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VA HB628

VA HB628
Renewable energy portfolio standard program; requirements, power purchase agreements.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
02/23/2026
Crossed Over
03/02/2026
Passed
03/06/2026
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements; power purchase agreements. Amends certain renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements for Dominion Energy Virginia, including the annual percentage of program requirements to be met with solar, wind, or anaerobic digestion resources of one megawatt or less located in the Commonwealth. The bill changes from 2025 to 2027 the compliance year beginning in which at least 75 percent of renewable energy certificates used by Dominion Energy Virginia shall come from eligible resources located in the Commonwealth. The bill also removes the requirement for a solar-powered or wind-powered generation facility to have a capacity of no less than 50 kilowatts to qualify for a third party power purchase agreement under a pilot program. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission, by July 1, 2033, to initiate a proceeding to evaluate the future availability of renewable energy certificates from certain resources and permits the Commission to increase or decrease by up to one percentage point the percentage of program requirements to be met by such resources in future compliance years. The bill provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to encourage development on previously developed project sites, as defined in existing law, to reduce the land use impacts of solar development. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 175.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Virginia's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, which requires electric utilities to source a certain percentage of their energy from renewable sources. Key changes include extending the compliance year for Dominion Energy Virginia to 2027, by which time at least 75% of its Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which represent renewable energy generation, must come from in-state eligible resources. The bill also removes a minimum size requirement of 50 kilowatts for solar or wind facilities to qualify for third-party power purchase agreements under a pilot program, making smaller projects eligible. Additionally, it directs the State Corporation Commission to evaluate the future availability of RECs from small-scale solar, wind, and anaerobic digestion resources (one megawatt or less) located in Virginia by July 1, 2033, and allows the Commission to adjust the percentage of program requirements met by these resources by up to one percentage point. Finally, the bill establishes a policy to encourage solar development on previously developed project sites to minimize land use impacts.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628) (on 03/12/2026)

bill text


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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1207989.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628ER
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628S1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628SC1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1174410.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628E
Subcommittee #3 Subcommittee Amendment https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628AHC2
Labor and Commerce Amendment https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628AH1
Labor and Commerce Amendment https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628AHC1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096337.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB628/text/HB628
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