Please let me know about anything to do with ANY SOLAR or wind. Also why aren't you working on lowering this socialism health obamare that is failing! We pay double our house payment for healthcare. They do a certain percentage of what u make a year. I have to take money out of my 401k for healthcare that counts as income. It shouldn't count as income when you are taxing the heck out of us. We can't travel,most our prescriptions we use to take won't be covered and could go on and on about this robbery of people s hard earned money!

Greetings Labor and Commerce Subcommittee, I'm writing in support of HB2101, HB2755, and HB2578. I live in Loudoun County, where we have over 200 data centers. In our county, data centers are being built near residences, malls, bike trails, parks, pretty much all over the place including where people don't want them. Many of them are pretty loud if you're near them, and I expect that louder data centers are coming because there isn't enough energy, so some art starting to turn to on-site natural gas generation for base-load, non-emergency power. We have one such data center with 8 natural gas turbines. I've heard from friends that live fairly close that they can tell by the sound not just whether or not the gas turbines are on, but how many. The recent JLARC study paints a picture of an industry that has grown out of control, is burdening its neighbors, and is completely unsustainable. While some in my counties Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission seem completely captured by this industry, others are trying to address the problems that we're having as a result of data centers, but are unable to do much due to lack of local authority, and so I must ask the General Assembly for help. As burdened as the public is by data centers in Loudoun County, we need better regulation specific to that industry. These 3 bills would go a long way to improving the situation, specifically: HB2101 Electric utilities; data center cost allocation: This is needed to ensure that all of us ratepayers aren't paying for infrastructure that would not be needed except for this one industry. HB2578 Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for data centers, reports: This bill is needed to provide incentives for data centers to adhere to best practices regarding air pollution from on-site generation. Considering the high levels of particulate pollution that some generators emit, this is a public health concern in my county. HB2755 Underground transmission lines; qualifying projects: Loudoun county is being forced to tolerate additional electric infrastructure on huge towers. These lines should be built underground rather than on towers in order to minimize impact on local residents, such as myself. Thank you, -Chris Tandy

Dear Members of Subcommittee #4: I am writing you to ask that you vote HB2101, Electric utilities: data center cost allocation out of the subcommittee and onto the full Labor and Commerce committee for action. This bill would protect ratepayers from increases in their utility bills which would pay utility costs of infrastructure expansion to power data centers. Data Centers need to pay their fair share of utility such costs. I do not wish to subsidize data center utility use. Aditional, I'm asking that you vote to bring HB2755 before the full committee. This bill would fund a pilot program for underground transmission lines qualifying projects. There must be ratepaer fairness in the utility grid system. Thank you, Rev. Dr. Jean Wright, Ashburn, VA 20147

I am writing in support of these three bills.

Please let me know about anything to do with ANY SOLAR or wind. Also why aren't you working on lowering this socialism health obamare that is failing! We pay double our house payment for healthcare. They do a certain percentage of what u make a year. I have to take money out of my 401k for healthcare that counts as income. It shouldn't count as income when you are taxing the heck out of us. We can't travel,most our prescriptions we use to take won't be covered and could go on and on about this robbery of people s hard earned money!

I am totally opposed to taking away local control of land use for solar farms. Please vote against.

I am OPPOSED to HB2438. Land-use decisions need to REMAIN with the localities. There should NOT be a state mandated solar ordinance. A one size fits all solar ordinance harms communities. The people who are living with the solar facilities should have a say in the development of their local ordinance.

I am opposed to HB2126. Decisions about solar siting should be the business of the community and its people. There should NOT be a mandate from the state that pushes enormous industrial projects. Localities are being bullied by this bill. The model ordinance is a real problem because there can’t be deviations. Please vote NO ON HB2126

Please Oppose HB2126 giving states the right to override any county or local Solar ordinances Thank you

A one size fits all statewide solar ordinance is inappropriate and should be rejected. There are numerous harmful flaws in the wording of HB2126. Local decisions should continue to be the method of establishing solar ordinances. Citizen participation is blocked from creation of an ordinance that impacts them, their family, and their community. Environmental Justice issues exist.

I oppose HB2126 which effectively strips local authority for siting solar projects by creating a state appointed siting board that will rubber stamp approval of every solar project. I OPPOSE legislation which will take away land-use decisions from counties. These projects as demonstrated by Dominion Powers reports on ineffectiveness of solar projects are ruining land with no benefit.

The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) is a private nonprofit association of 47 soil and water conservation districts in Virginia. The Association provides and promotes leadership in the conservation of natural resources through stewardship and education programs. It coordinates conservation efforts statewide to focus effectively on issues identified by local member districts. Our mission is to serve and strengthen soil and water conservation districts in the stewardship of natural resources. Utility scale solar development has significant land use implications. DEQ data for solar facilities covered by the DEQ Permit By Rule Program, applicable to projects from 5 to 150 Megawatts in size, suggests that on average the footprint of a solar project requires 12.8 acres of land per Megawatt. If those averages are applicable to all utility scale industrial solar projects, then the implication is that achieving the VCEA statutory minimum will tie up more than 200,000 acres of land in Virginia, which is almost as big as the total land area of Prince William County. However, the demand for industrial utility scale solar energy from the burgeoning data centers across Virginia suggests that far more than 200,000 acres of our undeveloped land is at risk of conversion to industrial solar. According to a just released study by Virginia Commonwealth University, commissioned by the Virginia Department of Energy, over the last four years Virginia has lost 15,000 acres of forest to utility scale solar projects, and 12,000 acres of farmland. The loss of trees is particularly concerning given the Commonwealth’s obligations under the Chesapeake Bay agreement to plant 48,000 acres of new trees. This puts Virginia significantly in the red when it comes to complying with the Chesapeake Bay Agreement forestry component. At the December 2024 annual meeting of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Association unanimously expressed opposition to any legislation that would restrict a County government’s current authority to make land use decisions with respect to rejecting or approving industrial utility scale solar projects within the County. Instead, we believe it is better policy to give County government more authority to promote solar development on parking lots, such as would be accomplished by Delegate Bulova’s HB 2037. Similarly, we would much prefer to see the General Assembly fund the program to make grants for renewable energy development on old coal mines and brownfields, that was facilitated by Delegate Krizek’s legislation enacted in 2024. For HB2126 to be acceptable to the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts it must be amended to specifically and explicitly state that nothing in the legislation constrains a County government’s current authority to make any decision it chooses with respect to siting of industrial utility scale solar projects within its jurisdiction. Until unequivocal language protective of County government prerogatives is incorporated into HB2126 we must strongly oppose its passage.

My husband and I oppose any and all legislation that takes the decision making for land use out of the county's hands, especially for energy/solar usage.

I strongly oppose any bill that proposes a major overreach of state government's authority into local land use decisions. Local people have the right to make these decisions without the threat of having their will overturned by the state. Please vote No on both HB2126 and HB2438.

I strongly oppose this and all other proposed legislation that undermine local authority to make land use decisions. Local citizens, competent professionals, and duly elected government officials have the authority and the right to make decisions about how the land in our communities is to be used. Protection of precious agricultural and timber land in our rural communities is important to the long term health and stability of our families and the natural resources over which we are stewards. This attempt to overrule the will of local citizens and usurp local governance authority is an egregious overreach of the state government's authority. Please vote No to HB2126.

No decision of siting any development, solar or otherwise, should ever by-pass local residents. Never.

I oppose this bill. I think rach counties should make decision on land use

I oppose HB2126 and HB2438. Any attempts by the state government to override local land use decisions are embarrassing at their best, and criminal at worst.

I strongly oppose legislation that will take away land use decisions from our counties. Only local government is aware of what is needed and beneficial for the farmers and the open land in their county.

I oppose this bill. Decisions on solar should be left up to the local governments. Residents of localities can have their choices heard at a local level. The residents are the ones who should make the decisions on whether to place solar farms in the county, not the state government. As Abraham Lincoln stated , we are supposed to have "a government of the people, by the people, for the people", and local governments can make this happen. This bill to me states that the Virginia State government is going to take away the approval process from the local governments because some local governments are not approving these solar farms, which goes against the state government's agenda.

Please deny this bill! Too much oversite would be given to greedy solar companies who care nothing about localities and the people in them.

Oppose HB2126. Leave local authority as is. Go back and rethink the Va Clean Energy Act goals and implementation. Become informed on rural Va needs and capabilities. Put together a realistic plan for Va' future.

Leave the decisions up to the counties for energy. The state should not be able to override decisions made.

I oppose this bill.

OPPOSE HB2126. Removing land use decision from local government is ridiculous. The absolute hilarious nature of this proposed bill should prompt an investigation for corruption. Obviously sponsored by someone that receives a lot of money in order to under cut the American citizens out of their own communities, in favor of corporations that are destroying thousands of acres of land, wildlife habitats and water sheds.

I strongly oppose any legislation that would take away our county's rights to choose what energy resources will or will not litter our rural land.

I oppose this bill. Land use must not be taken from local government or persons. A single identity that can control use is subject to abuse!

I strongly oppose this bill (HB2126). These decisions must only be made at local level where the true impact is known and where the consequences occur.

Opposed. Landowners and local municipalities should have final say in land use.

I appose this bill.

