Dive Brief:

• Four pieces of energy legislation introduced in Virginia would help bring more renewable energy to the state's power grid, including a community solar pilot that could add 50 MW and a program that would allow farms to sell excess power, the Energy Collective reports. 
• The bills are not available online, but blogger Ivy Main over at The Energy Collective has written an extensive piece on the bills based on a legislative subcommittee meeting last week. 
• The proposals follow a September decision by a Virginia hearing examiner that third party financing for residential solar installations is legal under state law.

Dive Insight:

Virginia utilities are taking steps to boost the amount of solar energy, and are collaborating with solar developers on legislation that would widen the resource's availability. 

Under one program, dubbed a community solar program (though the panels would be owned by developers), could add 40 MW to Dominon's grid, and up to 10 MW for Appalachian Power. Another measure raises the size of wind and solar projects utilities can construct through an expedited permitting process.

In 2015, the Virginia State Corporation Commission directed Dominion to consider a third party developer to construct a utility-scale solar project rather than shifting the costs on ratepayers, making it the first solar power purchase agreement allowed in the state. Appalachian Power had argued PPAs were only allowed under a Dominion pilot, but a hearing examiner rejected that idea.

Virginia law "does allow customers to contract with third parties to 'own, operate, or both, an electrical generating facility' that complies with the other requirements of the Code," the examiner wrote in the decision. Solar advocates hailed the decision as a major step forward for Virginia's renewable industry.

Last month, Amazon Web Services announced five new solar farms in Virginia with a total capacity of 120 MW.