On October 4, 2022, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the development of an energy technology testbed in Southwest Virginia. The Energy DELTA (Discovery, Education, Learning & Technology Accelerator) Lab is a first-of-its-kind initiative that will foster energy research, development, and economic opportunity in Wise County, Virginia. Located on previously mined land, the Energy DELTA Lab initiative was developed through a grant from the federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program, which works to support economic and community development goals in regions impacted by the downturn of coal production. The Energy DELTA Lab will be cultivated through a public private partnership between the Virginia Department of Energy, Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority, InvestSWVA, Appalachian Power, Dominion Energy Virginia, and The Nature Conservancy. Will Clear, Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Energy, will serve as an advisor for the Energy DELTA Lab initiative. The Energy DELTA Lab will examine new forms of energy production and use, evaluating their commercialization and deployment potential while ensuring affordability and clean energy demands are met. Energy technologies will include hydrogen, mine-based geothermal, small modular nuclear reactors, innovative solar generation, and pumped-storage hydropower. More information about the energy technology testbed can be found here.