Comments Document

I think local government should have control and landowners have rights to their land,

My husband and I strongly oppose bill HB2126. Property use should not be taken out of the hands of Counties & the individuals who may be impacted. Thank you. Suellen & Garland Bailey

My husband and I strongly oppose bill HB2126. Property use should not be taken out of the hands of Counties & the individuals who may be impacted. Thank you. Suellen & Garland Bailey

No one but county supervisors should decide how many solar farms we need in surry county

No one but county supervisors should decide how many solar farms we need in surry county

I am totally against this bill. Each individual county should have control over what happens in their county. Control of this needs to stay with the citizens and not the state. Solar is trying to ruin my county. We have eagles that reside in areas they want to develop. Doing so has an adverse affect on everything. Stop this bill now.

I oppose any legislation which takes away the power and voice of the locality to make decisions on land use. These decisions should come from the people who have to live in the area these projects are proposed to be built. I am already living beside a major growth area that has severely negatively impacted our peace at home. What was all woods was sold off and major distribution centers have been built. What was once peace is now filled with beeping and banging ALL NIGHT LONG. 3am? Noise, 6am noise, 7pm noise. Not to mention all the trucks tearing up the road and nearly causing accidents every single day. Let the people of the counties decide what is built in those counties. There is more to life than money!

Our local government is perfectly capable of making decisions that are in the best interest of our communities. They listen to their citizen's voices, HB2126 will not. Please vote against this bill!

Stop destroying our land and killing our trees , animals!!! This solar panels are bad for the environment and don’t last. They are toxic to the land and to our atmosphere. They are taking away the beauty of this state and chasing our wildlife to other places and destroying their homes.

I am against the state taking control of land use regarding solar farms away from the counties. This is an abuse of state power and is very detrimental to rural counties

I oppose this bill because this activity is taking away/affecting timberlands and farms. Future effects to the land are unknown.

The right for the local locality of our board should not be taken away. The board should have the decision of there land use. In the commonwealth of Virginia there is and extreme differences in the landscapes throughout. So some land use decision may really hurt farmland in some parts of the state. So I would really like for it to stay in the local locality Thank You!! Troy Cook

We must stop the overdevelopment of utility projects that continue to destroy the natural habitats of our environmentally rich lands. You are affecting many farmers and destroying the natural ecosystem. The forestry and farm lands needs to be maintained and not be destroyed by adding additional until it’s lines and solar panels. Current lines in place can be upgraded. Not only that, but the effect you have on these families and the displacement while being built is incomprehensible. My husband and I are both veterans and this is not what we fought for.

This bill takes away all local control in the decision making process of siting solar facilities on productive agricultural land away from the counties. This is absurd and a power grab by a government that can’t sell solar to communities so now they want to force it on them. Wake up. Nuclear is coming back online in a big way. It’s right in your back yard in Richmond with a new fusion facility in Chesterfield. We need renewable energy that actually works not this half baked massive utility scale solar crap.

As a rural Virginia land owner I wish to express my opposition to HB 2126. This bill takes the authority of local governing bodies to make land use decisions based on what is best for their locality and their residents. Land use should be determined by those directly affected, not by a siting review board or any person or agency at the state level. Local governing bodies and the citizens they represent understand the economic, cultural, and environmental nuances of the local area and the effects land has on the local economy and environment while considering the unique culture of each local area. Thus, the local governing bodies representing their local citizens should make these decisions, not government officials at the state level. The local citizens will have to live with these land use decisions therefore, their local government representatives should be empowered to make these decisions at the local level. I ask that you please vote NO on HB 2126

I OPPOSE HB2126. Utility-Scale solar projects cause massive deforestation, destroy delicate ecosystems, kill wildlife, create runoff, and ruin rural viewsheds. We are already experiencing these negative effects from industrial solar in Buckingham County. Please OPPOSE HB2126 which will take away land-use decisions from the local government and prevent oversight of these projects.

As a citizen of this county, the state of VA, and the US I think it is absolutely appalling that this would even be considered. The decisions should be left to the county and landowners as to what the land is being used for. For those in another part of the state to feel they can dictate to the other areas in the state what can be done in order to benefit them if ridiculous.

Each county has the right to decide what they want to do with their land. We do not need any more solar installation in this county. Too much destruction of woodlands and good farm land. Too much noise from the panels.

I oppose this bill. The people that live here should decide.

The counties should be able to decide if they want solar energy in the district or not

I feel that local planning commissions and board of supervisors should be the deciding factor on these large scale local projects. They know best of what the community needs are and how to make sure these projects are in the right places of their counties.

Please do not support this bill. Local land use laws should be voted and and approved or denied in that locality.

This is unnecessary. The Commonwealth should not be allowed to ram unwanted projects down the throats of a local populace if they are not wanted. Where will such power eventually extend to? A very dangerous precedent may be set with this legislation.

My husband and I do not believe that the state should have the right to decide how counties utilize their land in accordance with the proposed bill. We feel all such decisions regarding land use and development should be left up to the citizens and its county officials. We are opposed to this, we moved from Virginia Beach 12 years ago for a rural lifestyle.

I'm speaking out against the state having power to override localities concerning solar sites.

This takes the right of the community to set a course for its own future away from the residents and the local government officials who we voted for to run our communities. Rural communities are NOT a dumping ground for energy initiatives that benefit large cities at our expense. At the very least should this bill pass there should be LARGE tax break benefits for farmers, landowners and senior citizens for the local communities burdened by solar blight.

I oppose taking the power to decide on land use away from local government.

I oppose legislation that will take away land- use decision from our counties.

I OPPOSE legislation that will take away land- use decisions that will take away from our counties.

Good way to not get reelected. In rural Virginia we do not want solar farms. They provide nothing for the residents other than stress,headaches, eyesores and danger. The amount of traffic alone has caused multiple accidents in our community 1 involving a bus load of children.

I strongly oppose HB2126. Bills such as this one directly undermine local voting power, the same way that federal overreach encroaches on a state’s rights. Leave land use decisions to the local jurisdiction and mind the state.

I am against any attempt of the Commonwealth to wrest the jurusdiction of localities over the acceptance or rejection if large-scale utilities like but not limited to solar and wind. Basically, how dare you try to override the right of the people to decide the nature of where they live.

I would like to oppose state agencies or government from overriding the will of the citizens on their county's land use.

The installation of industrial solar facilities in rural areas results in vast deforestation . Surry County is part of the Chesapeake Bay water shed. When vast woodlands are cleared , erosion from rain water run- off pollutes our many miles of inland tributaries which feed the James River and flow into the bay. Such large commercial faculties would be better placed in urban areas where large paved parking lots and the roof tops of vacated commercial buildings are not in use. It makes no sense to further destroy rural woodlands and pollute wetlands and water ways when these vacated urban areas , already eyes sores, are perfect for industrial use.

I’m opposed to this bill. Decisions on county land use should be left up to the localities.

My home is in a combination industrial /agriculture area. If Solar energy is allowed to be built in my area, I’ll be surrounded on 3 sides by solar panels. Moving at my age is not an option. Please vote against this bill and leave the decisions to our local officials. Thank you

I strongly oppose this bill. The decision should be left to the localities who know what their citizens want as well as the areas where solar is being pushed. This would decimate Virginia if this was approved

I do not agree with this bill. The counties should be able to use only a portion of their land and not be over ridden by the state. The state does not know what these citizens are living through

I am opposed to this bill. Decisions should remain with the local governments. Localities are better equipped to accommodate the needs and desires of its citizenry. Also, forcing localities to submit to the will of an outside organization for the purpose of solar will open the door to a locality's decision-making authority being removed for other purposes.

I fully oppose the decision to remove land use rights for Surry County.

I oppose HB2126 and want you to do the same. Taking solar decision-making out of local officials’ hands not only tells people they have no say in their local governance but it also represents a slippery slope. If the state takes away this decision, what decisions will the state take next? When will the state completely take over and make local governments obsolete?

I strongly oppose HB2126 for many reasons, but the one key one I have is that a few years back a bill was presented to members of the General Assembly concerning landfills and notification of adjacent counties when within a radius, i.e. 10 miles. This bill was shot down by General Assembly Members stating they did not want the State government or other counties to tell local government officials what to do with their land. The same is true for solar farms - let the decisions in the hands of local government officials. It is time to remember who elected you and what your responsibilities are to the individual citizens and not money hungry corporations. Solar farms, as well as landfills, are both harmful to our environment. We all need to do what we can to protect it - it is the only one we have!

I oppose ANY legislation that takes the power of choice and land management out of the hands of the voting public. I oppose HB2126.

My husband and I are very against the state taking the ability for individual counties to be sovereign and direct the usage of our county lands and resources in the direction we feel serve the people best. Do not move in this direction of authoritarian take over. Cynthia Marchetti

I oppose 2126

I oppose approval of this bill due to the excessive number of solar farms in Charlotte country; we have exceeded the solar cap imposed years ago while surrounding counties have had the vision to either lower or maintain a low cap. Only a few county residents, those who enter into partnership with the developers of solar farms, will benefit from this. The short term financial gain to the county is not worth the permanent damage to the land that the county will have to deal with in the future. Solar facilities should be adjacent to or on top of these data centers that are the consumers of the power generated. Leave our land, farms and county to the residents of same.

