# Virginia HB628: Renewable energy portfolio standard program; requirements, power purchase agreements. Virginia HB628, Renewable energy portfolio standard program; requirements, power purchase agreements., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Katrina Callsen (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0645)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB628-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB628 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Renewable energy portfolio standard program; requirements, power purchase agreements. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0645) - Sponsor: Katrina Callsen (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 10 (392 yes, 26 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 16 ## Summary Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements; power purchase agreements. Amends certain renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements for Dominion Energy Virginia, including the annual percentage of program requirements to be met with solar, wind, or anaerobic digestion resources of one megawatt or less located in the Commonwealth. The bill changes from 2025 to 2027 the compliance year beginning in which at least 75 percent of renewable energy certificates used by Dominion Energy Virginia shall come from eligible resources located in the Commonwealth. The bill also removes the requirement for a solar-powered or wind-powered generation facility to have a capacity of no less than 50 kilowatts to qualify for a third party power purchase agreement under a pilot program. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission, by July 1, 2033, to initiate a proceeding to evaluate the future availability of renewable energy certificates from certain resources and permits the Commission to increase or decrease by up to one percentage point the percentage of program requirements to be met by such resources in future compliance years. The bill provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to encourage development on previously developed project sites, as defined in existing law, to reduce the land use impacts of solar development. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 175. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Renewable buyers avoid some utility charges: benefit, medium. Certified accelerated renewable buyers can contract for eligible certificates, bundled renewable power, or qualifying storage arrangements and receive proportional charge exemptions. Renewable generation must be in the PJM region and begin commercial operation after January 1, 2015. Contracts canno… - Earlier competitive customers avoid utility charges: benefit, medium. Qualifying customers who previously chose competitive supply avoid specified charges while not buying electricity from their utility. Phase II customers need 2019 peak demand above 100 MW and a competitive-supply election before April 1, 2019. Phase I customers need an election before February 1, 2… - Utilities can seek extra zero-carbon power: benefit, medium. Utilities can seek permission to build, buy, or contract for zero-carbon electricity resources beyond required amounts. Contracts can cover energy, capacity, and environmental attributes. The Commission reviews each request separately, considering customer demand, likely fuel-cost savings, and Virg… - Shortfall payments fund training and energy: benefit, low. The Department of Energy administers collected renewable shortfall payments in an interest-bearing account. It directs 50% to job training and 30% to renewable-energy programs in historically economically disadvantaged communities. Another 16% supports energy efficiency in public facilities, and 4%… - Utilities face rising renewable-energy targets: cost, high. Utilities must buy and retire renewable energy certificates, which track qualifying energy, based on the prior year's electricity sales. Targets rise from 6% for Phase I utilities in 2021 to 100% in 2050. Phase II targets rise from 14% in 2021 to 100% in 2045, excluding sales to certified accelerat… - Electric customers pay clean-energy compliance costs: cost, medium. Virginia retail customers pay renewable-energy and storage compliance costs through charges they generally cannot avoid by switching suppliers. Utilities serving several states must allocate only Virginia's share to Virginia customers. The Commission had to start cost-allocation proceedings by Sept… - Utilities pay for renewable-energy shortfalls: cost, medium. Utilities must pay $45 per megawatt-hour of shortfall when they miss renewable requirements or face certificate costs above $45 per megawatt-hour. Shortfalls involving Virginia solar, wind, or anaerobic-digestion resources of 1 MW or less carry a $75 rate. Both payment amounts rise 1% each year aft… - Phase II utilities expand renewable power: mixed, high. Each Phase II utility must seek approval for 16,100 MW of Virginia solar or onshore wind by December 31, 2035. Required additions are 3,000 MW by 2024, another 3,000 by 2027, 4,000 by 2030, and 6,100 by 2035. At least 35% must come from non-utility-owned solar facilities; the total includes 1,100 M… - Utilities must retire carbon-emitting power plants: mixed, high. Phase I and Phase II utilities had to retire specified Virginia coal plants and oil units above 500 MW by December 31, 2024. Exceptions cover specified jointly owned units and certain coal-and-biomass units in the coalfield region. Other in-state plants emitting carbon through fuel burning must ret… - Customers face renewable supply contract limits: mixed, medium. Third-party power purchase agreements outside the pilot are prohibited in a Pilot Utility's territory. The prohibition excludes licensed suppliers responsible for serving 100% of a customer's electricity needs. Accounts already served by third-party agreements cannot enroll in a Commission-approved… - Customers gain on-site renewable power contracts: mixed, medium. The Commission runs a pilot in each investor-owned utility territory allowing eligible customers to buy on-site solar or wind power from third parties. Facilities must serve only the customer at owned or leased premises and generally cannot exceed 3 MW; low-income and tax-exempt customers can recei… - Phase I utilities add renewable power: mixed, medium. Each Phase I utility must seek approval to build, buy, or contract for 600 MW of Virginia solar or onshore wind. The law requires three 200-MW blocks in service by December 31 of 2023, 2027, and 2030. At least 35% of each block must come from facilities owned by someone other than the utility. The… - Renewable power sources qualify with limits: mixed, medium. Qualifying solar, wind, water, waste-to-energy, landfill-gas, geothermal, and biomass power can count toward utility renewable targets. Eligibility depends on source-specific location, operating date, ownership, capacity, and fuel rules, including required sustainable biomass harvesting practices.… - Small renewable projects get reserved demand: mixed, medium. Phase II utilities must meet 4.5% of renewable requirements with Virginia solar, wind, or anaerobic-digestion projects in 2026–2030, rising to 5% in 2031–2045. Each resource must be 1 MW or less, with no more than 3,000 kW at one site or adjoining sites under related ownership. When available, at l… - Utilities add storage with private participation: mixed, medium. By December 31, 2035, Phase I utilities must seek approval for 400 MW of storage, and Phase II utilities for 2,700 MW. Extra capacity requires approval; plans must aim to place at least 10% of storage projects behind customers' meters. At least 35% of storage deployed after July 1, 2020, must be bo… - Utilities seek bids and domestic equipment: mixed, medium. Phase I and Phase II utilities must seek solar and wind bids yearly, posting requests at least 45 days before bids close. Requests must explain resource needs, bid instructions, assumptions, location preferences, and selection factors. Reviews consider project readiness, existing plant age, finance… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Katrina Callsen (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-02 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 97 | 1 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 22 | 18 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 | | | 2026-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 1 | | | 2026-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 7 | 0 | | ## Actions (37) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0645) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 645 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628) (House) - 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-06: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB628ER) (House) - 2026-03-06: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-06: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-02: Senate substitute agreed to by House (97-Y 1-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-26: Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Committee substitute printed 26108349D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628) (House) - 2026-02-23: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House) - 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-03: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2026-02-03: committee amendments agreed to (House) - 2026-02-03: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-02: Read first time (House) - 2026-01-29: Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-01-27: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-01-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628) (House) - 2026-01-20: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104385D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221466.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221465.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194122.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194121.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177738.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177737.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177350.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177349.PDF) - Engrossed, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104939.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104938.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105571.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103540.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098636.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085259.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085256.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221466.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221465.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194122.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194121.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177738.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177737.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177350.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177349.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104939.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104938.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105571.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103540.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098636.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085259.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085256.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB628-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).