PEC highlights rooftop solar benefits and Virginia policy challenges

The Piedmont Environmental Council has published an informational article promoting rooftop solar in Virginia and describing policy challenges and opportunities around distributed generation.

• The article argues that rooftop solar can quickly add clean energy, reduce pressure on land, and support local jobs; it says battery pairing can provide energy independence and potential income, and that rooftop generation can connect to the grid in months rather than the 5-7-year timeline for gas plants or utility-scale solar.
• It also says Dominion Energy petitioned the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) in May 2025 to change net metering, that Dominion’s 2026 attempt to reduce the incentive was denied, and that 2026 legislation created a Virginia Department of Energy automated permitting tool and included bills such as SB175/HB628 and SB823/HB1439.