Energy

vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 11, 2026

HB 285: Distributed Energy Resources Task Force; created, membership, reports, sunset.

Distributed Energy Resources Task Force established; reports; sunset. Establishes the Distributed Energy Resources Task Force as an advisory commission within the executive branch with the purpose of developing a comprehensive strategy to advance the Commonwealth's transition toward integrated distributed energy resource markets and to support the Commonwealth's compliance with certain regulations. The bill describes the membership, powers, and duties of the Task Force and requires the Task Force to submit various reports to the Governor, the State Corporation Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. The bill sunsets on July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 223.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes task force to develop strategy advancing distributed energy resources markets, promoting renewable integration and transition toward cleaner energy systems.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

Track

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 371: Electric utilities; electric demand flexibility programs, high energy demand customers, report.

Electric utilities; high energy demand customers; demand flexibility programs; reports. Directs Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to file a petition with the State Corporation Commission by January 15, 2027, for approval of voluntary demand flexibility programs that apply to high energy demand customers, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the Commission to consider all forms of demand flexibility and other specific factors in approving each such program. The bill directs each cooperative that serves one or more high energy demand customers to establish a voluntary demand flexibility program for such customers by January 1, 2029. Under the bill, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are required to file status reports on their demand flexibility programs with the Commission three years after initial program approval and every three years thereafter. Additionally, in 2028 and annually thereafter, the Commission is required to submit information summarizing the status and performance of such programs as part of an existing report. This bill is identical to HB 284.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes demand flexibility programs to improve grid efficiency and manage peak energy usage, aligning with energy efficiency and infrastructure management indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 284: Electric utilities; electric demand flexibility programs, high energy demand customers, report.

Electric utilities; high energy demand customers; demand flexibility programs; reports. Directs Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to file a petition with the State Corporation Commission by January 15, 2027, for approval of voluntary demand flexibility programs that apply to high energy demand customers, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the Commission to consider all forms of demand flexibility and other specific factors in approving each such program. The bill directs each cooperative that serves one or more high energy demand customers to establish a voluntary demand flexibility program for such customers by January 1, 2029. Under the bill, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are required to file status reports on their demand flexibility programs with the Commission three years after initial program approval and every three years thereafter. Additionally, in 2028 and annually thereafter, the Commission is required to submit information summarizing the status and performance of such programs as part of an existing report. This bill is identical to SB 371.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDirects Commission to establish demand flexibility programs for utilities to lower peak energy use, promoting efficiency and grid stability without fossil fuel reliance.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 507: Data centers; permit requirements, emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.

Permit requirements for data centers; emission limits for certain engine-generator sets. Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from issuing an air permit for any application submitted for a data center on or after July 1, 2026, unless the emission limit for each engine-generator, defined in the bill, established by such permit is equal to or less than the emissions achieved by a Tier 4 equivalent engine-generator.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires data centers to prioritize energy storage over CO2-emitting generators, reducing fossil fuel reliance in backup power systems.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill limits CO2-emitting backup generators to emergencies only, mandates 2+ hours of energy storage as primary backup, directly reducing emissions from data centers per environmental protection indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 67: Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Program and Fund; established, report, sunset.

Department of Energy; workforce development in offshore wind industry. Directs the Director of the Department of Energy to identify and develop training resources to advance workforce development in the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 25.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDirects workforce development for offshore wind, a renewable energy sector, advancing clean energy infrastructure through training resources.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirects DOE to develop training resources for offshore wind workforce, advancing employment opportunities and skills development in a growing sector.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 25: Offshore wind industry; workforce development.

Department of Energy; workforce development in offshore wind industry. Directs the Director of the Department of Energy to identify and develop training resources to advance workforce development in the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to HB 67.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDirectly establishes workforce development for offshore wind (renewable energy), aligning with clean energy investment indicators and workforce advancement in renewable infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes workforce development program funding training resources for offshore wind industry, advancing employment opportunities in a growing sector.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 340: Small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition.

An Act to amend and reenact § 10.1-1197.5, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDefines agrivoltaics to integrate solar energy with agriculture, advancing renewable energy infrastructure through co-location policies.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDefines agrivoltaics to co-locate solar energy with agriculture, promoting renewable energy integration while sustaining farmland, directly advancing clean energy adoption and land-use efficiency.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

passed · Virginia · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 758: Solar energy facility work; prevailing wage rate, apprenticeship requirements, civil penalties.

Solar energy facilities; prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements; report; civil penalties. Requires each solar developer, including its contractors and subcontractors, to ensure payment at the prevailing wage rate set by the Department of Labor and Industry for any mechanic, laborer, or worker employed, retained, or otherwise hired to perform construction, maintenance, or repair work for certain electricity generating sources. The bill requires each solar developer to (i) ensure that a percentage of the total labor hours of such work is performed by qualified apprentices and (ii) employ at least one qualified apprentice if four or more individuals are employed to perform such work. Under the bill, a solar developer that fails to meet the requirements of its provisions is required to make penalty payments to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill grants state/local tax exemptions to solar developers, reducing potential state revenue through targeted tax breaks.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires solar developers to pay prevailing wages and offers tax exemptions, promoting solar infrastructure development and worker standards in renewable energy.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires solar developers to pay prevailing wage rates for construction/maintenance workers, directly strengthening wage standards and worker protections per labor department regulations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

Track

passed · Virginia · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 834: Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Grant Program; established.

Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Grant Program. Establishes the Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Grant Program (the Program), subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, for the purposes of (i) coordinating and supporting the development of solar energy and short duration battery energy storage industries and projects by public or private entities; (ii) evaluating and approving solar energy and short duration battery energy storage projects as qualified projects for the purposes of the Program; and (iii) determining which items and services are considered eligible project costs for a given qualified project, as defined in the bill. The bill provides requirements for what can be considered a qualified solar energy and short duration battery energy storage project based on whether the use of such project is for a residential, commercial and industrial, or utility-scale project. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Energy to monitor allocation of the grant awards and maintain a public dashboard displaying certain information on the solar energy and short duration battery energy storage installations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes tax credits for solar projects, directly providing tax incentives under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Storage Program with tax credits to promote renewable energy infrastructure development and project coordination.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

Track

in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 457: Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources, etc.

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources; zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities. Provides that, for the purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard, eligible sources include zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities located in the Commonwealth.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands renewable energy portfolio standard to include zero-carbon nuclear facilities, advancing clean energy goals under renewable standards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands renewable energy portfolio standard to include zero-carbon nuclear facilities, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing emissions per bill summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Energy

Track