Virginia Advances Legislation to Standardize Solar Rules and Curb Local Bans

2026-02-07 politics

Richmond, Saturday, 7 February 2026.
Addressing a landscape where 64 percent of counties effectively ban large-scale solar, this measure imposes statewide standards to secure capacity for escalating energy needs.

Legislative Breakthrough on Energy Infrastructure

In a decisive move to address Virginia’s escalating energy requirements, the state legislature has successfully advanced a suite of bills designed to overhaul the regulatory framework for solar development. On February 5, 2026, the House passed legislation establishing statewide standards for solar facilities with a 63-33 vote, following the Senate’s approval of a similar measure by a 21-17 margin on January 29 [1][7]. This legislative push comes as the governing Democrats, who regained control of the state government in November 2025, seek to align local zoning practices with the ambitious targets of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) [1]. The VCEA mandates the development of 16.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar and land-based wind by 2035, yet the state currently holds only approximately 4.8 GW of solar capacity, leaving a deficit of 11.3 GW to be bridged within the next decade [1][2].

The Economic Imperative and Local Bottlenecks

The urgency of these reforms is underscored by the widening gap between energy supply and the demand projected from Virginia’s industrial and technology sectors. Dominion Energy’s service territory alone forecasts a peak demand increase from 25 GW to 40 GW by 2035 [1]. However, developers have faced stiffening headwinds at the local level; as of February 5, 2026, 64 percent of Virginia counties effectively barred large-scale solar projects [2]. This resistance has had a tangible impact on infrastructure growth: while localities approved 74 percent of proposed solar projects in 2022, that approval rate plummeted to 51 percent in 2024 [1]. Consequently, new utility-scale solar installations saw a significant decline in 2025, threatening the state’s ability to maintain affordable electricity generation [2].

Standardizing the Rules of Engagement

The core of the proposed legislation is the establishment of a “baseline ordinance” to replace the patchwork of local restrictions that have stalled development [1]. While local governments retain final decision-making authority over individual projects, the new rules prevent blanket bans and standardize technical requirements such as setbacks [2][7]. For instance, whereas Fluvanna County previously enacted ordinances requiring setbacks of up to 152 meters from property lines, the state proposal suggests a standardized range of 46 to 61 meters for similar boundaries [1]. Industry proponents argue this creates a merit-based system for evaluating projects, though the measure faces opposition from the Virginia Association of Counties and rural preservation groups [1]. The bills are expected to move to final debates and passage by mid-March before heading to Governor Abigail Spanberger for her signature [1][2].

Modernizing Grid Efficiency

Beyond siting reforms, the General Assembly is moving to optimize the existing electrical grid. In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the House passed HB 434 unanimously on January 27, 2026 [4][6]. This legislation mandates that the state’s major utilities, Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy, submit strict “grid utilization” metrics to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) by November 1, 2026 [4]. The bill aims to identify inefficiencies and promote “non-wires alternatives” (NWAs)—such as energy storage, virtual power plants, and distributed generation—before authorizing expensive new infrastructure [4][6]. This aligns with a broader executive push, as Governor Spanberger issued an order on January 17, 2026, directing agencies to identify cost-reduction strategies in the energy sector [4].

Expanding Consumer Access

The legislature is also advancing measures to democratize access to renewable energy for residents unable to install traditional rooftop systems. On January 29, 2026, the House passed a bill to authorize an additional 525 megawatts (MW) of shared solar capacity, expanding a program that allows subscribers to offset their utility bills with credits from off-site solar arrays [5]. This follows a regulatory adjustment in late 2025 that lowered the minimum bill floor, enabling greater savings for subscribers [5]. Furthermore, the House voted 98-0 to establish a state market for “plug-in” solar panels, a “starter solar” technology that plugs directly into standard outlets [3]. With one-in-three Virginia households renting their homes, these initiatives aim to lower the barrier to entry for clean energy participation [3].

Sources

Solar Energy Virginia Legislation