Why is this important?

These bills are a much-needed step to make Virginia’s power grid cleaner, more resilient, and more efficient by smartly using distributed energy technologies - such as rooftop solar and battery storage - and reducing the need for gas-fired peaker plants:

Increase Limits on Renewable Energy. HB1883 / SB1040 (Callsen / VanValkenburg) Currently, Virginia law limits the amount of clean, lower-cost distributed generation electricity, such as rooftop solar, that Dominion and Appalachian Power must purchase to meet their requirements under the Virginia Clean Economy Act to a mere 1%. This bill would increase the amount to 8% by 2030.

Virtual Power Plant Pilot Project (VPP). HB2346 / SB1100 (Hernandez / Hashmi) This bill directs Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to create a virtual power plant (VPP) pilot program in their respective territories. A VPP is an innovative cost-saving form of electricity network that combines the energy resources in a community. In essence, a VPP links together solar, battery storage, water heaters, heat pumps and electric vehicles (distributed energy resources) from residual and commercial customers to (1) help utilities meet power demand when it is highest and (2) enhance grid reliability. Utilities can then meet peak demand in ways that are not only less expensive but also far less polluting than a large conventional power plant. Participating customers get credits on the electricity bills when their distributed energy resources are used.