric continues to implement cost-cutting and efficiency measures. These include switching to paperless distribution of capital credit refunds and identifying efficiences with Cooperative Living magazine; participating and encouraging member-enrollment in Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s Smart Thermostat Program; and partnering with ODEC to provide weatherization assistance to low-income households.

Spanberger's proposed agenda to help energy consumers builds on a history of female achievement that dates back to the creation of Community Electric Cooperative.Upon its formation in 1938, CEC’s first president was a woman – Louise Davidson of Holland. One of her contemporaries, Bettie Gwaltney of Windsor, also was a driving force behind the cooperative’s creation and served as director and vice president for many years. And another woman, Gretchen Ellis, was CEC’s first secretary-treasurer. More recently, the role of board chair has been filled by another woman. Jeannette Everett, the current chairman, joined CEC’s board in in the mid-1990s.

In her acceptance speech on election night, Spanberger noted that her husband, Adam, “said to our daughters, ‘Your mom's going to be the governor of Virginia.’ And I can guarantee those words have never been spoken in Virginia ever before. It's a big deal that the girls and the young women I have met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that they can achieve anything. It's a big deal to the women older than I am, who forged the path in dreams, hard work, and in a belief that change and progress would be possible so that so many of us could follow in their footsteps, in any career, in any role, in any challenge. The history Virginia is making tonight, it is yours.”