VirginiaSiting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities.
What it does
Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities; permitted accessory use. Deems battery energy storage projects as a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts on any parcel of land that is subject to an approved special exception, as defined in the bill, for a commercial solar photovoltaic generation facility, if such battery energy storage project is located within the boundaries of the parcel covered by the existing special exception and complies with any applicable federal, state, and local safety or fire codes and environmental regulations. The bill prohibits a host locality from requiring a special exception or any other local land use approval on such battery energy storage project.
More detail
The bill clarifies that nothing in the provisions of the bill shall be construed to (i) limit the authority of a host locality to enforce compliance with applicable codes or ensure the safe operation of the battery energy storage project or (ii) preclude the developer of a battery energy storage project from negotiating a siting agreement with the host locality. The bill also clarifies that any battery energy storage project for which an initial interconnection request has been filed with an electric utility or a regional transmission organization prior to July 1, 2030, and is constructed in accordance with the provisions of the bill shall be subject to the applicable local ordinance and regulation in effect on July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 891.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 12Governor's recommendation received by SenateLatest
- Mar 10Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Minor
- Feb 18Signed by PresidentMajor
- Feb 18Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Feb 18Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB443ER)Major
- Feb 18EnrolledMinor
- Feb 16Passed House (68-Y 30-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Read third timeMinor
- Feb 15Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (18-Y 3-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Feb 4Read first timeMinor
- Feb 4Placed on Calendar
- Jan 29Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 28Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
- Jan 28Read second timeMinor
- Jan 27Passed by for the day
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Jan 27Rules suspended
- Jan 27Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Jan 27Read first timeMinor
- Jan 26Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/26/2026 11:53 am)
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Reported from Local Government (11-Y 3-N)Minor
- Jan 13Introduced bill reprinted 26103172D
- Jan 13Introduced bill reprinted 26103172D
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103172DIntroduced