Advancing Local, Affordable, and Resilient Energy
The Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance successfully supported legislation in the 2026 Virginia General Assembly to establish a Distributed Energy Resources Task Force.
Enabled by House Bill No. 285 (Helmer) and Senate Bill No. 223 (VanValkenburg) and expected to be signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger imminently, the VA-DER Task Force establishes a coordinated effort to remove barriers, expand market access, and lower energy costs for local energy solutions. Click here to view the latest version of the combined legislation as of late April 2026.
The DER Task Force will expand awareness and deployment of distributed energy resources, including:
- Net-metered solar
- Community solar
- Battery storage
- EVs
- Virtual power plants
- Demand response
- Energy efficiency
Only DERs Can Go Online Fast Enough to Meet Spiking Power Demand
Virginia’s energy system is under unprecedented strain and we need to add more energy fast to avoid unprecedented price spikes and threats to reliability:
- The state currently hosts more than 650 data centers—the largest concentration in the world, with more on the way
- Data centers already consume 25%+ of statewide electricity, projected to approach 50% by 2030
- Virginia imports roughly 39% of its electricity—more than any other state
- New generation and transmission projects can take 5–15 years to build
- Rising costs and grid reliability concerns increasingly impact ratepayers
Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) can be deployed rapidly—often in under a year—and provide power exactly where it’s needed.
Getting the Right People at the Table
Under the leadership of Virginia’s Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond, who will ensure alignment with the Governor’s energy policy, the DER Task Force will bring together a balanced group of stakeholders:
- State agencies and policymakers
- State Corporation Commission (SCC) staff
- Utilities
- Distributed energy industry representatives
- Local governments
- Large and small energy customers
- Consumer advocates
This structure ensures broad participation and practical outcomes, with transparency and accountability in decision-making.
Meeting FERC’s Deadline for a DER Plan
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order 2222 requires regional grid operators like PJM Interconnection to open markets to distributed energy resources, and Virginia needs to submit its plan to help. To compete—and to ensure that all Virginians benefit—the state must:
- Modernize interconnection and regulatory frameworks
- Align state policy with federal market access requirements
- Enable distributed resources to participate fully in energy markets
Support Our Work
The work of the Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance depends on supporters who believe in a more affordable, resilient, and locally powered energy future. Donate now to support our efforts to bring local energy to the electrical grid.