SB 834 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Grant Program; established.

Summary
Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Grant Program. Establishes the Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Grant Program (the Program), subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, for the purposes of (i) coordinating and supporting the development of solar energy and short duration battery energy storage industries and projects by public or private entities; (ii) evaluating and approving solar energy and short duration battery energy storage projects as qualified projects for the purposes of the Program; and (iii) determining which items and services are considered eligible project costs for a given qualified project, as defined in the bill. The bill provides requirements for what can be considered a qualified solar energy and short duration battery energy storage project based on whether the use of such project is for a residential, commercial and industrial, or utility-scale project. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Energy to monitor allocation of the grant awards and maintain a public dashboard displaying certain information on the solar energy and short duration battery energy storage installations.
Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Mar 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Finance and Appropriations Substitute · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from a tax credit program to a grant program, fundamentally changing how solar and battery storage projects receive financial support. The Senate substitute removes the tax credit structure entirely and replaces it with a grant-based funding model, while also consolidating definitions and simplifying the program structure. This change shifts the financial mechanism from a tax incentive to direct funding, which affects eligibility, funding caps, and how projects receive support.
Scope change
The program scope changed from a tax credit system to a grant program, meaning projects now receive direct funding rather than tax reductions. This affects who can benefit and how the program is administered.
FISCAL

Changed from a tax credit program to a grant program, eliminating the 35% tax credit structure and replacing it with direct grant funding

Removed the $50 million annual credit cap and the specific allocation of $12.5 million for residential projects and $37.5 million for commercial/utility-scale projects

DEFINITION

Consolidated definitions into a single section and removed the separate program administration sections, making the definitions section more comprehensive and standalone

REQUIREMENT

Removed detailed project approval requirements and operational timelines that were previously specified in separate sections for residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects

SCOPE

Changed the program title from 'Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Program' to 'Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Grant Program' to reflect the funding mechanism change

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the certificate of approval process, documentation retention requirements, and Tax Commissioner guidelines that were part of the tax credit enforcement structure

TIMELINE

Removed the specific effective date of January 1, 2027 that was tied to the tax credit implementation timeline

Floor votes · Senate Feb 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 9, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Mar 9, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (21-0)
house of delegates
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred from Finance and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends referring to Appropriations(Voice Vote)
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Assigned HFIN sub: Subcommittee #1
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Unanimous consent to introduce
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26105850D
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.