Virginia Gov. Spanberger Signs Law Ending County Solar Bans, Effective July 1

TL;DR: Virginia’s new law voids county solar farm bans and forces localities to justify any project denials, starting July 1.

Context Virginia ranks ninth in the nation for installed solar capacity and generates nearly 10 % of its electricity from solar. Yet two‑thirds of its counties have prohibited or heavily restricted large solar farms, limiting the state’s ability to meet a 100 % renewable utility target by 2050.

Key Facts Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the legislation last week, overturning county‑wide bans and establishing statewide siting criteria. Under the law, local governments must submit any denial of a solar project to state regulators with a documented justification. The measure, championed by state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, cleared the General Assembly in March and was amended by the governor before signing. Evan Vaughan, executive director of the Mid‑Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, noted that localities retain “full authority to deny solar projects indefinitely,” but the new oversight may encourage more applications. He added that rising energy costs and pressures on farmers could increase rural interest in solar benefits. The law arrives as data centers drive electricity demand higher and consumers face climbing energy bills. Solar, paired with battery storage, offers a low‑cost, carbon‑free alternative that can be built faster than gas plants and is insulated from natural‑gas price swings.

What It Means Developers can now pursue projects in counties previously off‑limits, though they must navigate the new justification process. The change could unlock “low‑hanging fruit” for interconnection to the PJM grid, potentially accelerating the addition of utility‑scale solar capacity. While the statute is not a panacea, it aligns state policy with the utility mandate for 100 % renewable power by mid‑century. Watch for early permit applications and how state regulators respond to local denial justifications in the coming months.