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.
“Amid growing energy needs in Virginia, these bills will empower consumers with more cost-lowering energy choices,” said Jim Purekal, Director at Advanced Energy United. “By embracing distributed energy resources and virtual power plants, Virginia is unlocking new opportunities to improve grid reliability, lower household costs, and support economic development. We applaud the General Assembly members for their bipartisan commitment to Virginia’s energy future and urge Governor Youngkin to sign these bills into law without delay.”
A virtual power plant is a collection of small-scale energy resources that aggregate together to provide power to the grid like a traditional power plant. VPPs are low-cost resources that can turn electric devices into resilient power supplies for homes and critical facilities during grid outages.
Both bills are now headed to the Governor’s desk for final signature.
Click here to learn more about Advanced Energy United’s work in Virginia advocating for expanded access to distributed generation, virtual power plants, and common-sense siting principles.