Virginia

The Virginia State Corporation Commission rejected a proposal from Dominion Energy that would have drastically reduced the value of customer-owned clean energy across its service territory.

On January 14, 2026, the Virginia General Assembly launched its 60-day legislative session, with energy affordability among the top three issues for the General Assembly. As a result, many of the energy policies that came out of the 2026 General Assembly focused on ways to lower the average cost of electricity. On our blog, United’s Jim Purekal outlines Advanced Energy United’s proactive legislative strategy that delivered pivotal wins for the clean energy industry by providing lawmakers with the energy affordability solutions they were looking for.

Factor This reports that Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s amended version of the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act was accepted by the Commonwealth’s General Assemby, establishing a first-of-its-kind program that will tap into unused capacity at existing generation sites. United’s Jim Purekal highlighted the benefits of the bill in making smarter use of existing infrastructure, speeding up clean energy deployment, and increasing affordability for consumers.

The General Assembly accepted Governor Spanberger’s amended version of the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act today, clearing the way for the bill to become law on July 1, 2026. 

Canary Media reports on Virginia’s 60-day legislative session, during which lawmakers passed several clean energy bills to lower electricity costs by maximizing the use of existing energy infrastructure and deploying more solar and battery storage statewide. United’s Jim Purekal spoke to the affordability and reliability benefits of utilizing energy storage technologies in tandem with solar and wind projects to meet rising load growth.

The Virginia Legislature wrapped up its main session over the weekend, passing several clean energy bills to meet rising energy demand and address affordability concerns. RTO Insider quoted United’s Jim Purekal, who emphasized that the cost of solar and storage has dropped significantly in recent years—making these resources increasingly central to affordability solutions.

Factor This reports that Virginia lawmakers have passed the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act, groundbreaking legislation that establishes the Commonwealth’s first pilot program to unlock surplus interconnection capacity at existing solar facilities. United’s Jim Purekal commended the passage of the bill, urging the Governor to sign the FAST Act so that utilities, developers, and communities can begin putting surplus interconnection to work.

Virginia lawmakers have passed the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act, groundbreaking legislation that establishes the Commonwealth’s first pilot program to unlock surplus interconnection capacity at existing solar facilities.

Virginia legislators have introduced the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act, a bill designed to deliver new gigawatts (GW) to the grid by tapping into underused capacity at existing power plants.

The State Corporation Commission has approved Dominion Energy’s proposed Chesterfield peaker plant without conditions, advancing a project that will increase long-term costs for Virginia customers despite readily available, lower-cost alternatives that strengthen grid reliability.

The Center Square reports on the election outcomes in New Jersey and Virginia, where Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger won their gubernatorial races. United’s Virginia Director Jim Purekal and New Jersey Policy Lead Katie Mettle highlighted the future governors’ focus on lowering energy prices through clean energy as a key component of their victories.

PV Magazine reports on the election results from Virginia and New Jersey, with a specific focus on unlocking new clean energy opportunities by making better use of existing interconnection capacity. United’s Virginia Director Jim Purekal emphasized that Virginia must make the most of existing energy resources to meet rising load growth, while United’s New Jersey Policy Lead Katie Mettle highlighted the need for siting and permitting reforms to get more projects online faster.