A pair of bipartisan energy bills are on their way to the Governor’s desk for signature
RICHMOND, VA – Today the Virginia General Assembly passed two critical energy bills—S.B. 1040 and S.B. 1100—marking a major step forward in expanding clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for the Commonwealth.
- S.B. 1040, which passed the House unanimously (97-0), expands access to distributed generation (DG), ensuring more Virginians can benefit from local, customer-owned clean energy resources like rooftop solar. The bill also removes the size requirement for solar and wind projects to qualify for third-party power purchase agreements, making the technology more affordable to more people.
- S.B. 1100 concerns virtual power plants (VPPs) and it requires Dominion Energy to propose a pilot program to test technologies that help manage electricity demand. The program will study how VPPs can support the power grid, especially during times of high energy use, and whether they can reduce the need for additional grid capacity.
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Virginia,
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Jim Purekal
Inside Climate News reports that Virginia is debating the establishment of the Virginia Energy Facility Review Board, a proposed body that would evaluate solar farm projects across the state. United's Jim Purekal spoke to the benefits of solar power and other renewable energy sources, stating that a diverse set of large-scale advanced energy projects is necessary for Virginia to meet its clean energy goals.
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Virginia,
United In The News,
Jim Purekal,
Solar
Virginia Commission on Electric Utility Regulation gives the green light to solar siting
RICHMOND, VA – The Commonwealth’s first energy legislation of the year successfully passed out of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (CEUR)today.The proposed legislationrefinesthe approval process for solar and battery storage projects of at least 20 MW, or 2 MW if it’slocated on previously disturbed land,andlocated within three miles of an interconnection point.The draft proposalis designed to balance the needs of local communities with Virginia’s growing demand for renewable energy, ensuring a more efficient path to cleaner, more affordable power.
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Virginia,
Press Releases,
Permitting and Siting,
Solar,
Battery Storage
Dominion Energy’s newly filed Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) sidesteps Virginia’s clean energy requirements by relying heavily on fossil fuel generation through 2039
RICHMOND, VA – Despite Virginia's ambitious clean energy mandates under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), Dominion has proposed adding nearly 6 gigawatts of new methane gas generation, while failing to prioritize the renewable investments necessary to meet the state's goals. National business association Advanced Energy United criticized the approach.
"Dominion Energy’s latest IRP is a step in the wrong direction. Instead of harnessing the potential of advanced energy to more reliably and cost-effectively meet Virginia’s growing energy needs and clean energy goals, this plan threatens to keep the state dependent on fossil fuels for decades,” said Shawn Kelly, a Director at Advanced Energy United. “Dominion is missing a critical opportunity to lead Virginia’s clean energy transition, protect households and businesses from rising costs, and provide more resilient clean energy solutions for all Virginians."
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Regulatory,
Virginia,
Press Releases
Virginia's Clean Cars Standard will help facilitate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the state, reducing the risks of long-term environmental impacts. United’s Jim Purekal shares his experience with The Virginia-Pilot of purchasing an EV as a second car, and why the state should do more to work toward a cleaner future by facilitating adoption of EVs.
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Advanced Transportation,
Virginia,
United In The News,
Electric Vehicles,
Jim Purekal
Orange County Board of Supervisors Block Solar Development and Progress on VCEA Goals
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Today, Advanced Energy United and Virginia State Senator and Chair of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Creigh Deeds responded to Orange County’s board of supervisors' decision blocking solar project development, including a 1,000-acre Sunfish Solar installation. The decision threatens Virginia’s ability to meet its clean energy goals established by the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA).
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Public News Service reports that Virginia's clean energy initiatives are being stunted due to wide-spread misinformation. United's Jim Purekal debunks false claims made against solar and offers alternative, reliable clean energy methods that can provide power to consumers throughout the state.
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Virginia,
United In The News,
Jim Purekal
Governor's action echoes other moves to obstruct the General Assembly
RICHMOND, VA — Today, Virginia’s Governor and the Office of the Attorney General announced an opinion that suggests that Virginia is not obligated to comply with the newest update to Advanced Clean Car Standards. This announcement runs counter to a statement by Attorney General Miyares in 2022 and is a willful misinterpretation of the legislation passed in 2021.
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Virginia,
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Electric Vehicles,
Kim Jemaine
Virginia Mercury reports on the prevalence of data centers that support artificial intelligence in Virginia quoting United's Kim Jemaine on the importance of grid-enhancing technologies to support the increase in power demand that data centers generate.
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State Policy,
Virginia,
United In The News,
Kim Jemaine
Energy News Network reports on the growing gap between Virginia and its neighbors in clean energy manufacturing, quoting United's Kim Jemaine on the unlikelihood that Governor Youngkin will be able to support Virginia in catching up to other states in the Southeast.
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Topics:
State Policy,
Virginia,
United In The News,
Kim Jemaine