Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
HB 636: Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 636 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 9, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission. Primary sponsor: Rip Sullivan (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (November 18, 2024): Left in Labor and Commerce.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Siting of energy facilities; approval by State Corporation Commission. Establishes a procedure under which an electric utility or independent power provider (applicant) is able to obtain approval for a certificate from the State Corporation Commission for the siting of an energy facility rather than from the governing body of a locality. Under the bill, applicants are authorized to submit an application to the Commission if (i) the locality fails to timely approve or deny an application; (ii) the application complies with certain requirements for Commission approval, but a host locality denies the application; or (iii) the locality amends its zoning ordinance after it has notified the applicant that its requirements are compatible with the requirements for Commission approval, and the amendment imposes additional requirements that are more restrictive. The bill provides that an applicant who is issued a certificate by the Commission for an energy facility is exempt from obtaining approvals or permits, including any land use approvals or permits under the regulations and ordinances of the locality. The bill applies to any solar energy facility with a capacity of 50 megawatts or more, any wind energy facility with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more, and any energy storage facility with a nameplate capacity of 50 megawatts or more and an energy discharge capability of 200 megawatt hours or more.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Sullivan | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Labor and Commerce
- Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote)
- Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #3
- Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote)
- Referred from Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
- Impact statement from SCC (HB636)
- Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
- Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102984D