MAREC Action Statement on Virginia General Assembly’s Failure to Act to Standardize Solar Siting Ordinances
Richmond, VA: “MAREC Action is encouraged by activity during the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 session to reform the Commonwealth’s broken renewable energy siting process. We are especially grateful for the leadership of Del. Mundon King and Sen. Van Valkenburg on this critical issue. Although the most promising legislation, HB2438, failed in a tie vote in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee in the final days of the legislative session, MAREC Action is buoyed by the attention given to common-sense solar siting reform. MAREC spearheaded a broad coalition of renewable energy developers, environmental organizations and labor leaders, fostering productive discussions with both Democrats and Republicans about the Commonwealth’s energy needs.
Earlier in the session the House of Delegates passed HB 2438, patroned by Del. Candi Mundon King. The bill preserved the authority of localities, while providing useful local ordinance guidelines. The bill would have enabled communities to benefit from well-designed projects generating needed tax revenues and creating jobs, while protecting landowner rights. Unfortunately, despite broad support for the legislation among Senate Democratic Leadership and Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, who patroned identical legislation, the bill did not advance beyond committee.
HB2438 would have helped the Commonwealth fix a problem that endangers energy grid stability for all Virginians. While MAREC Action is disappointed the bill did not become law, the General Assembly session focused attention on the patchwork of conflicting county regulations hindering clean energy development. More than 50 legislators voted to support the commonsense approach, recognizing Virginia faces critical energy supply issues. Virginia needs renewable projects to affordably close the energy demand gap and meet its clean energy goals. This is essential in order for Virginia to maintain its status as one of the nation’s best places to live and do business.
Virginia’s energy needs are not going away. Renewable energy development is a win for the environment, Virginia’s economy, localities and landowners. Lawmakers are closer now to finding a solution that leverages renewable energy to keep our economy strong and meet our sustainability goals. MAREC is optimistic, a realistic and practical approach can bring consistency and predictability to utility-scale solar siting.” – Evan Vaughan, Executive Director, MAREC Action
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MAREC Action (MAREC informally stands for “Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition”) is a 501.c4 non-profit dedicated to the growth of renewable energy technologies that improve our environment, diversify our electricity generation portfolio, and boost economic development in the PJM grid region. Our mission is to improve and enhance the opportunities for renewable energy development in ten jurisdictions in the PJM region in and around the Mid-Atlantic, specifically: Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. We provide education and expertise on the economic benefits and environmental sustainability of wind and solar energy; offer technical expertise and advice on operating and integrating wind and solar into the electrical power system; and promote fair policies, rules and regulations to expand the region’s electric transmission system to accommodate the growth of renewable energy usage.