Virginia Solar Energy Development and Energy Storage Authority
In 2015, the Virginia General Assembly created the Virginia Solar Energy Development Authority (the Authority) — under Title 45.2, Code of Virginia — for the purposes of facilitating, coordinating and supporting the development, either by the Authority or by other qualified entities, of the solar energy industry and solar energy projects.
The Authority, as originally created, was composed of 11 non-legislative citizen members: six members appointed by the Governor, three members by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and two members were appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. In the 2017 legislative session, Virginia Code § 67-1500 was amended to include energy storage as a key activity for the Authority to study. As a result, the Authority was renamed the Virginia Solar Energy Development and Energy Storage Authority and four additional members were added: 2 appointed by the Governor and 1 each from the House and Senate. The legislation expanded the purposes of the authority to include positioning the Commonwealth as a leader in research, development, commercialization, manufacturing and deployment of energy storage technology. The powers of the Authority were expanded to include:
