Panel advances twin bills to expand shared/community solar across Virginia
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Summary
The subcommittee reported HB807 and HB809 (substitutes) to expand shared (community) solar capacity in Dominion and Appalachian Power territories and to fix billing/net‑crediting; the measures won broad support from developers, environmental groups and the Farm Bureau and were reported without recorded opposition.
Delegates presented two related bills to expand shared or community solar in Virginia. HB807 would expand the Dominion territory shared solar program and direct the SCC to approve 525 MW of capacity by July 1, 2026, and give the SCC authority for future program expansions. HB809 would increase capacity in Appalachian Power territory and add technical fixes for "net‑crediting" billing functionality while delaying a related provision for one year to allow utilities to update systems.
Stakeholders including the Coalition for Community Solar Access, Southern Environmental Law Center, Virginia Farm Bureau and a wide coalition of developers and environmental advocates testified in support, describing the bills as a multi‑year culmination of negotiations. Chris McDonald of Williams Mullen, representing community‑solar developers, said the legislation "will usher in a new chapter for community solar in Virginia." Utilities and technical witnesses assisted with the substitute language to address implementation concerns.
Both substitutes were moved and reported by the subcommittee (HB807 reported 6–0; HB809 reported 6–0). Proponents said the expansions will create additional customer options for clean energy while retaining protections to avoid cost shifts to non‑participants.
What’s next: Both bills are reported to the full committee with substitutes and technical fixes for net‑crediting.