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VA SB645

VA SB645
Air Pollution Control Board; regulations, small renewable energy projects, anaerobic tech., report.


summary

Introduced
01/14/2026
In Committee
03/02/2026
Crossed Over
03/14/2026
Passed
04/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/13/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Air Pollution Control Board regulations; small renewable energy projects; anaerobic digestion technology; report. Provides that for the purposes of a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project under existing law, a small renewable energy project includes an electrical generation facility in a locality in Planning District 8 with a rated capacity not exceeding 100 megawatts that generates electricity from biomass, energy from waste, or municipal solid waste and its dedicated associated interconnection facilities, provided that such facility is capable of processing the majority of its organic waste, including food waste and municipal sludge, with anaerobic digestion technology by January 1, 2030. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, to (i) assess all practicable technologies available to waste-to-energy facilities to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions, (ii) assess technologies to create biomethane, and (iii) recommend any legislative changes necessary to create market conditions to ensure the viability of such program. The bill also directs the Department to report its findings to the Air Pollution Control Board by December 1, 2026.

AI Summary

This bill expands the definition of a "small renewable energy project" to include certain electrical generation facilities in Planning District 8 that are capable of generating up to 100 megawatts of electricity from sources like biomass, energy from waste, or municipal solid waste, provided they utilize anaerobic digestion technology to process most of their organic waste, including food waste and municipal sludge, by January 1, 2030. Anaerobic digestion technology is defined as a process that enables anaerobic digestion, which is a biological process that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Furthermore, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to study practical technologies for waste-to-energy facilities to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions, explore technologies for creating biomethane (a renewable natural gas), and recommend any necessary legislative changes to support such programs, with a report due to the Air Pollution Control Board by December 1, 2026.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0901) (on 04/13/2026)

bill text


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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/CHAP0901
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB645) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214817.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645ER
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB645) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213235.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645S2
Conference Report SB645 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645AC
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB645) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199658.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645H2
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645H1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645HC1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645HC2
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB645) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149300.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645S1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645SC1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB645) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136170.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB645/text/SB645
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