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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
03/05/2026
Passed
Dead

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 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 electrical generation facilities in Planning District 8 with a capacity of up to 100 megawatts that produce electricity from biomass, energy from waste, or municipal solid waste, provided these facilities utilize "anaerobic digestion technology" (a process that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen) to process most of their organic waste, including food waste and municipal sludge, by January 1, 2030. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to study technologies for reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions from waste-to-energy facilities, explore methods for creating biomethane (a renewable natural gas), and propose any necessary legislative changes to support these initiatives, with findings to be reported to the Air Pollution Control Board by December 1, 2026.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Conference Report released (on 03/13/2026)

bill text


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