SB 1077 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Electric utilities; regulation, development of renewable energy facilities.

Summary
Regulation of electric utilities; development of renewable energy facilities; powers of State Air Pollution Control Board; powers of State Corporation Commission. Repeals provisions (i) requiring the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from any electricity generating unit in the Commonwealth and authorizing the Board to establish an auction program for energy allowances; (ii) prohibiting the State Corporation Commission from approving any new utility-owned generation facilities that emit carbon dioxide as a by-product of energy generation, in certain circumstances; (iii) declaring that statutory allowances for energy derived from sunlight, onshore wind, offshore wind, and storage facilities are in the public interest; and (iv) relating to the development of solar and wind generation and energy storage capacity, development of offshore wind capacity, and generation of electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources. The bill provides that planning and development activities for new nuclear generation facilities are in the public interest.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Last action Feb 3, 2025
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What changed between versions

Introduced Commerce and Labor Substitute · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to remove several sections related to coal combustion residuals (CCR) closure requirements, greenhouse gas emissions inventory reporting, and certain rate adjustment clauses, while retaining core air pollution and renewable energy provisions. The Commerce and Labor Committee substitute streamlined the legislation by eliminating specific CCR site mandates and associated reporting requirements that were previously included in the original bill.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing specific provisions related to coal combustion residuals closure at four named power stations and two named counties, as well as deleting the greenhouse gas emissions inventory requirement and certain rate adjustment clause provisions.
REQUIREMENT

Deleted specific CCR closure mandates for Bremo, Chesapeake, Chesterfield, and Possum Point Power Stations, which previously required removal of all CCR and beneficial reuse of at least 6.8 million cubic yards.

Removed CCR closure provisions for Glen Lyn and Clinch River Plants in Giles and Russell Counties, which previously required closure by removal or beneficial reuse.

Eliminated the requirement for the Department to conduct a comprehensive statewide greenhouse gas emissions inventory updated every four years.

FISCAL

Deleted rate adjustment clause provisions that allowed recovery of CCR closure costs up to $225 million annually for certain utilities and $40 million annually for others.

SCOPE

Narrowed the bill's scope by repealing references to § 56-585.1:4 (solar and wind generation capacity caps) and § 56-585.1:11 (offshore wind mitigation costs) from the amended sections.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jan 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mark Peake
Mark Peake
RRepublican
VA
8