Across the US, energy grids are struggling to meet growing demand. And as the backlog for building new interconnections and transmission lines reaches ten years, utilities and governments are considering how to maximize the energy capacity of their existing and planned infrastructure.
On Feb. 2, 2026, Virginia House delegate Phil Hernandez introduced House Bill No. 1065, proposing that the state’s largest energy providers, Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power, undertake “a comprehensive assessment of available interconnection capacity at each such utility's existing and planned intermittent electric generation facilities located in the Commonwealth.”
This assessment would determine the capacity and potential surplus available at each solar generation facility in the state of Virginia. Based on the assessment, the energy utilities would report which interconnections with surplus would be feasible to add solar projects to in an effort to fill existing interconnection capacity. Their findings would be due by Jan. 1, 2027.
In tandem with conducting the interconnection assessments, Dominion and Appalachian would also be required to issue requests for proposals for solar storage pilots at existing solar interconnections. Each battery pilot program, 500 and 100 megawatts respectively, would evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and reliability of onsite energy storage at solar energy sites. RFPs would be published by March 1, 2027.
HB 1065 has passed in the House and state Senate. The bill is currently awaiting approval from Virginia’s governor, Abigail Spanberger.
