Dear Editor.

Virginia’s 2026 Energy Legislation: An Opportunity for Local Leadership and Responsible Growth The 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly began with early uncertainty about how far legislation might go and what it could mean for local authority, but ended with a defined approach. Across discussions on solar and energy storage, lawmakers focused on providing counties with a workable framework they could apply based on their own priorities, existing ordinances, and community expectations, rather than imposing requirements on localities.

HB711 establishes more consistent standards for solar development, including setbacks, decommissioning, and oversight, while still allowing localities to refine ordinances and incorporate community input. HB891 allows Battery Storage to be added as an accessory use on parcels with approved solar projects without triggering a new land-use process. At the same time, localities retain authority over safety standards, emergency response planning, and siting agreements. However, under the Governor’s amendments, Battery Storage added must not exceed the solar facility’s capacity. HB895 directs the development of model ordinances for energy storage aligned with national safety standards, offering guidance without requiring uniform adoption by localities.

These measures create clearer guardrails for counties evaluating projects and for stakeholders navigating approval processes, while reinforcing that local decision-making remains central.

As counties begin to interpret these policies, they will do what they have always done: examine the details, test boundaries, and ensure local priorities are reflected. That is not a flaw; it’s a strength of Virginia.

The result is a stronger foundation moving forward, defined by clearer expectations. -Jack Wilson, Richmond