An Act to amend and reenact § 10.1-1197.5, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition.
HB508 amends Virginia Code § 10.1-1197.5, which defines terms used for small renewable energy projects. The bill adds a formal definition of “agrivoltaics,” describing the intentional co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation on the same land, with requirements intended to preserve agricultural productivity, allow continued farm production, include decommissioning protections, avoid significant displacement of farming activity, and preserve flexibility for farmers. The measure also updates the definition of “small renewable energy project” and, in the July 1, 2026 version of the statute, adds “interconnection facilities” to the definition so that associated grid-connection infrastructure is included for qualifying projects.
The bill’s practical effect is to clarify which renewable energy projects qualify under this article of the Code of Virginia, especially solar, wind, storage, and hybrid projects, and to recognize agrivoltaics as a distinct land-use and energy concept. By expressly including dedicated interconnection facilities in the later-effective definition, the bill broadens and clarifies the scope of project components covered by the statute. This can affect project developers, utilities, landowners, farmers, local permitting and review processes, and state agencies applying renewable energy rules.
The available record shows no committee transcript and no recorded votes, so there is no documented debate in the provided materials. The bill was enacted as Chapter 156, which suggests it moved through the process successfully and without visible opposition in the supplied history. Overall, the tone of the legislation appears technical and supportive of renewable energy development, while also trying to preserve agricultural use of land.
The main point of potential contention, based on the text itself, is the balance between renewable energy siting and agricultural preservation. The agrivoltaics definition is detailed and includes several limiting conditions, which may reflect concern about ensuring that solar development does not simply replace farming. Another possible issue is the inclusion of interconnection facilities in the later-effective definition, which could expand the reach of the statute and affect how projects are evaluated or permitted.
HB508 amends § 10.1-1197.5 of the Code of Virginia to refine the statutory definitions governing small renewable energy projects. It adds a new definition of agrivoltaics and, effective July 1, 2026, expands the definition of small renewable energy project to include dedicated associated interconnection facilities for qualifying generation and storage projects. The bill affects renewable energy developers, agricultural landowners, and regulators by clarifying what project types and components fall within the statute’s scope.
The available materials suggest generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. It was enacted into law, and the text reflects a policy approach that supports renewable energy deployment while attempting to protect agricultural productivity. Because no committee transcripts or votes are provided, there is no recorded opposition or detailed debate in the supplied context.
No explicit contention is documented in the provided transcripts or votes. The likely substantive tension in the bill is between promoting solar and storage development and preserving farmland for active agricultural use. The agrivoltaics definition addresses that tension by imposing conditions designed to keep farming viable, while the addition of interconnection facilities may raise questions about how broadly the statute reaches project infrastructure and whether that could affect permitting or project classification.