I am strongly opposed to legislation which will take away land-use decisions from our counties. I like how Senator Mark Obenshain put it: "... urban legislators who supported the VCEA feel like rural localities aren’t adequately holding up their end of a bargain they never agreed to. They fault rural localities for failing to approve enough massive utility scale solar projects fast enough to meet the unrealistic targets in the VCEA. " Please don't punish rural localities that desire to retain their community character. Kill this bill.

While I agree that solar and wind energy is a very important part of Virginia’s efforts to produce more climate friendly electric power, I believe it is also extremely important to maintain and improve Virginia’s Agricultural Production. I recommend allowing County Comprehensive Plans and implementing Ordinances to protect land with ‘Soils of Statewide Importance’ in addition to the federally recognized ‘Prime Agricultural Soils’. Virginia Tech. has worked with USDA-NRCS to define and map the ‘Soils of Statewide Importance’ that are so important to our agricultural producer’s ability to produce food and fiber locally. It is important to produce food locally to reduce transportation costs and energy use needed for transportation from other areas. It will be counter-productive and cause economic loss if we cover Virginia’s good Agricultural ‘Soils of Statewide Importance’ with solar panels and battery storage buildings. Please allow counties with significant agricultural production to maintain local control of the amount of Ag land that should be developed for energy production. It is important to also recognize that many of Virginia’s top agricultural producing counties which are in the Shenandoah Valley already have many acres of National and State Parks and Forests that reduce the land area available for other uses like agriculture, solar and other needed development. Therefore guidelines that say certain percentages of each county should be available for energy development should not be applied statewide. Thank you for considering the need to encourage continuing Agricultural production in Virginia and allow Counties to decide appropriate land use for their areas of Virginia. It is very important that the State not remove the right of localities to regulate the land uses in their areas Data Centers are causing outrageously large growth in future electrical consumption. Data Center owners should be made to pay much higher electricity rates than residential users to help offset the large investments needed to build the offshore wind, solar and other electrical generation plants and transmission lines needed to provide the huge amounts of electricity needed to operate those Data Centers.

I oppose HB2126. Regardless of your opinion on solar energy, we all should be able to agree that taking land use decisions from local governments is anti democracy. Communities who are being impacted directly by these “solar farms” should be the ones who get to decide if the projects are approved. There should be no outside committee made up of people who are not greatly impacted by these decisions. Power should not be removed from local governments simply because some people with more power disagree with the decisions. That is wrong and goes against all principles of democracy. Also, the energy from these solar farms do not go back to the people whose land is being destroyed, so they should especially have a voice in deciding if that is the best use of the land.

I oppose HB2126.

I oppose legislation that would take away land use decisions from our counties!!! Thank you.

I Thomas Adams oppose the bill HB2126!

2126 is ludicrous. We do not have any need for anyone to make decisions like this unless they live in the affected area

No!! We. the members of the community should have a say im how our community receives changes. We live here, so we should have a say.

I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB2126. Any legislation that takes away land-use decisions from our counties is NOT in the best interest of the constituents.

Oppose this bill!

I support leaving land use decisions at the county level. State legislators with no knowledge of local conditions are not the best persons to be making decisions for which they will not be held accountable.

We are OPPOSED to any legislation which will take away land-use decisions from our counties and industrialized solar development in our county.

I strongly oppose this bill, and I respectfully urge you to vote No to HB 2126. The right and authority for local land use decisions belong with local government officials and the residents they serve. Competent professionals, elected officials, regulations and ordinances, and open and fair processes are in place to make the best decisions for our communities. Please do not dishonor local governance authority and the rights of local citizens. Vote No to any effort with the capacity to subvert or overturn local government decisions on land use. Vote No to HB 2126.

Please leave siting decisions in the hands of local counties.

I am strongly opposed to HB2126 which removes local authority over land-use decisions. Locals should have a say in what their land can be used for. Should be in the hands of local governments. Move more of the Solar to DC area where they need all the electric. Cannot keep taking rural farm land.

What an over reach by our state government. We should be allowed to make our own decisions concerning our own lands. We are familiar with our geography, wildlife and can determine the impact that massive land use will have on our own territory and landscape. I strongly oppose allowing our state government to have the authority to enforce this land grab. I OPPOSE this bill.

Absolutely no. This is a decision that should be made my the localities in accordance with existing zoning and Comprehensive Plan.

I am strongly opposed to HB2126 which removes local authority over land-use decisions. How is this truly beneficial for Virginians when it directly undermines local government's authority and effectively silences our voices in our own communities? Residents have a right to determine how the land, waterways, and air we breathe are used. Large industrial installations have many impacts that have not been fully explored. Rural counties should not be sacrificed for electrical use in more populated places in Virginia. Do not approve this bill.

Please Oppose this bill and vote no to HB 2126. This bill : •   Disregards Rural Communities: Rural agricultural areas, which are targets of these projects, will be forced to bear the burden of large-scale energy facilities without sufficient input or benefits within their community.   •   Erodes Trust in Government: Imposing top-down decisions undermines the democratic process and leaves rural communities feeling overlooked and unheard.  •   State-Driven Decisions Favor Developers: A state-controlled process will prioritize the interests of developers and corporations over the well-being of rural communities.   •   Ignores Local Knowledge: Local governments and residents understand their landscapes, and the environmental impacts on their communities and challenges better than a centralized board.    •   Unfair Burden on Rural Land: Rural communities could see their land overrun by energy facilities, disrupting agriculture, property values, and quality of life.    •   Reduces Community Input: Residents may lose opportunities to voice concerns about how these projects affect their environment, economy, and way of life.

I urge all to oppose HB2126. Solar energy falls short in supplying electrical grid needs. Long term adverse impact of Solar is unknown but in the meantime it’s a large footprint compared to proven nuclear plants. I dare say rural counties are NOT prepared with ordnances or physically for fallout they can cause!

I STRONGLY OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT WILL STRIP LAND-USE DECISIONS FROM OUR COUNTIES. Local landowners and generational family farmers know what's best for their land over the long haul, and have been practicing responsible stewardship for generations. Please allow us to continue making critical decisions about such local matters as they affect the health and welfare of our families, our lands, and our waterways for generations to come.

I OPPOSE HB2126, Solar projects, if looked at honestly, have a negative economic & environmental outcome when accounting for the true costs: beginning with extraction of materials [causing eco destruction and unfair economics], limited shelf life of the projects, landfill problems, destruction of solar sites - ecosystems that we depend on for essential biodiversity and a healthy bio-system - carbon sinks!

I OPPOSE legislation which will take away land-use decisions from our counties. VACo and the Farm Bureau have taken a stand for our local rights by opposing bills that would do so. Please support your constituents. Who is going to clean up the mess these solar panel company's will leave behind? NO more Solar Panels Thank you,

I OPPOSE HB2126. So far, i don't think there is one comment in support of this bill. A good healthy sign, that people are paying attention and want democracy strengthened in our local communities, not weakened, which this bill would do. This legislation would take away land-use decisions from our municipalities. Please listen to these well informed, caring people. VACRN supports a healthy environment through self-government at the city, county, and state level and is dedicated to challenging the injustice of ‘illegitimate’ corporate rights that impede local and direct democracy. This bill would deliver more rights to the corporate world, whose prime concern is profit over planet and people. Solar projects, if looked at honestly, have a negative economic & environmental outcome when accounting for the true costs: beginning with extraction of materials [causing eco destruction and unfair economics], limited shelf life of the projects, landfill problems, destruction of solar sites - ecosystems that we depend on for essential biodiversity and a healthy bio-system - carbon sinks! Consuming less & efficiency - is what good government could oversee - when truly representing our collective interests to curb this climate crisis - for industry would never promote this, its not their 'nature'. Thank you for listening. Thank you

I oppose this bill.

Comments Document

See attached resolution passed by the Wakefield Town Council in opposition of HB 2126 Sincerely, Mayor Brian M. Laine

Please don’t agree to any legislation that would take the decisions on land use away from the county. We need to keep this right for the residents and local government who know best how to protect these important resources. I’m a resident of Goochland but have land on Rt 679 in Buckingham.

Caroline county please oppose we need to protect our county

I am asking that you deny the request for the state to tell local departments how to run their county. If this passes it will be the beginning of the state making other decisions without requard to the taxpayers of their county.

As it relates to national or commonwealth security, so long as the need can be proven beyond doubt, elected officials in our Commonwealth should work with county government to insure land is available for interstate transportation, pipe lines connecting states, or power transmission lines between state localities. However, if private industry requires large utility support to run their businesses, then they, rather than the taxpayers in the Commonwealth, should pay to install their own power source. As it stands, for our legislature to impose on Commonwealth residents forcing them to give up land without their permission to support private Data Centers or any other private industry is nothing short of treachery and this bill should be ended for good.

I OPPOSE legislation which will take away land-use decisions from our counties. VACo and the Farm Bureau have taken a stand for our local rights by opposing bills that would do so. Please support your constituents. Thank you, Kenda Hanuman

I am fully opposed to taking away land-use decisions from our counties.

First: Take that pronoun choice off! We live in rural Caroline County. To allow other than land owners and county officials to make decisions about land use is absurd!

