SB 175 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Electric utilities; amends renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements, etc.

Summary

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements; power purchase agreements. Amends certain renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements for Dominion Energy Virginia, including the annual percentage of program requirements to be met with solar, wind, or anaerobic digestion resources of one megawatt or less located in the Commonwealth. The bill changes from 2025 to 2027 the compliance year beginning in which at least 75 percent of renewable energy certificates used by Dominion Energy Virginia shall come from eligible resources located in the Commonwealth. The bill also removes the requirement for a solar-powered or wind-powered generation facility to have a capacity of no less than 50 kilowatts to qualify for a third party power purchase agreement under a pilot program. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission, by July 1, 2033, to initiate a proceeding to evaluate the future availability of renewable energy certificates from certain resources and permits the Commission to increase or decrease by up to one percentage point the percentage of program requirements to be met by such resources in future compliance years. The bill provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to encourage development on previously developed project sites, as defined in existing law, to reduce the land use impacts of solar development. This bill is identical to HB 628.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill finalizes the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) program for Virginia electric utilities, establishing a strict timeline to increase renewable energy usage from 6% in 2021 to 100% by 2045. It clarifies that after 2024, utilities can only use Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from specific sources like solar, wind, and certain biomass facilities located in Virginia or the PJM region, while explicitly banning RECs from out-of-state thermal and biomass sources. The legislation also mandates that Phase II utilities dedicate a specific portion of their renewable goals to small-scale solar, wind, or anaerobic digestion projects, prioritizing low-income communities and public schools.

Scope change

The bill defines the operational scope for Phase I and Phase II utilities, setting the compliance years and specific renewable energy targets for each category.

TIMELINE

Establishes a mandatory schedule requiring Phase I and Phase II utilities to increase their renewable energy procurement from 6% in 2021 to 100% by 2045.

ELIGIBILITY

Restricts eligible Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to sources located in Virginia or the PJM region, specifically banning the use of RECs from out-of-state thermal energy, thermal equivalents, and biomass facilities.

REQUIREMENT

Requires Phase II utilities to meet a specific percentage of their renewable goals using small-scale solar, wind, or anaerobic digestion resources, with a priority of 25% for low-income projects or those on public schools.

Mandates that starting in the 2027 compliance year, at least 75% of all RECs used by Phase II utilities must come from resources physically located within Virginia.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 11, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 646 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB175ER)

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

House amendment agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House with amendment (93-Y 5-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendment agreed to

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (18-Y 3-N)

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors