Former ​​​​Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. created the Mayor’s Alternative Energy Task Force in April 2009 to position Virginia Beach as a leader in the movement toward a more sustainable and intelligent energy future.

The group’s mission is to:

• Study current energy demand in Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads, and the Commonwealth, and explore potential energy sources and how they will affect our community and region economically and environmentally.
• To meet future needs, identify and assist in developing potential energy sources that are environmentally sustainable and independent of unreliable foreign sources. This will include developing strategies and creating relationships to accomplish these goals.
  

Members of the task force include representatives from local, state, and federal government, universities and research institutions, and industry and citizen groups. During the information-gathering process, the task force will receive public comments to assist in developing strategies to achieve its mission.​