Resources > Community solar in Virginia

Community solar in Virginia

• Factsheet

April 24, 2024

What is community solar?

Community solar makes it possible for everyone to go solar, but Pennsylvania law currently does not allow it. There is a bill moving through our legislature to change this.

With community solar, you can purchase or lease a “share” in a community solar project or start a project with your neighbors. Every month, you receive a credit on your electricity bill for the energy produced by your share.

Community solar in Virginia

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly created a shared solar program in Dominion Energy territory. In 2024, the General Assembly expanded the size of the shared solar program in Dominion territory and created a new shared solar program in Appalachian Power Company territory. 

Solar United Neighbors supported these bills to expand access to shared solar in Virginia. SUN continues to work for strong implementation of these programs at the State Corporation Commission (SCC).

Shared Solar in Dominion Energy territory

In 2020, Senate Bill 629 & House Bill 1634 passed, creating § 56-594.3 outlining a shared solar program and § 56-585.1:12 outlining a multi-family shared solar program in Dominion Energy territory. The shared solar program size was initially up to 200 megawatts (MW) with a 30% low-income carve out in 2020 and expanded to 350 MW in 2024 with the passage of Senate Bill 253/House Bill 106.

Solar United Neighbors (SUN), solar supporters, and other groups pushed back on a proposed minimum bill for shared solar participants of $74. Eventually, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) set the minimum bill at $55 over the objections of SUN and many others. Income-qualified participants are exempt from the minimum bill, but all other Dominion participants will have to pay a monthly electric bill of at least $55.   

The shared solar program in Dominion territory opened to ratepayers to participate in July 2023. Explore the Dominion pages on Shared Solar Programs and Multi-Family Shared Solar.

Shared Solar in Appalachian Power territory

In 2024, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 253 & House Bill 06, creating a shared solar program in Appalachian Power Company (APCO) territory starting in July 2025. The program size is 50 MW, and the program requires net savings of 10% for low-income customers. 

The details of this program will be determined through a regulatory proceeding at the SCC  by January 1, 2025. 

Shared Solar in Rural Electric Co-op territories

The first community solar program in Virginia was launched by BARC electric cooperative in 2016. In 2023, Rappahannock Electric Co-op, Northern Neck Electric Co-op and A&N Electric Co-op made their pilot community solar programs permanent. Some of these programs provide solar savings, and some do not. Review the program details before signing up — reach out to SUN if you need help. Electric cooperative member-owners should urge their board of directors to consider community solar an option. 

Take action

We have expanded access to shared solar to many Virginians, but we need your help to continue pushing for fair policies that will expand access to solar savings.  Solar United Neighbors helps you fight for your solar rights. Join thousands of solar activists in your state who share your vision.

Join the movement

Solar United Neighbors helps you fight for your solar rights. Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about how you can get involved. And consider becoming a member.

Learn what other states are doing to fight for community solar

States across the country have already passed legislation to allow community solar. And others are fighting for the ability to develop their own community solar projects.

Virginia resources

• Virginia Energy: Shared solar & Community Solar – State of Virginia webpage on shared solar programs in the state.
• Study shows all Virginia ratepayers win with more shared solar – Study by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors for the Coalition for Community Solar Access in 2023. Key finding is that expanding to deploy 2,000 MW of shared solar by 2035 could result in more than $5 billion in benefits from 2024 to 2050.
• Assessing the Benefits of Distributed Solar Energy in Virginia – Study by Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Urban & Regional Analysis in 2020.
• Richmond Community Solar Feasibility Study – Study by Virginia Commonwealth University that reviewed several ways to deploy community solar.

History of community solar in Virginia

Get to know some of the most impactful Virginia community solar advances: 

• 2017: the BARC Electric Cooperative completed a 550 kW community solar project on behalf of its members.
• August 2016: BARC Electric Cooperative inaugurates Virginia’s first community solar project.
• March 2017: Virginia legislature passes Senate Bill 1393, enabling investor-owned utilities to develop solar projects by allowing Virginians to participate in a voluntary subscription program. While this could allow more solar to be built in Virginia, it falls short of community solar.
• June 2017: More than 60 solar advocates attend a stakeholder discussion aimed at developing rules for energy production and consumption in Virginia.
• June 2017: Members of the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative push for expanded solar rights, including community solar, at the annual member-owner meeting.
• March 2020: Senate Bill 629 & House Bill 1634 passed, creating a shared solar program and a multi-family shared solar program in Dominion Energy territory.
• July 2023: Shared Solar Program opens in Dominion Energy territory.
• August 2023: Rappahannock Electric Co-op, A&N Electric Co-op, Northern Neck Electric Co-op community solar programs are made permanent by the SCC: Docket PUR 2018-00019, Docket PUR 2018-00020, and Docket PUR 2018-00022.
• March 2024: The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 253/House Bill 106, creating a shared solar program in Appalachian Power Company (APCO) territory.
• July 2025: Anticipated launch of Shared Solar Program in Appalachian Power Company territory.