Of the 219 bills that Virginia Conservation Network took a position on this session, 99 bills addressed energy and climate policy for the Commonwealth. Our Partners advocated for policies that:

• Increase access to affordable, clean energy
• Support energy efficiency
• Return Virginia to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
• Regulate the impacts of data centers’ growth

See the wins and missed opportunities for climate & energy policy below. You can see the outcomes of all of VCN’s policy positions on our Bill Tracker.

POLICY WINS & LOSSES FOR CLIMATE & ENERGY

Partners and advocates rallied for affordable, clean energy outside Richmond’s General Assembly Building. Photo by David Parrish Photography.

The best way to meet Virginia’s growing energy demand is through significant investments in solar and battery storage. Solar and storage remain the fastest, most affordable resources available to meet energy demand and provide affordable clean energy. 

A major win from this session was the passage of the Affordable Clean Energy Package, which will work to increase affordable clean energy across the Commonwealth:

• Removes interconnection red tape for balcony solar (HB395 / SB250)
• Streamlines rooftop solar adoption, making it faster and easier to get a permit for a home to install solar panels (HB590 / SB382)
• Increases the amount of small-scale solar on rooftops, parking lots, landfills, and brownfields (HB628 / SB175)
• Expands clean energy storage targets and provides localities with guidance for deploying and siting (HB895 / SB382)
• Requires a consumer disclosure form for all residential solar projects to protect vulnerable homeowners (HB1439 / SB823)

Learn more about the Affordable Clean Energy Package and its importance to securing a reliable, cost-effective, clean energy future on our Bill of the Day post.

Warrenton at Sunset. Photo by Hugh Kenny.

The cleanest, most affordable energy is the energy not used. Energy efficiency helps ratepayers lower their utility bills by using energy more efficiently to perform the same task, while still maintaining their homes safe and comfortable.

Legislators passed three bills to support energy efficiency measures and help ratepayers:

• Requiring electric utilities to create a program to shift low-income customers from old oil or propane heat to high-efficiency electric heat pumps (HB2 / SB72)
• Establish the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to develop actionable solutions to lower household energy costs and improve housing quality for low-income Virginians (HB3 / SB5)
• Protect Virginians from higher energy bills caused by the potential removal of federal appliance energy efficiency standards (HB672 / SB256)

See all passed and defeated bills regarding energy efficiency on our Bill of the Day post.

Chesapeake Bay Shore. Photo by Jan McMillen.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) raised more than $800 million from polluters to protect communities from flooding and cut Virginians’ energy bills in the 3 years Virginia participated in the program. Virginia has left hundreds of millions of dollars since ending its participation in RGGI on December 31, 2023. Since leaving RGGI, Virginia’s emissions have increased, and communities are facing higher costs from flooding and rising energy costs.

Legislators passed legislation and a caboose budget that will re-enter Virginia into RGGI:

• Requires all state agencies to take actions necessary to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (caboose budget)
• Clarifies existing law to make clear that Virginia is statutorily required to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (HB397 / SB802)

Learn more about why rejoining RGGI matters in reducing pollution, lowering energy bills, and keeping Virginians safe from extreme weather on our Bill of the Day post.

A major win from this session was in defeating 16 bills that tried to repeal, weaken, undermine, or outright repeal our core climate policy: the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Learn about all of the bills we opposed and defeated that would have weakened the VCEA on our Bill of the Day post.

Data Center in Loudoun County, Virginia. Photo by Hugh Kenny, Piedmont Environmental Council.

The data center industry continues to grow rapidly, requiring huge amounts of energy, land, and water to operate. Data centers should be responsible for their fair share of the resources they consume to run their facilities.

Legislators passed several pieces of legislation to reform the data center industry and protect ratepayers:

• Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish demand flexibility programs for data centers to protect ratepayers and reduce strain on the grid (HB284 / SB371)
• Directs the Department of Energy to develop a plan for using data center waste heat to improve energy efficiency and lower emissions (HB323)
• Strengthen regulations on data centers’ use of carbon dioxide-emitting backup generators (HB507)

While there were several wins, critical bills intended to establish state regulatory authority over data centers, ensure data centers pay their fair share for infrastructure costs, and incentivize clean energy standards for the industry were defeated this session. Legislators are currently considering different budget approaches for how to handle the sales and use tax exemption the industry currently receives. 

Learn more about all of the bills this session to hold data centers accountable for their fair share on our Bill of the Day post.

Bills that passed the General Assembly now head to the Governor’s desk for her to sign, amend, or veto by April 14th. Legislators will make a final vote on amended bills during Veto Session on April 22nd to determine which bills will officially become law starting on July 1st, 2026. 

Be the first to know about new environmental legislation: register for our virtual General Assembly Recap on Friday, April 24th, from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. You’ll hear the inside scoop from environmental policy experts about the conservation community’s biggest victories, the missed opportunities, and any surprise outcomes from the 2026 General Assembly session.

See the outcomes of other environmental policies from the 2026 General Assembly session below: