VA Dems Move to Eliminate Local Control of Massive Solar Farm Installations
Richmond, VA -
Recent legislative proposals in Virginia, HB 636 and SB 567, have stirred strong opposition among rural local officials and citizens. These bills, sponsored by Delegate Rip Sullivan (D-Fairfax) and State Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville), seek to limit the ability of local governments to make decisions regarding the siting of large solar farms within their jurisdictions. Under the proposed laws, local governments would lose their authority to require permits for these projects, as the State Corporation Commission (SCC) would be empowered to override local land-use decisions and approve solar farms regardless of local opposition.
Tommy Wright (R - Mecklenburg)
The fallout from the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), passed in 2020, continues to reverberate across the state, amplifying tensions in rural communities. Long-time Southside Delegate Tommy Wright (R-Mecklenburg) has been a staunch opponent of the VCEA and other Democrat-backed environmental legislation, voicing concerns about its detrimental impact on rural Virginia and the state's overall economy. The law mandates that Dominion Energy achieve a 100% renewable energy portfolio by 2045 and Appalachian Power follow suit by 2050. Wright has criticized the VCEA as a costly and burdensome mandate, arguing that its implementation has led to higher energy costs for Virginians, particularly working-class families, at a time when the cost of living is already a mounting concern.
In response, Wright issued the following statement:
Democrats had four chances to save Virginians from $450 million in higher power bills at a subcommittee meeting on January 23. But they didn't. Instead, they chose to continue the quest to put more solar sites in communities that don't want them.
The signs are everywhere. Virginia's largest utilities simply can't meet the requirements of the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
Dominion is so desperate to get credit for solar energy that it sells solar power into the grid for a negative price at times --they pay people to take their solar power.
Democrats heard all that at a subcommittee meeting last night and more but killed four bills that would have given ratepayers relief from all but certain "deficiency payments" that will be triggered soon.
When a utility can't produce or buy enough wind or solar power, they're required to pay a fee to the Commonwealth.
That fee is likely to be $450 million for Dominion this year, according to filings with the State Corporation Commission.
Democrats have been warned that their pet law does nothing to stop global warming and will only drive-up prices, but they refuse to bend.
It took a tortured line of questioning to finally get their witnesses to even admit that ratepayers would be on the hook for all of this, not Dominion shareholders.
In addition to forcing local governments to adopt solar, Democrats are also all in on forcing local governments to build more houses - - or else.
A Democrat bill that would mandate the creation of more housing stock by all local governments passed out of subcommittee on Thursday.
Under House Bill 2641, local governments must create a "Five Year Plan" to build more housing. If they drag their feet, a new state level board can override them.
It's clear that Democrats don't care about you. It's their way, or else
While environmental advocates strongly support the goals of the VCEA, others argue that the financial burden of the law is disproportionately falling on those least able to bear it.
Centralization of Power and Local Impact
Critics of HB 636 and SB 567 argue that these bills represent a further erosion of local sovereignty. By bypassing local land-use authority, the legislation centralizes control over the placement of large-scale solar projects at the state level. Local governments, which are more attuned to the specific needs and concerns of their communities, would lose the ability to determine whether these projects align with the values and interests of the people they represent. For many rural communities, the prospect of large solar farms altering their agricultural landscapes, affecting property values, and possibly disrupting local ecosystems is deeply concerning.
While Senator Deeds has tried to reassure critics by stating that the bills would only apply to large-scale projects, many argue that it is precisely these large projects that require careful oversight. Solar farms of such magnitude can have far-reaching consequences, both environmentally and economically.
Political Implications and the 2025 Elections
If liberal Democrat candidate for Governor Abigail Spanberger wins this November, and if the Democrats retain control of the lower chamber, it is certain that more left wing driven policies will be implemented.
As the race between Lt. Governor Winsome Earl-Sears and Abigail Spanberger heats up, the debate surrounding the effects of the VCEA and the price of energy will be at the forefront for Virginia Voters.