Comments Document

I am writing on behalf of Secure Solar Futures, a solar development company headquartered in Staunton, VA in support of HB617 sponsored by Delegate McNamara to develop a pilot program in APCo territory for battery storage and Virtual Power Plants. Today the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) awarded a $450,000 grant towards a $2,550,000 project by Secure Solar Futures to install behind-the-meter solar + battery storage microgrids at two high schools of the Roanoke City Public Schools in APCo territory. Secure Solar Futures has installed two one-megawatt solar arrays at the two high schools in December 2025 under solar PPAs, and will be financing the balance of $2.1 million to install, own and operate the batteries to build resiliency and energy savings for the public schools. Passage of this bill will send the right signal that solar + battery storage is not only the path forward, but entirely doable today if done in partnership with the electric utilities. This bill is also supported by the Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance (VA-DSA), of which I serve as Chair and Co-Founder. VA-DSA is a network of solar companies, small businesses, customers, and energy advocates from across the Commonwealth that advocate for distributed energy resources.

We support HB289 and HB395 as they will enable a broad swath of Virginians , including renters, to afford small-scale solar. We support HB590 as it streamlines approval of residential solar, which will help consumers implement solar projects. We support HB617, as it will expand the very important virtual power plant program so necessary to meeting grid demand. We strongly support HB628 to expand power purchase agreements, a crucial element of meeting clean energy goals. We support HB634 to enhance energy assistance and weatherization. We support HB807's shared solar proposal to improve the viability of that program. We oppose HB369 as it puts nuclear energy in a category that should be reserved for clean, renewable power.