For the second time in two years, members of the General Assembly are looking to take control of solar policy away from counties and cities. A proposed solar bill would give final approval of projects to a newly created Virginia Energy Facility Review Board.
The bill, which was heard by the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation on Monday, Jan. 6, hasn’t been officially introduced yet. That will happen later this week in the Virginia Senate, when the Assembly convenes. Monday’s hearing was basically a reading of the bill and, with approval given by a commission majority of 7 of the 12 members, it moved forward to be discussed in the Assembly during this coming session.
Virginia State Sen. Scott Surovell, who serves as chairman of the commission, said a change was needed in order to help investors.
“If we continue to have the completely unfettered free market, whatever you want to call it system, where every locality can do whatever they want right now, we’re gonna continue to have 80% of all solar projects being rejected,” Surovell said during Monday’s hearing. “All kinds of people who want to invest in this state are going to stop investing in this state because the system is so incredibly unpredictable.”