As a resident and voter in Washington Co. VA, I am reaching out to voice my call for you to OPPOSE this bill. The citizens of Washington Co. joined arms last year and let our voices be heard by our local Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors regarding the use of our scenic farmland for massive solar farms. With a large citizen response, our Planning Commission rejected the developer’s proposed amendment to existing county regulations. We continue to be vigilant as we continue to face efforts by outside interests to grab and abuse our precious land and endanger our environmental quality. This legislation will take control of solar farm decisions out of the hands of local authorities and place it in the hands of government appointees in Richmond. This is a classic case of “we are from the government and are here to help you.” It is also an egregious act of governmental overreach. Decisions about the use of local land should be made by local authorities and the voters who elected them. Please OPPOSE this governmental overreach and attempt to control the use of our precious land by outsiders who will never live in our beautiful area nor experience its devastation if these solar farms are built.

HB2126 is an unfair bill imposing massive land-use changes and denies meaningful citizen participation. Definitions of “critical interconnection projects” and “project of statewide significance are overly broad and loose. This has the effect of capturing and qualifying nearly ALL industrial solar proposals as being “critical interconnection projects” and as being “project(s) of statewide significance”. Once categorized these projects would receive approval. It creates a near mandate for a locality to approve projects with these labels. The bills definition of “unreasonable restriction” is itself unreasonable. It serves to eliminate a wide range of local ordinances and regulations. HB2126 would completely sideline local decision making. The bill’s requirement for localities to create a local solar ordinance is an exercise in futility. Any local ordinance would be measured and metered by the stick of the model ordinance. Language in the bill would render deviations from the model unreasonable and they would be disqualified. The state would dictate the solar ordinance. Rural communities are being targeted to bear the the brunt of the burden. Communities should not be forced into this. Decisions that forever change the character of a community should remain with that community. Consider rural communities zoned agricultural and residential. Places where homes are surrounded by nature. waterways and habitat protected by forest. What will that same are be with those forests gone, their rolling hills bulldozed, soils displaced, the plants and animals erased. Square mile after square mile of steel, glass, inverters, chain link fences, solar industrial complex thrust into communities against their will. Serious Environmental Justice issues would be violated by the bill. Where is the meaningful involvement of all people in decisions that affect them? Reading HB2126 in its entirety reveals a bill massively flawed bill that needs to stopped.

Taking farm land for solar panels is stupid. We can’t eat solar panels and farmland is essential to everyone! Clearing trees for heat producing solar is equally stupid. Trees produce much needed shade and clean air which we all need . In 20 years you’ll have solar panels that need to be replaced and no where to dispose of the used ones, but then you probably won’t be round and you’ll be leaving this tasks to your grandchildren instead .

I opposed this bill that would circumvent the citizens of a county the right to choose what is best for their area. The industrial solar industry would use this legislation to their benefit to not have to consider what a locality might think is best for them. I ask that you oppose as well to ensure the protection of the rights on behalf of our Southside counties.

This bill will establish a process for removing rights from citizens. We should decide what happens in our communities. This bill is vehemently OPPOSED by me and all my friends

I am opposed to a bill that would remove the right of counties to decide about siting of solar arrays. This should not be done by folks who don't live where those would be placed. Local citizens should have a day through their BOS since they know the way they want their land used. Keep Hanover rural.

I apprise the approval of this bill. Solar is not proven to be a better choice of power in protecting the environment.

I oppose data centers and solar farms in Hanover County especially Beaverdam, VA. This has been an agricultural area and has remained rural. The community wants to keep it that way. We need trees for oxygen, we have clean rivers and we have wildlife including the Vald Eagle, Bears etc. I do not want our community environment with data centers or solar farms that destroy land, rivers, chase off wildlife and pollute our waters that feed into the Chesapeake Bay and are protected watersheds. We bought our property and our homes to remain one of the small farm communities left not to let these companies destroy our environment, hear loud buzzing, fires, become a waste dump and destroy our property value and increase traffic. The community is tight knit, many farmers and people that are against these projects. Leave our land and communities alone. Go build them in the city on top of vacant parking lots

Do not pass this bill. Let local authorities decide what is best for their community. Not some state appointed rubber stamp.

I want my county, Hanover, to have the authority to approve or deny solar facilities in our County. That choice should not be decided outside of our county.

I absolutely oppose HB2126 as the ones that should decide where these solar fields should be placed should be the county and the landowners that are unfortunately affected by them. I wish they would do them elsewhere as it is taking the beautiful country and making it ugly with these solar panels.

I am writing to voice my opposition to HB2126. This Bill clearly undermines the authority of our locally elected officials. It gives power to an unelected board while giving no voice to the citizens regarding important land use decisions.

Comments Document

To whom it concerns,I am against this bill for several reasons .keeping the rights of people in a county should have the say so in there county not someone that’s not local, that’s infringing our rights and should be done county by county . It also may interfere with the environment and a way of life. I oppose this bill.

I strongly oppose HB2126 which removes local authority over land-use decisions. How is this truly beneficial for Virginians when it directly undermines local government's authority and effectively silences our voices in our communities?

This bill unnecessarily takes away the rights of localities to manage their own land use. It is an over each and absolutely should not be passed

I oppose bill HB2126 (NO to any solar projects that consume over 3 acres.)

Leave our local government in charge of selecting wether or not we can approve solar panels.

I OPPOSE legislation which will take away land-use decisions from our counties.

I strongly oppose HB2126 which removes local authority over land-use decisions. How is this truly beneficial for Virginians when it directly undermines local government's authority and effectively silences our voices in our communities? (To a hammer everything looks like a nail.)

Counties who know what its citizens need should be in charge of land use in their respective counties. Thank you.

The majority of the county of Sussex opposes this bill. That’s why we elect local officials. Those people live here and know what’s best for our communities and county. Elected officials in Richmond/ Northern Virginia need to try to govern their territories not ours. Once again we will live in a land of democracy not dictatorship. NO to HB2126!

These decisions should be kept at the local level

Talk about a “threat to democracy”: one of the most often repeated and overused phrases of 2024. However, HB2126 takes this headline under the billboard lights at Times Square! This proposed bill effectively usurps my Democratic rights as a citizen of this Commonwealth. My voice and research aids my local elected officials in making land use decisions that reflect our geography, ecology, economics, community, and inherent right as a citizen to local view sheds, and health and safety. This bill exemplifies how deeply the solar industry and their lobbyists have enmeshed themselves for their own financial interests that questionably are targeted to only a few specific Virginia legislators. The solar industry is crying the blues, because they are losing money. Solar doesn’t work. And the fault of the matter lies in that their practices have destroyed vast acreages of land, polluted pristine rivers and streams with sediment, and most likely local groundwater with heavy metal and PFAS forever chemicals. Local planning commissions could have used UNBIASED guidance 4-5 years ago, as they worked relentlessly to create ordinances and guardrails to protect our communities. This bill will establish a university guiding panel, that is FUNDED BY THE SOLAR INDUSTRY! (The UVA Weldon center stated this at the 11/7/2024 CEUR meeting.) One of numerous conflicts of interest in this bill. This Virginia Solar Initiative was funded by solar because local governing bodies have seen the destruction solar has wrought on theirs and other counties and how they are not in accordance with Comprehensive Plans. Citizens do not want this industrial and inefficient form of land use and energy production in their environs, and wisely are DENYING these applications. I am betting on the denial rate to rise greater than 80% in 2025! The solar lobby has asked the writers of this proposed legislation to stack all the cards in the deck in their favor. There will be no more denials. Take that! To create a communistic state appointed siting board solely for the benefit of solar developers so they can get their IRA handouts sets a dangerous and alarming precedent. This is total industrial overreach into government that should be exposed and stopped in its tracks. Please, oppose HB2126.

I oppose any action by the state to take away local control and protection of our farm and timber land. It is grossly unfair for wealthy, highly populated parts of Virginia to force solar facilities on the poorer, less populated areas that already have MORE than our fair share of solar panel installations. A large portion of Greensville County and other surrounding counties have already been taken over by solar projects.

I oppose HB 2126. This bill takes away the authority of local government make land use decisions based on what is best for their locality and their residents. Land use should be determined by those directly affected, not by a siting review board or any person or agency at the state level. Please vote NO on HB 2126.

Please stop the installation of solar power plants on rural farm land. Use highways and the cloverleaf average, tops of public buildings, shopping malls, parking buildings, and the tops of things already built.

I am vehemently against house bill 2126. It is an insult to the counties of the State to try to take local governing rights away. Industrial solar is detrimental to the local economy, agriculture and tourism. Solar is not and will not be a solution to our energy problems.

VOTE NO ON THIS BILL. I oppose any legislation that undermines any land-use decisions of our local governing bodies. In no way should there be legislation considered in which would allow for a review board or group to override local decisions regarding land use. Solar removes productive agricultural properties from the national food supply and usually provides ZERO ongoing benefits to the community in which it is placed.

I oppose Legislation which will take away land -use decisions form our counties. T. Autry

This Bill removes local governments’ ability to determine the appropriate use of land and disenfranchises the citizenry. Voters in Page County, left, right, and center, oppose this Bill. We urge you to vote NO.

I oppose the HB2126 .

