With Legislations In Hand, Virginia Set To See A Rise Of Community Solar

With Legislations In Hand, Virginia Set To See A Rise Of Community Solar

Since 2022, efforts to kickstart a shared solar programme in southwest Virginia in the United States (US) have been stalled. But this year, a renewed push brought it to life. The General Assembly at the Senate and the House of Delegates passed separate legislations, SB 253 and HB 106, to enlarge Dominion Energy’s existing community solar or shared solar initiative to 350 MW from its current 200 MW limit.

Charlie Coggeshall, from the Coalition for Community Solar Access, expressed satisfaction with this breakthrough, despite initial modest expectations. However, the timeline for customer subscriptions remains uncertain as the utility must provide tariff information and other requirements by July 1, 2025.

Shared solar, also known as ‘community solar‘ will enable Virginians to access solar power through subscriptions to communal arrays, benefiting those unable to install rooftop panels or facing restrictions. Such restrictions could be due to a lack of rooftop space in households, shade, feasibility issues, rented accommodations and others. Community solar projects in such cases offer a ray of hope for those who want to shun their dependence on fossil fuels and use clean sources of energy for their energy consumption. This is also happening at a time when the global energy demands is on the rise.

Proponents see the potential for community/shared solar projects to be sited on underused surfaces and integrate with agriculture ventures, offering attractive options for subscribers to save on electric bills while supporting renewable energy.

However, challenges persist, notably the debate over the “minimum bill” in Dominion’s program. While Appalachian Power’s programme includes a minimum bill without exemptions for low-income customers, Dominion’s program faces scrutiny over its fee structure, affecting enrollment.

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Despite setbacks, advocates remain optimistic about the future of shared solar in Virginia. They emphasize the need for fair fee structures and highlight the bipartisan support shared solar has garnered, positioning it as a key element of the state’s clean energy transition.

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