HB 894

Abstract

Generation of electricity and energy development in the Commonwealth. Requires the Department of Energy, in cooperation with the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority, to convene a stakeholder work group to identify strategies and any needed public policies, including statutory or regulatory changes, for promoting the development of advanced small modular reactors in localities in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Department of Energy to consider the economic development of rural Virginia while minimizing the impact on prime farmland a key priority in updating its Virginia Energy Plan.The bill requires the Virginia Cooperative Extension to develop and maintain a map or repository of prime farmland in the Commonwealth, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Forestry, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Department of Energy. An initial report of such map or repository shall be submitted the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2022.Finally, the bill requires the State Corporation Commission to develop a program to encourage and expedite infrastructure investments by Dominion Energy Virginia or American Electric Power, in industrial sites determined to be relevant and in high demand by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The bill requires such program to be implemented by December 1, 2022, and the Commission is required to submit a report including recommendations for such program by December 15, 2022, to the Governor and General Assembly.

Generation of electricity and energy development in the Commonwealth. Adds promoting the deployment of broadband in Southwest Virginia to the powers and duties of the Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority. The bill also prohibits an electric generating unit located in the coalfield region of the Commonwealth capable of generating electricity from waste coal that began commercial operations after January 1, 2010, from being required to retire before such unit reaches the end of its useful life. The bill repeals provisions of the Virginia Clean Economy Act that prohibit the State Corporation Commission from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for any investor-owned utility to own, operate, or construct any electric generating unit that emits carbon as a by-product of combusting fuel to generate electricity until the General Assembly receives a certain report from the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and that authorize such Secretaries to recommend a future moratorium on the issuing of such certificates. The bill requires the Department of Energy to consider the economic development of rural Virginia while minimizing the impact on prime farmland a key priority in updating its Virginia Energy Plan.The bill requires the Department of Energy, in cooperation with the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority, to convene a stakeholder work group to identify strategies and any needed public policies, including statutory or regulatory changes, for promoting the development of advanced small modular reactors in localities in the Commonwealth.The bill requires the Virginia Cooperative Extension to develop and maintain a map or repository of prime farmland in the Commonwealth, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Forestry, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Department of Energy. An initial report of such map or repository shall be submitted the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2022.Finally, the bill requires the State Corporation Commission to develop a site readiness program for economic development sites identified by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in the service territory of a Dominion Energy or American Electric Power, based on best practices in competitor states. Such program shall be implemented by December 1, 2022, and the Commission shall submit a report including recommendations for such program by December 15, 2022, to the Governor and General Assembly.

Generation of electricity and energy development in the Commonwealth. Prohibits an electric generating unit located in the coalfield region of the Commonwealth capable of generating electricity from waste coal that began commercial operations after January 1, 2010, from being required to retire before such unit reaches the end of its useful life. The bill repeals provisions of the Virginia Clean Economy Act that prohibit the State Corporation Commission from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for any investor-owned utility to own, operate, or construct any electric generating unit that emits carbon as a by-product of combusting fuel to generate electricity until the General Assembly receives a certain report from the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and that authorize such Secretaries to recommend a future moratorium on the issuing of such certificates. The bill establishes the Southside Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority (the Authority) to promote opportunities for energy development in Southside Virginia, to create jobs and economic activity in Southside Virginia consistent with the Virginia Energy Plan, and to position Southside Virginia and the Commonwealth as a leader in energy workforce and energy technology research and development. The bill provides that the Authority  is composed of 11 nonlegislative members, of whom four are appointed by the Governor, four are appointed by the Speaker of the House, and three are appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Authority is charged with, among other tasks, (i) leveraging the strength in energy research and workforce development of Virginia's public and private institutions of higher education; (ii) supporting the development of pump storage hydropower in Southside Virginia and energy storage generally; (iii) promoting the development of renewable energy generation facilities on brownfield sites, including abandoned mine sites; (iv) promoting energy workforce development; (v) promoting the deployment of broadband in Southside Virginia; and (vi) assisting energy technology research and development by promoting the development of a Southside Virginia Energy Park. The Authority has a sunset date of July 1, 2032. The bill also adds the promotion of the deployment of broadband in Southwest Virginia as a duty of the existing Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority.The bill requires the Center for Rural Virginia (the Center), to develop and maintain, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Cooperative Extension, a map or repository of prime farmland located in the Commonwealth. The Center is required to provide localities access to the map or repository to aid in the evaluation of siting a solar project or energy storage project. The Board of Trustees of the Center is required to report to the Governor and the General Assembly an initial report on the development of such prime farmland map or repository by December 1, 2022.The bill requires the Department of Energy, in cooperation with the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority, to convene a stakeholder work group to identify strategies and any needed public policies, including statutory or regulatory changes, for (a) promoting the development of advanced small modular reactors in localities in the Commonwealth that formerly hosted fossil fuel electric generation facilities and that have expressed interest in acting as a host site through resolution by their governing board and (b) siting such reactors on brownfield sites or former military sites in such localities.Finally, the bill requires the Department of Energy to consider the economic development of rural Virginia a key priority in completing its update to the Virginia Energy Plan scheduled for 2022.