# Virginia SB252: Renewable energy portfolio standard program; energy from geothermal heating/cooling systems, report. Virginia SB252, Renewable energy portfolio standard program; energy from geothermal heating/cooling systems, report., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Scott A. Surovell (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0734)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB252-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB252 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Renewable energy portfolio standard program; energy from geothermal heating/cooling systems, report. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-12 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0734) - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 7 (157 yes, 53 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 16 ## Summary Renewable energy portfolio standard program; geothermal heating and cooling systems; report. Requires, for purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard program, Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to annually procure and retire certain percentages of renewable energy certificates from geothermal heating and cooling systems, as defined in the bill. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to prepare and deliver a report evaluating the procurement and retirement of renewable energy certificates from geothermal heating and cooling systems in the Commonwealth on or before November 1, 2028. The bill also directs the Real Estate Appraiser Board to promulgate regulations requiring the development of a continuing education curriculum and required training for all licensees that includes how to properly determine the increase in value of real estate created by reductions in building energy costs associated with solar, geothermal, and solar water heating investments. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation and is identical to HB 1102. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Shortfall payments fund community energy jobs: benefit, low. Virginia's Department of Energy must put 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-saving measures in public facilities, and 4%… - Certified renewable buyers get charge exemptions: benefit, low. Certified accelerated renewable buyers can contract for eligible credits or bundled power and offset their load for renewable compliance. Charge exemptions track qualifying credits and contracted storage capacity; annual certification is required, and some offshore-wind costs remain chargeable. Bun… - Early outside-supplier customers avoid renewable charges: benefit, low. Certain customers who chose another electricity supplier early are exempt from specified renewable charges while not buying utility power. Phase II customers must have had peak demand above 100 megawatts in 2019 and chosen competitive supply before April 1, 2019. Phase I customers must have chosen… - Geothermal systems qualify for renewable credits: benefit, low. Qualifying geothermal heating and cooling systems can earn credits that count toward utility renewable energy requirements. Systems must use electric heat pumps that exchange heat with groundwater or a shallow ground source. They must meet current Energy Star standards, replace less efficient heati… - Utilities face long-term renewable energy targets: cost, medium. Utilities must meet yearly renewable energy targets based on electricity sold in the previous calendar year. The required share reaches 100% for Phase I utilities in 2045 and Phase II utilities in 2050, continuing afterward. The calculation uses retail sales in each utility's Virginia service area.… - Appraisers must train on energy savings: cost, low. Virginia's Real Estate Appraiser Board must require continuing education for all licensed appraisers on valuing building energy savings. Training covers property value increases tied to lower energy costs from solar, geothermal, and solar water-heating investments. The board must report on implemen… - Phase II utilities expand renewable power: mixed, high. Each Phase II utility must seek approval for 16,100 megawatts of Virginia solar or onshore wind by December 31, 2035. Required additions are 3,000 megawatts by 2024, 3,000 by 2027, 4,000 by 2030, and 6,100 by 2035. At least 35% of each part must come from owners outside the utility and its affiliat… - Phase I utilities add renewable capacity: mixed, medium. Each Phase I utility must seek approval to build, acquire, or contract for 600 megawatts of Virginia solar or onshore wind. The schedule requires 200 megawatts by December 31, 2023, another 200 by December 31, 2027, and another 200 by December 31, 2030. At least 35% of each part must come from faci… - Utilities buy from small Virginia projects: mixed, medium. Phase II utilities must meet 1% of each year's renewable requirement with Virginia solar, wind, or anaerobic-digestion projects. Each project must be 1 megawatt or smaller. A single site, or adjoining sites owned by the same or affiliated entities, can contribute no more than 3,000 kilowatts. At le… - Utilities must buy geothermal energy credits: mixed, medium. Utilities must buy and retire geothermal heating and cooling credits equal to at least 0.5% of total credits in 2027. The minimum rises to 0.75% in 2028 and 1% in 2029 and later years. Phase II systems must be in Virginia; Phase I systems must also be within that utility's service area. Credit amou… - Utilities must expand energy storage capacity: mixed, medium. By December 31, 2035, each Phase I utility must seek approval for 400 megawatts of storage; Phase II utilities need 2,700. Projects generally cannot exceed 500 megawatts, but one Phase II project can reach 800 megawatts. At least 35% of facilities placed in service after July 1, 2020, must be purch… - Utilities must retire covered fossil-fuel plants: mixed, medium. Phase I and Phase II utilities must retire covered Virginia coal units and oil units above 500 megawatts by December 31, 2024. Exceptions cover coal units jointly owned with cooperatives and certain Phase II coalfield units that also burn biomass. Other Virginia units that emit carbon from fuel com… - Virginia renewable credits face sourcing limits: mixed, medium. For 2021–2024, utilities could use qualifying Virginia or PJM-region credits, with exclusions for thermal energy and out-of-state biomass. Beginning in 2025, only eligible sources count, and at least 75% of Phase II credits must come from Virginia. Virginia falling-water facilities qualify if comme… - Customers pay renewable energy compliance costs: mixed, low. Virginia utilities recover covered renewable compliance costs through customer charges, generally even when customers use another electricity supplier. Covered costs include qualifying new renewable energy and storage placed in service after July 1, 2020. Certain renewable buyers and offshore-wind… - Utilities must seek competitive renewable bids: mixed, low. Phase I and Phase II utilities must seek bids for new solar and wind resources at least once each year. Requests must state energy, capacity, or credit needs and be posted publicly at least 45 days before bids close. Utilities must weigh project, developer, grid, Virginia economic, and environmenta… - Utilities pay for renewable credit shortfalls: mixed, low. Utilities generally pay $45 per megawatt-hour when they cannot meet renewable requirements or necessary credits cost more than $45. Base shortfall rates are $75 for qualifying small Virginia projects and $100 for required geothermal credits, rising 1% annually after 2021. Utilities must seek geothe… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-27 | House | Passed House | pass | 67 | 29 | | | 2026-02-24 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce | pass | 16 | 5 | | | 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 25 | 14 | | | 2026-02-12 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-09 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendments | pass | 9 | 5 | | ## Actions (29) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0734) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 734 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB252) (Senate) - 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 (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB252ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-02-27: Passed House (67-Y 29-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-27: Read third time (House) - 2026-02-26: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-24: Reported from Labor and Commerce (16-Y 5-N) (House) - 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House) - 2026-02-18: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-18: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB252) (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 14-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Commerce and Labor Amendments agreed to (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Senate committee amendments offered (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendments (9-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB252) (Senate) - 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate) - 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104602D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222239.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222238.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188785.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188784.PDF) - Engrossed, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139715.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139714.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136475.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135776.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086994.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086993.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/1222239.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222238.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188785.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188784.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139715.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139714.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1136475.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135776.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086994.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086993.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-SB252-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).