Unlocking Clean Energy in Virginia
Virginia is at a turning point: electricity demand from data centers is surging, and the choices we make now will shape affordability, reliability, and public health for years. The fastest, most cost-effective way to meet this moment is to build more clean energy—especially solar and battery storage—while expanding access so more Virginians can benefit.
That’s why CCAN Action Fund is supporting a package of bills to grow solar and storage across the Commonwealth. These bills would remove unnecessary barriers to utility-scale projects, expand rooftop and “plug-in” options like balcony solar, and encourage grid batteries that can lower bills and reduce reliance on dirty, inefficient gas plants.
Virginia’s energy demand is rising faster than our ability to supply it. Without new generation, the Commonwealth faces higher costs, reduced reliability, and growing dependence on imported energy. Building new fossil fuel plants or pipelines would take years and cost billions—expenses that will ultimately fall on Virginia families and businesses.
Solar is the only energy resource that can be built quickly enough to meet this challenge. Utility-scale solar, paired with battery storage, is already the fastest and most affordable form of new power generation.
A Three-Pronged Approach
Updating Solar Siting Standards
Virginia has more than 5 GW of solar projects in advanced development—but many projects are at risk without clear statewide standards. Under today’s patchwork of local ordinances, projects can face years of delay, uncertainty, and added costs.
Benefits of Solar Siting Standards:
- Local authority preserved: Communities keep the final say—no project moves forward without local approval.
- Clear, consistent rules: Predictable standards give localities, landowners, and developers a fair framework to work together.
- Stronger economy: Reform keeps Virginia competitive, protecting investment and jobs from leaving for neighboring states.
- Good local jobs: Competitive wages and apprenticeship opportunities for Virginia workers.
- Fast, affordable, reliable energy: Unlike fossil or nuclear plants that can take 7–10 years to come online, solar can be permitted and built within 1–2 years once siting barriers are resolved. Solar siting standards are the policy bridge that makes this possible.
TAKE ACTION to support SB 347 and HB 711: Tell your legislators we need to ban the bans!
Expanding Rooftop and Balcony Solar
Balcony solar—also called plug-in solar—would let people use small, portable solar devices at home without needing a utility interconnection agreement. That opens the door for more Virginians to benefit from clean energy, especially people who have historically been locked out of rooftop solar.
Why it matters:
- More access for renters: Balcony solar can help people who can’t put solar on a roof still get a real benefit.
- A lower-cost on-ramp: Traditional rooftop solar can be a bigger investment and often limited to property owners. Plug-in options offer a simpler entry point.
- Broad momentum: The idea has bipartisan support in the General Assembly as well as from the Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger and is being advanced as a priority for the upcoming session.
TAKE ACTION to support HB 395 and SB 250: Tell your legislators to let Virginia homeowners plug in to solar!
Equitable Storage
Virginia is beginning to see a promising trend: midsize battery projects that are quicker and cheaper to build than massive utility-scale projects, but far more powerful than typical home batteries.
Battery storage is a clean energy workhorse—and Virginia needs more of it. Batteries can store solar and wind power and deliver it when demand spikes, which helps stabilize the grid, reduce reliance on inefficient gas “peaker” plants, and cut costs for customers.
Benefits of expanding storage:
- A proven technology: Two 10-megawatt, four-hour battery projects in Exmore and Tasley show what’s possible
- Fast to build: They took about a year to permit, broke ground in April, and came online this fall.
- Small footprint: Each battery site is about 1 acre—a key advantage in places where huge solar arrays face local headwinds.
- Lower bills potential: Once connected to the regional PJM grid, batteries can charge when prices are low and discharge when demand peaks—creating revenue that can help lower consumer bills, including for co-op customers.
- Cleaner than gas peakers: Batteries can help avoid ramping up gas-fired peaker plants, which are described as dirty and economically inefficient.
- Real savings: One municipal utility battery system (10.5 MW, online since 2022) is projected to save customers $40 million over two decades.
TAKE ACTION to support SB 488 and HB 807: Tell your legislators to support clean energy storage!
Take action to expand clean energy storage in Virginia
By expanding solar and battery storage—while making clean energy more accessible to renters, homeowners, co-ops, and local communities—the Commonwealth can deliver fast, affordable, and reliable power. Together, these solutions strengthen the grid, lower costs, and ensure Virginia’s clean energy future works for everyone.
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