Virginia bill to reduce local authority to reject large renewable projects gets tabled for a year

A bill in the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature to give the state the authority to overrule local government decisions to reject large renewable energy projects won’t be considered for another year.

The bill, if eventually considered and passed, would allow project developers whose projects are rejected at the local level to appeal to state authorities for approval. The projects that would be impacted include solar and wind and battery-storage facilities. 

A subcommittee of the Virginia House Commerce and Labor Committee recently held a voice vote to carry the bill over to next year, according to Cardinal News and a companion bill has been referred to a Senate committee.

Local opposition has become a formidable force in rejecting renewable energy projects, and more than a dozen states are looking to grant more authority to state authorities to override local restrictions and decisions in the siting of renewable energy projects.