This bill is anti-democratic. You are taking away the rights of local communities and governments. They are the people whose lives and livelihoods are impacted. Not people who sent on a board unable to see the harm they are causing and land they are taking away from communities that need it. Local governments should make these decisions. Not people sitting on some board so far detached from these communities and only wanting money for themselves and big companies. Doing this while taking the land from the people who live in those communities is corruption and anti democratic. Don’t be anti democracy. Don’t pass this bill.

I hope that you will oppose this bill. Farm and timber land are very important to the existence of our future. City and county localities know what’s best for it’s people, especially since the people of those area vote and voice their opinions at meetings and on election days. Thank you for voting against this bill. Darlene Weaver life long resident of County resident

Oppose

Vote no on this bill. The people who have to live with these hoist and unsightly monstrosities should have the final say in weather or not they are approved or denied. Not some bureaucrat living in an area that will not ever put them into their backyard

I oppose any legislation that takes away land use decisions from localities. I oppose this bill.

Oppose

Please VOTE NO on HB2126. I am in OPPOSITION of this bill for several reasons. I chose to live in the country. If I woke up tomorrow morning and my neighbor transformed his property into a hog farm I would not be happy about the smell but I wouldn’t complain. I live in the country. I move out of the way for log trucks and am patient with farmers slow moving equipment. I live in the country. If I woke up this morning and my neighbor decided to build and industrial solar site, well then that’s a different story, I didn’t choose to live in an industrial complex. Greensville county has listened to its residents. Recent elections show that. It is wrong to take this control away from local, elected officials and for what? To feed AI driven data centers? Greensville and Brunswick already have base load power stations to provide all the power this part of the state needs! SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) will very quickly surpass the efficiency and reliability of solar and offer sustainable good paying jobs. PLEASE OPPOSE HB2126

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed bill that seeks to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-2223 and 15.2-2288.7 of the Code of Virginia, introduce new sections and articles within Titles 15.2 and 45.2, and establish the Virginia Energy Facility Review Board. This legislation fundamentally undermines the rights of citizens and localities, centralizing authority in a way that diminishes local control and erodes public participation. 1. Stripping Local Control: This bill effectively removes the ability of local governments to make critical decisions about projects that directly affect their communities. By centralizing power in the Virginia Energy Facility Review Board, the legislation disregards the unique needs, priorities, and concerns of localities. Local officials, elected by their constituents, are best positioned to evaluate and manage such decisions. This overreach threatens the foundational principles of local governance and community self-determination. 2. Erosion of Citizen Rights: The proposed legislation marginalizes the voices of citizens who would be most impacted by large-scale energy projects. It significantly limits opportunities for public input and meaningful participation in decision-making processes, leaving communities with little recourse to address their concerns. This lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable and fundamentally undemocratic. 3. Overreach of State Authority: By imposing state-level mandates on localities and planning district commissions, the bill overrides established processes designed to address local needs. This type of top-down governance imposes unnecessary burdens on communities and weakens the balance of power between state and local governments. 4. Negative Impact on Local Economies: Removing local control over project approvals could lead to economic disadvantages for communities. Localities lose the ability to negotiate terms or ensure fair compensation for hosting energy infrastructure, potentially leaving them to bear the costs of development without reaping corresponding benefits. This bill represents a fundamental threat to local autonomy, citizen engagement, and fair governance. I urge you to oppose this legislation and instead support policies that respect and preserve the rights of Virginia’s citizens and local governments. Protecting local control is essential to ensuring that decisions about large-scale projects are made in the best interests of the communities they affect. Thank you for considering my concerns. I hope you will stand with your constituents and oppose this harmful bill.

I am highly opposed to HB2126 that would take away local governments' decision-making ability in siting solar facilities. Local officials know their county's needs, a state government commission does not. If we start taking away local governments' ability to make decisions on this issue, where will it end? The state will start encroaching on other decisions?

I do not believe this bill is inline with a true representative government. I believe it should be left to the local governments to make decisions. Solar Farms have absolutely destroyed our local communities.

OPPOSE HB2126 As an elderly widow living on a farm in rural Virginia, I ask that you vote no on HB2126. Land Use Decisions should be made at the local level by local government. As an elderly widow I can easily reach out and speak to my local government Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission to express my opinion. They are easily accessible and very available. Establishing a siting review board in Richmond will take away my voice. As I read the bill, it is stacked against rural Virginians because the corporate special interest solar lobby will have seats on this board. During the CEUR meeting, I believe Delegate Sullivan stated that 80% of the solar farms are being denied across Virginia and the free-market system is not working. I thought this country was built on the free market system. I also thought that our elected representatives are elected by the people to represent us, the people. If rural Virginians are turning these projects down, then our representatives should do what the people want and not say "we are smarter than you and we know what is best for you". This approach is not representative government. It is more communistic. Furthermore, if these projects were not propped up with our taxpayer dollars in one of the largest tax increases in American history, none would be built. These projects are not financially viable without taxpayer subsidies. I hear the argument of landowner rights. However, these landowners and corporations are being paid with our taxpayer dollars so if 80%+ of the citizens in the locality don't want a specific project, they are also saying don't use my taxpayer dollars to fund these projects. If landowners had to rely on private investment alone they would not get paid and the projects would not be built. Finally, this country has been regulated by Land Use ordinances for over 100 years. These ordinances help protect everyday people and give them a voice. Also, remember your landowner rights stop at the point where you damage my property or harm me. The fines these solar developers are being charged for environmental violations to others' properties is tremendous. Many counties have pulled back on solar projects because they see that the developers are not delivering on their promises and they are also listening to their constituents who have voiced that they want to protect farm and forest land for future generations.

Those in power continue to try and remove the individual voices that have a right to have a say in matters.. I oppose this and believe all should have a voice in matters that involve their communities, properties, etc.. Keep these decisions to the local level!

I am completely opposed to authority being taken away from local government in order to push the solar agenda. Our land needs to be protected for future generations and solar is not the way to get this done!!

As a resident who won't sacrifice my quality of life for state directed progress, I have three (3) main areas of concern about this bill. 1) The review board is not required to perform any additional impact assessments or provide any assurances to the affected local community. The review board also does not require (or even encourage) developers to pursue community benefit agreements with the affected localities or communities. This means that there are no additional regulations or limitations for the developers or their projects. There are also no requirement for the developer to provide any economic or financial benefits to the localities or their communities. 2) The bill would require localities to adopt state prescribed energy ordinances developed and approved by the review board, but does not include any local input for the potential impact of the ordinances to local communities, or allow for material support to help localities to reach compliance. 3) The senate bill would have created a board of 11 members, with 2 reserved for local community representatives. This bill has eliminated the 2 local representative positions completely. In order for this bill fulfill its role as an instrument of balance between developers and local communities, the following adjustments should be made: 1) add back the 2 proposed local seats to the board, plus an additional 2, 2) require developers to submit Community Benefit Agreements to the review board for every proposal, which needs to be approved by the affected local government before every project, 3) include a seat for a national non-profit solar advocacy group on both boards (the review board and technical assistance center)

I strongly oppose the passage of HB 2126. As a former member of the Washington county Board of Supervisors and also the former chairman of such Board I have a very good understanding of the relationship that exists between the counties and the state. The counties hands are already tied because of the Dillon Rule and the legislature does not need to do more to erode the power of local governments in Virginia. If this happens pertaining to this one issue then how long will it be until it exists for all issues. The citizens of Washington county are not comfortable having members of the legislature who livemany miles from here and being unaffected by data centers and solar farms being the decision makers of the siting for such infrastructure. Please be very cautious of passing this legislation. I see it as a power grab by the state and I firmly believe that the issue of where to locate solar farms and data centers belongs in the hands of those citizens and governing bodies that live in each locality. Sincerely, Bobby D Ingle

Having worked in local Government for over 26 years before retirement, I am very familiar with how and why decisions such as solar projects should be considered on the local level instead of by some board that is so far removed from the local people affected by such projects. Passing this bill or anything like it would set a terrible precedent for future laws overriding local considerations. Everyone knows this bill's purpose is to appease Northern Virginia's desire to build more data centers that will benefit themselves at the expense of trampling on rural Virginians who would benefit very little if any and suffer all of the consequences. If not for these data centers and with future new sources of clean energy being developed Virginia could and will meet its future energy demands without these bills. I urge that this and all bills like it be defeated. Thank you!

This bill needs to be filed in the circular file. Why do you want to give the Solar companies so much power over localities? If you do this for one business type, all businesses will line up expecting the same. This is a waste of tax payers dollars to create another committee. The data centers need to figure out there own power sources. The taxpayers do not need to be paying for this!

I oppose this bill. It seeks to remove our local voices from the process by letting an unelected body approve these proposals. Approval should remain in the hands of our local governments and our elected officials who SHOULD be listening to our voices. This bill is against any form of a representative government. Our rural community is being overrun with these solar farms and they are damaging our land and our economy.

