# Virginia SB973: Captured waste mine methane pilot program; electric generation, renewable portfolio standard.

Virginia SB973, Captured waste mine methane pilot program; electric generation, renewable portfolio standard., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by T. Travis Hackworth (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-01-21 (Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (8-Y 7-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB973-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB973
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Captured waste mine methane pilot program; electric generation, renewable portfolio standard.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-01-21, Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (8-Y 7-N)
- Sponsor: T. Travis Hackworth (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (8 yes, 7 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Pilot program; electric generation from captured waste mine methane; renewable portfolio standard. Directs the State Corporation Commission to establish a pilot program for American Electric Power and Dominion Energy to submit proposals to deploy electric generation that utilizes, in whole or in part, captured waste mine methane, as defined in the bill. Under the bill, reasonable and prudent costs incurred under the captured waste mine methane pilot program shall be recovered through utility base rates for generation and distribution services. Additionally, the bill provides that electricity generated using captured waste mine methane with a non-combustion electric generator under the captured waste mine methane project shall be considered an eligible resource for purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard program until December 31, 2045.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: T. Travis Hackworth (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-21 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | pass | 8 | 7 |   |

## Actions (3)

- 2025-01-21: Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (8-Y 7-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102427D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2025-01-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025357.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014650.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014649.PDF)

## 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
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025357.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014650.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014649.PDF)

## 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)
- [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-SB973-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).