We’re excited to share a major win for clean energy and energy independence in Virginia. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) ruled that net metering, which is an essential part of rooftop solar, will remain unchanged!
Distributed, Clean Generation
When appropriately sited, renewable options such as solar, wind and geothermal, can perform an extremely valuable function – providing peak power close to the load, energy security, cost savings, local employment opportunities, and emissions reductions.
SCC Decision Keeps Net Metering Structure Unchanged
Dominion petitioned the SCC last year to decrease the rate of return for energy produced by solar customers in excess of what they use. After reviewing the case, the SCC issued a decision earlier this month, concluding that the net metering structure should remain unchanged.
Culpeper Update: More Power Infrastructure Headed Our Way
As this year’s legislative session winds down, I want to take the opportunity to let you know about a few important developments in Culpeper County and encourage you to attend/weigh in and keep on the lookout for more to come.
TedX Talk: 3 Ways to Find the Radical Middle with PEC’s Ashish Kapoor
PEC’s Senior Energy & Climate Advisor, Ashish Kapoor, gave a talk at TedX Warrenton about three ways to find the radical middle when navigating views across social and political spectrums.
Support Agrivoltaics Bill HB 508 / SB 340
HB 508 / SB 340 defines “agrivoltaics,” as it pertains to small renewable energy projects, as “the intentional co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation on the same land…
Dominion Energy’s Proposed Changes to “Net Metering” Would Undercut Small-Scale Solar
In May 2025, Dominion Energy petitioned the State Corporation Commission to cut the net metering credit by nearly half. Unfortunately, this proposed change will severely undermine the practicality of rooftop solar and critically hamper increased distributed energy generation and energy independence.
Why Dominion is Trying to Kill Small-Scale Solar – Webinar Recording
On Dec. 8, 2025, the Piedmont Environmental Council hosted and recorded a webinar on net metering – the fundamental billing structure that makes small-scale solar financially viable for homeowners, businesses and farmers – and Dominion Energy’s attempt to weaken it.
Update on Solar Regulations, Soil/Forage Research & Agrivoltaic Project Initiatives – Webinar Recording
On December 5, 2025, Virginia Tech’s School of Plant & Environmental Sciences Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hosted a webinar on updates around solar regulations, soil/forage research, and agrivoltaics project initiatives.
Culpeper Update: Moving the Needle
In this quarterly Culpeper update, I share some ways we’ve helped to move the needle in a positive direction, as well as provide a few important opportunities to engage with our state elected officials during the 2026 legislative session.
The friendliest type of energy generation: a conversation on agrivoltaics
PEC’s Senior Energy & Climate Advisor Ashish Kapoor and Community Farm Manager Teddy Pitsiokos sat down to tell us more about PEC’s groundbreaking agrivoltaics project, which has the potential to revolutionize the conversation around solar and agriculture.