I’m against taking the rights away from the people an out local government

Delaware is currently under litigation for offshore turbine connection to onshore substation . Appeal filed by , US wind and is suing Delaware . I would suggest that you can consider that

Comments Document

Please see the attached file concerning Virginia Utility Scale Solar Facilities performing worse in Capacity Factor, DC:AC Ratio, and in Trend Generation Life each year despite new buildouts. Virginia Trend life are 15 to 20 years while North CArolina Generation Trend is 39 years. Virginia Average Facility Size is about 38 MW while North Carolina is 8 MW; however the North Carolina performance are superior to Virginia's. This is indication of poor management of not only the Developers, but the VA Energy Department, VSED&ESA, with influence of Energy Right. These Utility Scale Solar Energy woes are NOT the creation of any Localities Rightful Utility Scal Solar Restrictions. Not in the attachment: US DOE EIA Forms 860 and 923 Data for Virginia going back 20 years indicate (And my own professional work experience) supports Virginia Coal and Oil Electrical Generator have been Curtailed or Shuttered for over 30-year, way before the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Virginia’s Utility Scale Solar Industry is incompetent and in no position to be saving the Virginia Economy or any sort of Energy Crisis. The Virginia Energy Crisis is a made-up Crisis by the Energy Ignorant supporting Utility Scale Solar Developers, and Inefficient Data Centers. If VSED&ESA, Va Energy Depart, CUER, and even DEQ continues to appease the Utility Scale Solar Energy Developers, there will be an Energy Crisis that is the creation of these Solar Developers, Lobbyist and Non-Profit doings. The proposals from the CUER have All Localities losing their Voice. The Developer will have a right to Appeal while the Localities will not have such rights. The Developer will be given Docketed Priority over all Virginias Various concerns in Virginia Justice System in Circuit and Supreme Court of Appeals. The Virginia Review will consist of 11 Non-Elected folks, Developer will be on the Review Board, and the Review Board will be Deemed Correct against any Localities in the Appeals Court. Plus, the Virginia Solar Facilities are FAILURES in Capacity Factors, DC to AC Ratio, and Generation Trends. Very Costly! Also, initially the Counties Board of Supervisors APPROVE Utility Scale Solar Development in "GOOD FAITH". Later, the Developers Words, and Behavior was not that expressed to the counties. So, the individual counties wisdom were left without choice but to limit or restrict Utility Scale Solar Development. The folks making Utility Scale Energy Decisions are not familiar with Energy. Take Energy Rights Mr.rSkylar Zunk being appointed Chair of the Virginia Solar Development and Energy Storage Authority, not only is he not familiar with Energy he is Arrogant and is really costly to both a democratic and republican Governor . He has reached out to me misusing his Governor Appointment as VSED&ESA in a failed attempt to silent me on public speech when I tell the truth about his Energy Right folks General Assemnbly family connections. He even uses the incitful phrase of "Man to Man"! It is Mr. Zunk's "Property Right" talk that drives these bills. If a farmer wants a Solar Facility, I want a Bordello and a Marijuana Farm.

Please vote no to bill hb2126. Land usage should stay in the county, not the state .

These massive solar farms are not conducive to the wildlife. When these things are brought into the hands of people who don't live in our rural spaces. You not only strip us of the reasons we live here, but our sense if community. There are other ways that are less irreparable to our wetland swampland areas. The populous areas of Virginia have no business in rural Virginia.

This bill takes away local governing bodies' authority to make land use decisions, removing the ability of communities to address their unique economic, cultural, and environmental needs. Local governments are best suited to determine land use, as they understand the impacts on residents and the local economy. These decisions should be made by those who will live with the consequences, not state officials. It fails to address critical environmental concerns such as tree loss and stormwater management, risking long-term ecological damage. The bill’s overemphasis on solar energy, without considering a balanced energy strategy, leaves communities vulnerable during inclement weather. This legislation unfairly burdens rural communities while prioritizing developer profits. A more effective solution would require integrating solar panels into existing structures like schools, government buildings, and malls before using precious farmland. Please vote No on HB2126 to protect local governance, environmental integrity, and equitable development.

I oppose any bill which would seize power from localities and give it to the state. Solar energy is bad and a waste! Put them overtop parking lots Interstate, roads anywhere concrete is already a factor or just don’t mess with it at all! Leave the woods be especially. Solar panels and wind turbines are NO GOOD!

The rural counties of Virginia do not need big government telling us how to develop our counties. The decision should be left to the localities and the citizens they represent.

I wish to express my opposition to HB 2126. This bill takes the authority away from local governing bodies to make land use decisions based. Local governing bodies know what is best for their locality and their residents. What is our state governing body willing to do next. Will the state begin making laws to take away our local governing body authority every time they disagree with the state or when the state disagrees with local authorities? Our local governing boards are able to listen to their residents and make informed decisions based on the their constituents and their knowledge of what will help their community. Local land use should continue to remain in the hands of local governing bodies. I ask that you please vote NO on HB 2126

I oppose any legislation that will strip away land-use decisions from our local governing bodies. In no way should there be legislation considered in which would allow for a review board or group to override local decisions regarding land use.

I Oppose HB 2126. Localities (counties and towns) need to be able to enforce their governing laws without state interference. Solar companies are a short-term and dangerous solution to power alternatives, and by no means are the clean energy. Solar farms are hazards to rural communities when large acre forests are sacrificed and replaced with industrial solar. Instead they evolve into DEQ nightmares with excessive runoffs and pollution to rural water ways. Policies like these hurt tax payers by increasing energy costs for electricity (which power companies pass onto the consumer to meet the ridiculous policy demands of "renewable energy"). The CEUR is recommending solar initiatives that do not have long-term benefits or cost-savings. To top it all all the VCEA OF 2020 needs to be completely repealed! God made fossil fuels and forests, he did not make solar panels or windmills, and never should they fall into the category of a "renewable" energy source. Please again, do not vote for HB2126. Protect the power of local governing communities in Virginia, and help the Town of Wakefield and Sussex County fight off the threat of industrial solar raping our lands of natural resources.

I strongly oppose the proposed legislation HB2126. Citizens from Page County have worked for over four years to put together a good ordinance appropriate for our beautiful landscape of farmland, mountains and rivers in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. To fulfill the Clean Energy requirements, consider putting solar in areas where already "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

I strongly oppose this legislation. I live in Surry County, completely surrounded by Cavalier Solar and have had nothing but problems from this company, AES. While Surry and Isle of Wight ignored our concerns and grievances, at least we had a voice in the process. To remove our voice in OUR community is dangerous and bordering on unconstitutional. Please consider all people before approving this communistic legislation.

I am passionately against this "idea". This type of decision should stay on the local level. We are more than capable of researching types of energy that wants to move here. We know how changes to our area affect us and our supervisors vote in our best interest!!

I am absolutely AGAINST THIS BILL!

There are more than enough solar fields. We cannot continue taking forest and fields from our area. These only last a certain number of years. The waste they create is massive. Farms are declining and food supplies becoming more expensive. Running wild life to other areas. Nothing good goes to the majority of the citizens. Only the people getting rich leasing their land.

I OPPOSE legislation which will take away land-use decisions from our counties.

I oppose legislation taking away land use decisions from our counties. This should be up to each county to decide what they want and don’t want for their county. I pay taxes in Sussex and I feel it is up to us the citizens and board of supervisors to decide what happens in our county. We don’t need no one that doesn’t live in our county deciding what should and shouldn’t come to Sussex. Thanks Pam Carr

This bill HB2126 must NOT be approved.The Citizens have the right to make decisions on anything that effects their land.Plus solar is destructive, does not produce the energy the sales people for solar say it will.There are chemicals in the panels that are hazardous.There are chemicals in the BESS systems that hold the so called energy.They are also hazardous.There is nothing good about solar.We have over 10K pages of scientific data that prove the solar is bad for the earth.We will stop this takeover of our land rights.

Stop Solar. It’s a crime to push this.

This bill would mirror others in states such as Ohio which have allowed for-profit companies seeking to meet the needs of their investors to obtain approvals for solar factories allowing more than 4,000 acres of land despite opposition by local residents. This has been called, by citizens and their elected representatives, privileging big business over residents. In Virginia, the bottleneck to solar factory installation is related to connectivity issues and foot-dragging by for profit companies, likely in an effort to have bigger new projects approved. In Page County, where I live, a project, Dogwood, was approved several years ago. Despite receiving several extensions, no effort was made by the solar company, Urban Grid, to move forward. The county was recently informed that's the company had no interest in pursuing this project. After all, why go for a 100- or 200-acre project when this bill would allow companies to bypass county ordinances and the wishes of county residents to plan for significantly larger projects. The current process in which solar companies have to obtain local approval works well. Projects are being approved--but implementation is slow. Nothing like this bill should be considered unless all existing approved projects are moving forward and there is an improved understanding of the risks, benefits, and unintended consequences of these projects. What do we know about actual production of electricity from these factories? When people lease their properties for 30 years, what are they told will be their compensation? What does typical compensation look like? How big is the gap between they are led to believe they will receive financially versus what they actually get? What are the data concerning actual production of electricity from the plants currently in operation at each solar factory in Virginia? How does this compare with what was anticipated? We need answers to these questions before opening the floodgates for huge solar factories throughout the rural counties of the state. Why the rush to implement a state board now? Who benefits? Not the citizens of Virginia.

HB2126 : I oppose any legislation that will take away land-use decisions by Virginia counties.

As a Page County Commissioner I strongly oppose this bill and any other that proposes, either directly or indirectly, to remove power from localities from regulating their own land use. Thus regardless of any alleged justifications, especially when proponents of such measures which are tantamount to eminent domain, are not citizens or representatives of the counties in which potential industrial solar sites would be located.

