RICHMOND, Virginia — Yesterday Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a slate of energy bills that will help lower Virginians’ electricity bills, strengthen grid reliability, and boost the local economy by increasing solar and storage deployment in the Commonwealth. Following is a statement from Darren Van’t Hof, Interim President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): “Governor Spanberger was elected on a promise to lower people’s energy bills. By signing a slate of commonsense legislation that will increase deployment of solar and storage — the fastest and most affordable energy sources to build — the Governor is doing more than simply delivering on that promise. She is giving leaders across the country who are concerned about their state’s energy future a new example to follow.” “It is no secret that Virginia needs more home-grown energy supply to meet skyrocketing demand and protect ratepayers. Virginia’s leaders are addressing these challenges with a well-rounded strategy that will cut bureaucratic red tape, take advantage of existing energy resources to strengthen grid reliability at minimal cost to ratepayers, and encourage investment in power sources tailor-made for this moment. “Smart Residential Solar Permitting (HB590/SB382) will help businesses and households lower their electricity bills with rooftop solar by cutting costly red tape that can add up to $6,000 to the price of an average system. “HB895/SB448 joins Virginia into the growing list of states increasing their energy storage targets to stabilize the grid and put downward pressure on electricity prices. The Distributed Generation Expansion Act (HB628/ SB175) will reduce strain on the grid and the need for costly transmission upgrades by encouraging the development of energy resources that generate power closer to consumers, like solar on rooftops, parking lots, and landfills. “The solar and storage industry applauds the Governor and the bipartisan group of legislators for delivering policies that are a win-win for Virginia’s ratepayers, grid reliability, and economy. Solar and storage companies are excited to continue delivering the affordable, reliable power that Virginians deserve.” Find more details about the different energy bills signed by Governor Spanberger below: HB711/SB347: Unpredictable permitting decisions, when layered on a patchwork of different local policies, discourage much-needed investment in energy generation. By creating consistent and transparent standards for local solar ordinances that protect local decision-making authority, this legislation will provide developers with the certainty needed to build thoughtful projects that incorporate community engagement on predictable timelines. The Governor made technical amendments to this legislation that will have to be approved by the General Assembly at its April 22nd veto session. HB1467 directs the Appalachian Power Company to create a virtual power plant pilot program by July 1, 2027. HB807/SB254 expands Dominion’s program with an additional 525 megawatts (MW) of shared solar capacity. HB809/SB255 increases the size of Appalachian Power Company’s shared solar program by an additional 100 MW. According to the latest Solar Market Insight report from SEIA and Wood Mackenzie, Virginia currently has 7.6 GW of installed solar capacity, the 9th-most installed solar capacity of any state and enough to power over 850,000 Virginians homes. The Commonwealth is projected to more than double its installed solar capacity over the next five years. About SEIA®: The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy. SEIA works with its 1,200 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. News release from SEIA.