The passage of the Grid Transformation and Security Act of 2018 (GTSA) represented an historic moment for energy policy in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The legislation will modernize and strengthen the distribution grid, making Virginia more energy secure in the years ahead, and allowing the grid to incorporate more renewable energy sources as our energy needs grow and evolve.

With a clear focus on the future of energy security and generation in the Commonwealth, the GTSA directed Dominion Energy, and any other Phase I or II utilities operating in the Commonwealth, to prepare a report by November 1st of this year addressing various issues related to solar power in the Commonwealth. Specifically, the legislation states:

That each Phase I Utility and each Phase II Utility, as such terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1 of the Code of Virginia, shall investigate potential improvements to the net energy metering programs as provided under § 56-594 of the Code of Virginia, potential improvements to the pilot programs for community solar development as provided under § 56-585.1:3 of the Code of Virginia, expansion of options for customers with corporate clean energy procurement targets, and impediments to the siting of new renewable energy projects. Each such utility shall include interested stakeholders in the investigation of such issues and the development of proposed legislation and shall issue a report of its findings to the Governor, the State Corporation Commission and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor by November 1, 2018.

The following provides background regarding the company’s commitment to the development and deployment of solar energy resources and related programs and initiatives, a summary of the company’s robust stakeholder engagement process, and a discussion addressing the results of its process to develop the report.

Dominion Energy has expanded its solar generation by a significant amount in recent years, both nationally and in the Commonwealth.

The company now owns the fourth-largest solar fleet among utility holding companies in the United States and since 2013 has invested $3.6 billion to help bring 1,600 megawatts (MW) of large-scale solar into operation in nine states. That is enough energy to power about 400,000 homes at peak output. This work has made the company a national leader in the incorporation of solar energy into an existing electrical grid.

Dominion Energy is proud of this progress. At the same time the company knows there is much more to be done, but also that this work must always be done with customers first and foremost in mind. Dominion Energy’s goal will always be to provide reliable and affordable energy customers can count on. That will continue to be the mission as the company continues to add more solar generation into its overall energy portfolio.