I beg of you all to please not allow any out-of-state solar concerns to destroy Washington County's most valuable natural resource: it's farmland, pastures, and forests. It flies in the face of the County's Mission Statement's top priority: to preserve and protect the County's #1 industry...agriculture. AND, to maintain the beauty of the shrinking countryside. Thank you!

I STRONGLY OPPOSE SOLAR FARMS!!

Localities must have the final say in use of their land. This is especially important when decisions involving the use of Farm and Forrest lands are being made. Converting either type of land to industrial use can and will have permanent negative effects on the land and the surrounding communities. I strongly appose HB2126!!!!!

I oppose HB2126.These decisions need to be made by local residents and not by a committee designed to force us into solar siting that does not work,causes damage to our localities both present and future, and will cause our electric bills to sky rocket.If these solar sites worked there would be no need for taxpayer subsidies.WE are tied of paying for other people's profits while our cities and counties go under.Stop this bill!!

This bill effectively strips localities of decision making on land use IN THEIR OWN DISTRICTS ; this must NOT happen, or we lose our voices as citizens, and the protection of our homes and communities. DONT LET RICHMOND DICTATE WHAT HAPPENS IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

I OPPOSE SOLAR FACILITIES!! The RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER, an endangered species, lives in our long leaf pine trees. All of our wildlife habitat will be disrupted. Please leave our local land alone.

I strongly oppose this bill and encourage the assembly to strongly oppose it as well.

I am opposed to HB2126, as localities need to determine the appropriate land use for their community and citizenry. This effort is an attempt to allow big-energy to collude with state government to the detriment of local jurisdiction. These solar installations will be/are being forced on rural counties to support the infrastructure needs of urban centers -- it is thereby creating unequal access to decision making and a preference for urban centers' needs over rural county interests. Local level decision making allows localities to choose what is best for them, democratically. Bill 2126 is an effort to circumvent the votes of county residents, taking away their decision making abilities about their communities, in favor of corporate interests. Vote NO on HB2126 to stand up for citizens' voting rights.

I OPPOSE solar “farms”! It will disrupt WILDLIFE habitats, alter soil conditions and impact our local WATER sources. The LAND, FOREST or FARMLAND will be forever destroyed! Please do not ruin our beautiful woodlands!

I do not want any changes in how land use is approved in my county. I do think think the state should force counties to do things they do not agree with.

I do not want any changes in how land use is approved in my county. I do think think the state should force counties to do things they do not agree with.

I am oppose to this bill, as localities need to determine the appropriate land use for their community and citizenry.

January 15, 2024 Honorable Delegates, I wish to express my opposition to HB 2126. This bill takes the authority away from local governing bodies to make land use decisions based on what is best for their locality and their residents. Land use should be determined by those directly affected, not by a siting review board or any person or agency at the state level. Local governing bodies and the citizens they represent understand the economic, cultural, and environmental nuances of the local area and the effects land use has on the local economy and environment while considering the unique culture of each local area. Thus, the local governing bodies representing their local citizens should make these decisions, not government officials at the state level. The local citizens will have to live with these land use decisions therefore, their local government representatives should be empowered to make these decisions at the local level. I ask that you please vote NO on HB 2126 Thank you, Chris Thompson 5430 Purdy Road Emporia, Virginia 23847 Greensville County Virginia (434) 594-6394

I am opposed to this legislation. It removes MY voice from land use decisions in my county. The Washington Co Board of Supervisors (and elected entity) works closely with their constituents, and takes into account all things when considering decisions for the county. The proposed review board is not accountable to me or the citizens of VA. Appointments to this board not transparent, nor is the funding needed to support the endeavor. It appears the proponents of this bill have tunnel vision, i.e. how can we meet the misguided VCEA. They are focusing on the "could" they do this, instead of the "should" they do this.

I oppose any legislation that will take away land-use decisions from our counties/local government. I do not agree with legislation that includes a review board, or any committee/group, that has power in over-ruling any decision that local government makes in regard to land-use.

I oppose any bill which would seize power from localities and give it to the state. Local governments should have the right to address land use issues and address their constituents’ concerns.

We oppose taking authority away from counties to restrict solar development

I oppose any bill which would seize power from localities and give it to the state. Local governments should have the right to address land use issues and address their constituents’ concerns.

Please let me know about anything to do with ANY SOLAR or wind. Also why aren't you working on lowering this socialism health obamare that is failing! We pay double our house payment for healthcare. They do a certain percentage of what u make a year. I have to take money out of my 401k for healthcare that counts as income. It shouldn't count as income when you are taxing the heck out of us. We can't travel,most our prescriptions we use to take won't be covered and could go on and on about this robbery of people s hard earned money!

HB2126. I, as well as a vast majority of citizens, oppose HB2126. Local governments should have the final decision when it comes to these projects. Someone sitting behind a desk in Richmond who has never been to Wakefield, Sussex County or any other locality where one of these proposed atrocities known as a solar farm shouldn’t have any say so in the final decision making. They are simply full of hot air and should be ashamed of their attempt to infringe the rights of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

As a lifelong resident of Surry County, and a farm wife of a landowner that has been affected by large scale solar farms, I vehemently oppose this bill. Large scale solar farms have ruined our immediate area with their destruction of land, degradation of infrastructure, and noise pollution.

Please vote NO on HB 2126. The counties know what is best for the land use in their counties. We need to keep farms operating to keep from buying food from other countries. Also, we need to keep the woodlands to maintain the wildlife.

Good morning, As a resident of agricultural Washington County, I implore you to deny this bill. Localities have the right, the obligation, to protect the zoning in the community. We elect local people to protect the interests of our locality. This “siting” committee is akin to taxation without representation, as counties would be at the mercy of people without their best interests. Please vote against this bill. Thank you

Oppose the loss of land

I oppose the bill HB2126. Keep the decisions in the communities where we have to live with the direct consequences!

i strongly oppose this bill. very strongly oppose taking siting authority away from local jurisdictions.

The localities should always have the choice to decide what’s best for them. Rural Va does not need the help of Richmond to push the “green” energy solar farms into action. Solar farms are about as far from “green” energy as you can get they destroy farmland and forest land alike. Vote NO to stop this bill and leave the power to the local legislature.

These decisions need to remain on the local level. This is nothing more than an attempt to remove any say by the voters and citizens of Virginia in the placement and approval of these facilities. Please do not vote to approve this. We, the voters, will remember if you do.

Please deny this bill and keep localities rights intact. The energy commission stated this bill was not ready but pushed it out anyways. The speaker of the house is not in favor, the Governor is not in favor and many others are not in favor for many reasons. Put this bill where it belongs, in the trash.

I oppose this Bill and any similar. Localities should decide what is best for their area. People that don't live in the area should not be making decisions about what should be there. Plus solar anything is not the "clean" energy it's being made to be. Same with electric cars.

I respectfully ask that your OPPOSE HB2126. Counties and localities know their land and environment the best. Local governing boards are elected to make these decisions on behalf of their constituents. It is not in the interest of our counties to cede control of any decision making regarding land-use. PLEASE OPPOSE HB2126.

I wish to express my opposition to HB 2126. This bill takes the authority of local governing bodies to make land use decisions based on what is best for their locality and their residents. Land use should be determined by those directly affected, not by a siting review board or any person or agency at the state level. Local governing bodies and the citizens they represent understand the economic, cultural, and environmental nuances of the local area and the effects land us has on the local economy and environment while considering the unique culture of each local area. Thus, the local governing bodies representing their local citizens should make these decisions, not government officials at the state level. The local citizens will have to live with these land use decisions therefore, their local government representatives should be empowered to make these decisions at the local level. I ask that you please vote NO on HB 2126

I wish to express my opposition to HB 2126. This bill takes the authority of local governing bodies to make land use decisions based on what is best for their locality and their residents. Land use should be determined by those directly affected, not by a siting review board or any person or agency at the state level. Local governing bodies and the citizens they represent understand the economic, cultural, and environmental nuances of the local area and the effects land us has on the local economy and environment while considering the unique culture of each local area. Thus, the local governing bodies representing their local citizens should make these decisions, not government officials at the state level. The local citizens will have to live with these land use decisions therefore, their local government representatives should be empowered to make these decisions at the local level. I ask that you please vote NO on HB 2126

Good afternoon Madam Chair and members of Labor and Commerce - Subcommittee #4 , Extreme weather has become far too "normal." Often times, particularly in the South, communities of color and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities shoulder the weight of these extreme weather events. Potomac Conservancy supports Del. Cousins' legislation because not only is it fiscally responsible, it is also shifts the cost burden of extreme weather events to corporations that are causing the most harm.

The American Petroleum Institute would like to submit the attached comments in respectful opposition to HB2233 - Extreme Weather Relief Act. Thank you for the opportunity to provide our perspective on this important issue.

My name is Kara Hoving and I am a resident of Alexandria, VA, and I support HB2233. I am a small business owner and active-duty military spouse, and I see this bill as a common-sense measure to ensure Virginian families like mine have an established and reliable source of relief from increasingly frequent climate disasters like Hurricane Helene. This bill would put the onus of recovery from extreme weather squarely on the shoulders of the parties that are most responsible for fueling these disasters and remove this burden from taxpayers. I'd like to remind the Committee that recouping damages from these responsible parties is a drop in the bucket compared to these corporations' vast global profits. This bill will not hurt their ability to do business in Virginia, but it will mean EVERYTHING to Virginian families who have to rebuild their lives after a disaster. Thank you, and please support HB2233.

