Net energy metering; solar interconnection; cost recovery. Provides that an electric distribution company shall pay $1 per kilowatt per day for the costs of lost electricity production for any and all delays beyond the regulatory notice period required by State Corporation Commission related to net energy metering. The bill requires that, for the purposes of net energy metering, an eligible customer-generator shall bear all reasonable costs of equipment required at the eligible customer-generator's side of the meter for the interconnection to the supplier's electric distribution system, including reasonable and prudent costs of additional controls, tests, or liability insurance. Additionally, the bill allows for cost recovery by Phase I and Phase II Utilities for electric distribution grid transformation projects that support the interconnection of generating facilities using energy derived from sunlight that are owned or contracted by eligible customer-generators, subject to the Commission finding those costs to be reasonable and prudent in accordance with existing law.
Sponsored bills
Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission. Establishes a procedure under which an electric utility or independent power provider (applicant) is able to obtain approval for a certificate from the State Corporation Commission for the siting of an energy facility rather than from the governing body of a locality. Under the bill, applicants are authorized to submit an application to the Commission if (i) the locality fails to timely approve or deny an application; (ii) the application complies with certain requirements for Commission approval, but a host locality denies the application; or (iii) the locality amends its zoning ordinance after it has notified the applicant that its requirements are compatible with the requirements for Commission approval, and the amendment imposes additional requirements that are more restrictive. The bill provides that an applicant who is issued a certificate by the Commission for an energy facility is exempt from obtaining approvals or permits, including any land use approvals or permits under the regulations and ordinances of the locality. The bill applies to any solar energy facility with a capacity of 50 megawatts or more, any wind energy facility with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more, and any energy storage facility with a nameplate capacity of 50 megawatts or more and an energy discharge capability of 200 megawatt hours or more.
Electric utilities; offshore wind generation facilities; competitive procurement process; Department of Energy. Provides that the purchase by a public utility of energy, capacity, and environmental attributes from offshore wind generation facilities owned by persons other than a public utility and located off the Commonwealth's Atlantic shoreline or in federal waters and interconnected directly into the Commonwealth is in the public interest. The bill states that, except for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, the purchase or development of offshore wind facilities or the purchase by a public utility of energy, capacity, and environmental attributes from such facilities shall include a competitive procurement process held by the Department of Energy. The bill specifies that Dominion Energy Virginia may submit a bid but shall not participate in evaluating bids or making selections in such process.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life and career of Stewart Hamilton Gamage, a philanthropist and public servant who passed away in March 2024. The document outlines her extensive contributions to education, government, and community service, including her leadership roles at the College of William and Mary, the University of Virginia, and the White House. It also notes her founding of various organizations focused on women's leadership, social justice, and international aid, as well as her recent humanitarian efforts supporting Ukraine. Finally, the resolution directs the Senate Clerk to provide a copy of the document to Gamage's family as a formal expression of respect from the Senate of Virginia.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Melvin Eugene Walker, a longtime owner of Mel's Cafe in Charlottesville who passed away in May 2024. The bill formally acknowledges his contributions to the community, including his dedication to serving diverse customers, his charitable donations, and his role in supporting local employment and entrepreneurship. It directs the Senate Clerk to prepare a copy of the resolution to present to Walker's family as a gesture of respect from the Senate of Virginia.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 609 honors the life and career of Daniel Porter Jordan, Jr., a historian who served as the executive director of Monticello and president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. The resolution formally acknowledges his significant contributions to preserving Virginia's history, including his leadership in restoring Monticello, expanding its educational programs, and addressing the topic of slavery at the site. It also recognizes his personal achievements, such as his athletic background, military service, and academic work, before directing the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Jordan's family as a gesture of respect.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Arthur Ellsworth Dick Howard, a retired University of Virginia professor and legal scholar, on the occasion of his retirement after 60 years of service. The measure formally commends his distinguished career, which includes leading the effort to rewrite Virginia's constitution in 1971 and serving as a clerk for a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The Senate will have a copy of this resolution presented to Howard as an official expression of its admiration for his contributions to constitutional law and public service.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the memory of Lorraine Payne Williams, a respected educator and civil rights advocate from Charlottesville who passed away in March 2024. The document formally acknowledges her significant contributions to the community, including her role in school integration and her decades of teaching at local institutions. It directs the Senate Clerk to create a copy of the resolution to present to Williams' family as a gesture of respect and remembrance.
Shared solar programs; Dominion Energy Virginia; minimum bill; capacity. Amends existing shared solar program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility). The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program means the resulting amount a customer must pay the utility after the bill credit, defined in relevant law, is deducted from the customer's monthly gross utility bill. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to establish a minimum bill, below which a subscriber's net bill cannot go, that is calculated based on the amount of kilowatt-hours billed by the utility. The bill also changes the shared solar program capacity to 450 megawatts and requires the Commission's regulations to allow for program participation by all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes. Under the bill, co-location of two or more shared solar facilities is permitted for shared solar program participation if the facilities are located on a single parcel of land. The bill requires the Commission to (i) establish regulations that prohibit early termination fees and credit reporting for low-income customers, (ii) require net financial savings for subscribers relative to the subscription fee, (iii) require a customer's affirmative consent before providing customer billing and usage data to a subscriber organization, and (iv) establish customer engagement rules. Under the bill, any net crediting fee imposed by the shared solar program shall not exceed one percent of the bill credit value and shall be charged to the subscriber organization. The bill also provides that a utility is permitted to seek recovery of bill credit costs in its triennial base review only if such costs would result in the utility being unable to meet its revenue requirement after accounting for all avoided costs that can be realized by ratepayers. The bill specifies that the Commission shall update its shared solar program consistent with the requirements of the bill by January 1, 2025, and shall require each utility to file any associated tariffs, agreements, or forms necessary for implementing the program by July 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Energy to convene a stakeholder work group to determine the amounts and forms of project incentives for (a) projects located on rooftops, brownfields, or landfills; (b) projects that are dual-use agricultural facilities; or (c) projects that satisfy another category as established by the Department and to submit a written report to the Chairs of the House Committee on Commerce and Energy and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor no later than November 30, 2024.
Additional local sales and use tax to support schools; referendum. Authorizes all counties and cities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. The bill removes the requirement that such a tax must have an expiration date on either (i) the date of the repayment of any bonds or loans used for such capital projects or (ii) a date chosen by the governing body. Under current law, only Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville are authorized to impose such a tax. This bill is identical to HB 805.