Title 45.2, Title 45.2. Mines, Minerals, and Energy

For the purposes of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy as set out in § 45.2-1706.1, in any clean energy initiative or carbon-free energy initiative undertaken, overseen, regulated, or permitted by the Department, nuclear energy shall be considered to be a clean energy source.

A. The Division, in consultation with the State Corporation Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Clean Energy Advisory Board, the solar, wind, energy efficiency, and transportation electrification sectors, and a stakeholder group that includes representatives …

A. The Division shall complete the Plan. B. Prior to the completion of the Plan and each update thereof, the Division shall present drafts to, and consult with, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission established pursuant to Chapter 25 (§ 30-188 et seq.) of Title 30 and the Energ…

Each investor-owned public utility providing electric service in the Commonwealth shall prepare an annual report disclosing its efforts to conserve energy, including (i) its implementation of customer demand-side management programs and (ii) efforts by the utility to improve effi…

Upon completion, the Division shall submit the Plan, including periodic updates thereto, to the Governor, the Commissioners of the State Corporation Commission, and the General Assembly and shall present the Plan to the Energy Commission of Virginia at a public meeting. The Plan …

A. The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium is hereby established to include Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary in Virginia, the Advanced Research Institute of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univer…

The Consortium shall serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource for the Commonwealth on coastal energy issues. As used in this article, "coastal energy" includes wave or tidal action, currents, offshore winds, thermal differences, and methane hydrates…

A. The Board shall appoint an executive director to serve as the principal administrative officer of the Consortium. The executive director shall report to the Board and be under its supervision. B. The executive director shall exercise all powers imposed upon him by law, carry o…

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning: "Authority" means the Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority established pursuant to this article. "Coal mine methane" means methane gas captured and produced from an underground gob a…

The Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority is established as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. The purposes of the Authority are to promote opportunities for energy development in Southwest Virginia, create jobs and economic activity in Southwest …

A. The Authority shall have a total membership of 11 nonlegislative citizen members appointed as follows: four members to be appointed by the Governor, four members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and three members to be appointed by the Senate Committee…

In addition to the other powers and duties established under this article, the Authority has the power and duty to: 1. Adopt, use, and alter at will an official seal; 2. Make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs; 3. Maintain an office at any place within the Co…

On or before October 15 of each year, beginning in 2020, the Authority shall submit an annual summary of its activities and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Com…

A. The Authority shall hold in confidence the personal and financial information supplied to it or maintained by it concerning the siting and development of energy projects. B. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Authority, in its discretion, from releasing any information…

A. The exercise of the powers granted by this article shall be in all respects for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth and for the promotion of their welfare, convenience, and prosperity. B. The Authority shall be deemed to be performing an essential governmental func…

The provisions of this article shall expire on July 1, 2029.

A. For the purposes of this section: "Brownfield" means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. "Fund" means the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine …

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning: "Advisory Council" means the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Advisory Council. "Base price" means the manufacturer's base price for the lowest price trim level of the model and shall not include charges for…

There is hereby established an Electric Vehicle Rebate Program for the purchase of new and used electric motor vehicles to provide an incentive to increase electric vehicle awareness and adoption in the Commonwealth. The Program shall be administered by the Department. The Depart…

A. Beginning January 1, 2022, a resident of the Commonwealth who purchases a new electric motor vehicle from a participating dealer shall be eligible for a rebate of $2,500. A qualified resident of the Commonwealth who purchases such vehicle shall also be eligible for an addition…

The Department shall establish a website for the administration of the Program. The website shall include general information for the public, including details about the Program and performance metrics regarding the Program. The website shall also provide (i) data updated weekly …

A. The Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Advisory Council is established to monitor the implementation and operation of the Program and to make recommendations to the Department regarding suggested changes to the Program, including regular assessment to determine the effect of the …

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests,…

The Director of the Department shall report annually on or before December 1 to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the implementation and administration of the Program and any recommendations of the Department or the Advisory Council. Each report shall include an ass…

The provisions of this article shall expire on January 1, 2027.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Power Innovation Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund," that shall be administered by the Department. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. …

A. For the purposes of this section: "Alternative platform" means an alternative automated solar permitting platform. "Platform" means the Smart Solar Permitting Platform. "Residence" means a detached single-family or two-family home. "Residential solar energy system" means a sys…

A. If any product or product categories under 10 C.F.R. Parts 430 and 431 of the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-163), as amended, are removed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the federal government, the Department shall adopt energy or water conserv…

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning: "Authority" means the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority established pursuant to Article 2 (§ 45.2-1803 et seq.). "Division" means the Division of Offshore Wind in the Department as established pu…

It is the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to examine the feasibility of offshore wind energy being utilized in an environmentally responsible fashion.

A. The Director shall establish the Division of Offshore Wind in the Department and shall appoint persons to direct, support, and execute the powers and duties of the Division. B. The powers and duties of the Division include: 1. Identifying specific measures that will facilitate…

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning: "Developer" means any private developer of an offshore wind energy project. "Offshore wind energy project" means a wind-powered electric energy facility, including tower, turbine, and associated equipment, …

A. The Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority is established as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. B. The Authority is established for the purposes of facilitating, coordinating, and supporting the development, either by the Authority or by other qualified entitie…

A. The Authority shall be composed of nine nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a representative of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority as established in § 2.2-2202. In addition, one ex officio member without voting privileges …

In addition to the other powers and duties established under this article, the Authority has the power and duty to: 1. Adopt, use, and alter at will an official seal; 2. Make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs; 3. Maintain an office at any place within the Co…

A. The Director shall serve as Director of the Authority and shall administer the affairs and business of the Authority in accordance with the provisions of this article and subject to the policies, control, and direction of the Authority. The Director shall maintain and is custo…

On or before October 15 of each year, the Authority shall submit an annual summary of its activities and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Labor and…

A. The Authority shall hold in confidence the personal and financial information supplied to it or maintained by it concerning the siting and development of offshore wind energy projects. B. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Authority, in its discretion, from releasing a…

A. The exercise of the powers granted by this article shall be in all respects for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth and for the promotion of their welfare, convenience, and prosperity. B. The Authority shall be deemed to be performing an essential governmental func…

The Authority shall, through moneys derived from sources other than state funds, to the extent such moneys are available, operate in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to upgrade wind resource and other metocean assessment equipment at Chesapeake…

A. The Authority may establish public-private partnerships with developers pursuant to the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (§ 56-575.1 et seq.) for purposes set forth in this section. B. The Authority may establish a public-private partnership f…

A. The Authority, on behalf of the Commonwealth, may apply to the U.S. Department of Energy for federal loan guarantees authorized or made available pursuant to Title XVII of the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, P.L. 109-58; the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of…

A. The Virginia Solar Energy Center (the Center) is established as part of the Department. The purposes of the Center are to (i) serve the people of the Commonwealth as a clearinghouse to gather, maintain, and disseminate general and technical information on solar energy and its …

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning: "Board" means the Clean Energy Advisory Board created pursuant to § 45.2-1913. "Fund" means the Low-to-Moderate Income Solar Loan and Rebate Fund created pursuant to § 45.2-1916. "Program" means the Low-to-…

The Clean Energy Advisory Board is established as an advisory board in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Board is to establish a pilot program for disbursing loans or rebates for the installation of solar energy infrastructure in low-income and moderate…

A. The Board shall have a total membership of 17 members that shall consist of 16 nonlegislative citizen members and one ex officio member. Members may reside within or without the Commonwealth. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed as follows: 1. Six nonlegislative c…