Virginia

EV Charging in Virginia -

Solar Power in Virginia -

Virginia’s approach to commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging projects in 2026 reflects both ambitious infrastructure goals and significant funding and regulatory shifts. Historically, the Commonwealth planned to leverage roughly $100 million + in federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program funds to build a network of fast chargers along major interstate and highway corridors, ensuring stations with at least four 150 kW fast‑charging ports spaced no more than 50 miles apart to support long‑distance travel and commercial activity. Initial funding rounds sent millions to third‑party developers for sites across the state and prioritized equitable access, with many chargers placed near disadvantaged communities.

 However, in 2025 the federal government suspended NEVI funding guidance and halted new approvals, creating uncertainty for many planned commercial projects in Virginia. A February 2025 federal directive instructed states to decertify and pause their EV infrastructure plans, effectively stalling dozens of approved stations and jeopardizing projected NEVI allocations through 2026. State leaders and transportation committee chairs publicly urged continued deployment and legal challenges, emphasizing that frozen federal funds threaten the build‑out needed to support increasing EV adoption and tourism‑related travel.

 At the state policy level, Virginia continues adjusting its regulatory environment to encourage private investment and deployment of commercial charging infrastructure. For instance, state law prohibits the State Corporation Commission from regulating retail EV charging rates, giving commercial operators pricing flexibility but also leaving them without rate protections under utility oversight. Meanwhile, new legislation like SB 407 introduced in early 2026 aims to update codes related to transportation electrification and fast‑charging station cost recovery, signaling ongoing legislative efforts to refine utility roles and cost structures for commercial projects. Overall, Virginia’s stance blends continued infrastructure support and grants with adaptation to federal funding shifts and evolving state regulation, positioning the Commonwealth to advance commercial EV charging despite financial and policy headwinds.

 In 2026, Virginia’s stance on commercial solar panel projects reflects a mixed but generally supportive policy framework at the state level, backed by ambitious long‑term renewable energy goals while grappling with local opposition and federal incentives uncertainty. The cornerstone of this stance remains the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), which mandates that the state’s two largest utilities procure 100 % renewable electricity by 2045 (Dominion) and 2050 (Appalachian Power) and includes targets for substantial solar development. Under the VCEA, utilities like Dominion Energy are required to build thousands of megawatts (MW) of solar capacity, with reported filings indicating tens of gigawatts of proposed solar under development to meet these long‑term targets.

 The legislative environment in the 2025–2026 sessions show active adjustments to solar policy, particularly in the distributed and commercial segments. Key bills such as HB1883/SB1040 modify renewable portfolio requirements to increase carve‑outs for distributed solar and expand third‑party power purchase agreement (PPA) eligibility up to 3 MW, which benefits many commercial rooftop and small ground‑mounted projects starting in 2026. Additionally, the ongoing shared solar program provides structured capacity caps (e.g., 200 MW for Dominion, expandable to 350 MW) and allows commercial and industrial customers to receive bill credits from shared solar output, broadening participation beyond direct owners.

 Despite these supportive policies, Virginia’s stance is not without friction. Local opposition has grown in some rural counties, leading to increased denials of large utility‑scale solar projects, which can intersect with commercial development when projects exceed 5 MW, and sparked legislative attempts (some unsuccessful) to create statewide siting frameworks. At the federal level, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (passed in 2025) significantly changes commercial solar economics by phasing out long‑standing federal tax credits for projects that fail to start construction by mid‑2026 or meet “safe harbor” criteria and subjects newer projects to strict Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) supply‑chain requirements that complicate financing and compliance. In practice, this means commercial developers in Virginia pursuing projects in 2026 must balance state‑level incentives and mandates with shrinking federal support and evolving regulatory conditions while navigating local zoning and community acceptance dynamics.