# Virginia HB636: Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission.

Virginia HB636, Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Labor and Commerce) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB636-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB636
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Labor and Commerce
- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Labor and Commerce
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-26 | House | Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-26 | House | Referred from Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2024-02-08: Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-06: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-30: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2024-01-26: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-26: Referred from Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-25: Impact statement from SCC (HB636) (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102984D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-15: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB636)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB636)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB636-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).