See attached.

TechNet's written comments on HB 2483 are attached.

CTIA, the trade association for the wireless industry, submits the attached testimony in opposition to House Bill 2483. The marketplace already provides a wide range of consumer choice for repair with varying levels of quality, price, and convenience without the mandates imposed by this legislation. To further address the repair marketplace, CTIA launched two programs related to repair, the Wireless Industry Service Excellence (WISE) Technician Certification Program and the WISE Authorized Service Provider (ASP) Certification Program. The WISE technician program educates and tests wireless device repair technicians on industry-recognized standards, certifying those that meet the highest standards for service quality and technical skill. The WISE ASP program creates a network of certified retail locations, helping consumers identify qualified providers that meet the highest standards for service quality and wireless device repair. Both programs were created by CTIA’s Reverse Logistics and Service Quality Working Groups, which convene members representing the entire reverse logistics community to address the wireless industry’s challenges and develop requirements for industry-recognized standards in repair and refurbishment of wireless devices. Wireless companies and device manufacturers, individually and through industry associations, have taken proactive steps to provide consumers with more device repair options, while accounting for the need to maintain device integrity and security and to protect intellectual property rights. This bill is an unnecessary intervention in the marketplace.

Comments Document

Chairperson Herring and Distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, I am Dustin Brighton and on behalf of the Repair Done Right Coalition we respectfully oppose HB 2483. I have provided a document that is attached to this email for your review outlining why our organization does not support the proposed measure at this time. Thank you.

I’m Liz Chamberlain, and I’m Director of Sustainability for iFixit, and I’m writing in strong support of HB2483. iFixit is a repair company with over 115,000 step-by-step repair guides for how to fix everything from toasters to tractors, and we sell parts and tools for consumer gadgets so that people can fix things themselves. Roughly 1 in 8 Virginia residents visited iFixit last year. We also sell parts and tools wholesale to independent repair shops. In the last few years, we’ve started helping manufacturers get original parts to their customers—we’re now the official parts distributor for Google Pixel, Microsoft Xbox, Logitech, and Valve, and we have made repair guides for Patagonia and The Home Depot. Through our business, we hear from individuals and independent repair shops about the things that make repair difficult. Both groups complain that they have trouble finding spare parts—manufacturers of products like vacuum cleaners and fitness trackers often don’t have any parts available at all. Other products have only a very limited range of parts. Tool availability, both hardware and software, also often limits repair: Many repairs get blocked by lack of access to materials. We’ve been supporting electronics Right to Repair legislation around the country, and we’ve been glad to see laws pass in 5 states. But a surprising number of manufacturers are not yet complying with legislation in states that have passed it—and many are gating materials, refusing to provide them to customers outside the few states with repair protections. We need to keep pressure up, to make sure that Americans can get the repair access they need. Virginians deserve the same repair access that is guaranteed by law in California, New York, Minnesota, Oregon, and Colorado. Repair is not just good for people’s pocketbooks; extending the lifespan of consumer electronics has huge benefits for our planet: It takes 34 years for a cell phone to use as much energy as it takes to make it—not to mention the toxic wastewater tailings ponds from mining, the massive raw material use of manufacturing, or the 53 million metric tonnes of e-waste we produce each year. Keeping our stuff around for as long as possible reduces those burdens, and this bill would stop Virginians from sending electronics to the dump prematurely. iFixit’s business gives us a unique opportunity to hear concerns from all corners of the repair world. We work with repair shops, consumers, advocates, and run repair programs for manufacturers. We strongly support HB2483, which we believe is a sound compromise that works for all interests.

Comments Document

Letter of Support from the Digital Right to Repair Coalition

Comments Document

My name is Will Sherwood-- I am a Right to Repair advocate with the US Public Interest Research Group. I believe that everyone deserves the right to fix their stuff; repair saves us money, reduces toxic e-waste, and empowers communities, making us more resilient. I am in favor the Digital Right to Repair Act. There was a concern listed on this bill that I wanted to address-- specifically the Fiscal Impact Statement that was released. It claims that to meet the requirements of this bill, the Office of the Attorney General would need to hire 4 new staff members costing 247,000 dollars annually. I find this statement completely ridiculous and want to take a moment to assuage fears of overspending, and better understand the requirements that this bill actually demands. It is important to start by saying that in no other state where similar bills have been enacted, has this kind of spending been true. Disputes between individuals and OEMs have been resolved without lawsuits being filed and have not required this level of staffing to monitor or engage with. Once these bills are passed, Virginians can expect to see results almost immediately-- companies have access to all of these materials already, they just haven't been willing to give them to their customers until mandated by law. If we are considering finances around Right to Repair, it is important to know that repairing electronic devices will actually save us money-- over 1.2 billion dollars for families in Virginia by reducing our purchases of brand new electronics (https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/repair-saves-families-big/). Ultimately, this bill expands the rights of Virginians to take control of their own devices. It empowers us to choose how we repair our essential technologies, prevents us from trashing expensive devices prematurely, saves us money, enables local independent repair business to thrive and compete, and creates opportunities for Virginians to engage with their devices more meaningfully. I urge you to support HB 2483 so that all Virginians can fix their stuff safely and effectively. Thank you

TechNet's written comments on HB 2515 are attached.

On behalf of the U.S. Green Building Council, I am writing in support of HB 2578 which would add a clean energy procurement requirement and energy efficiency standards such as LEED certification to the data center sales and use tax exemption. This legislation is critical to regulate the extreme energy demand from data centers and impacts to the grid in Virginia, as recommended in the 2024 JLARC Data Centers Report. Thank you for your consideration to support HB 2578.

Greetings Labor and Commerce Subcommittee, I'm writing in support of HB2101, HB2755, and HB2578. I live in Loudoun County, where we have over 200 data centers. In our county, data centers are being built near residences, malls, bike trails, parks, pretty much all over the place including where people don't want them. Many of them are pretty loud if you're near them, and I expect that louder data centers are coming because there isn't enough energy, so some art starting to turn to on-site natural gas generation for base-load, non-emergency power. We have one such data center with 8 natural gas turbines. I've heard from friends that live fairly close that they can tell by the sound not just whether or not the gas turbines are on, but how many. The recent JLARC study paints a picture of an industry that has grown out of control, is burdening its neighbors, and is completely unsustainable. While some in my counties Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission seem completely captured by this industry, others are trying to address the problems that we're having as a result of data centers, but are unable to do much due to lack of local authority, and so I must ask the General Assembly for help. As burdened as the public is by data centers in Loudoun County, we need better regulation specific to that industry. These 3 bills would go a long way to improving the situation, specifically: HB2101 Electric utilities; data center cost allocation: This is needed to ensure that all of us ratepayers aren't paying for infrastructure that would not be needed except for this one industry. HB2578 Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for data centers, reports: This bill is needed to provide incentives for data centers to adhere to best practices regarding air pollution from on-site generation. Considering the high levels of particulate pollution that some generators emit, this is a public health concern in my county. HB2755 Underground transmission lines; qualifying projects: Loudoun county is being forced to tolerate additional electric infrastructure on huge towers. These lines should be built underground rather than on towers in order to minimize impact on local residents, such as myself. Thank you, -Chris Tandy

Dear Subcommittee #4 Members: I am asking you for vote positively to send HB2578 to the Committee on Labor and Commerce. This bill would require a cata center opewrator, in order to be eligible for the existting datea center sales and use tax exemption to: 1) beginning July 1, 2030, purchase a certain percentage of the data center's annual electric load from clean energy resources; 2) beginning July 1, 2030, demonstrate sufficient investment in energy efficiency measures to provide system-wide benefits, 3) beginning July 1, 2027, use only backup generators that meet certain emission standards. These are necessary changes that are needed to ensure that the Virginia Clean Energy Standards are met. Thank you, Rev. Dr. Jean Wright

I am writing in support of these three bills.

Greetings Labor and Commerce Subcommittee, I'm writing in support of HB2101, HB2755, and HB2578. I live in Loudoun County, where we have over 200 data centers. In our county, data centers are being built near residences, malls, bike trails, parks, pretty much all over the place including where people don't want them. Many of them are pretty loud if you're near them, and I expect that louder data centers are coming because there isn't enough energy, so some art starting to turn to on-site natural gas generation for base-load, non-emergency power. We have one such data center with 8 natural gas turbines. I've heard from friends that live fairly close that they can tell by the sound not just whether or not the gas turbines are on, but how many. The recent JLARC study paints a picture of an industry that has grown out of control, is burdening its neighbors, and is completely unsustainable. While some in my counties Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission seem completely captured by this industry, others are trying to address the problems that we're having as a result of data centers, but are unable to do much due to lack of local authority, and so I must ask the General Assembly for help. As burdened as the public is by data centers in Loudoun County, we need better regulation specific to that industry. These 3 bills would go a long way to improving the situation, specifically: HB2101 Electric utilities; data center cost allocation: This is needed to ensure that all of us ratepayers aren't paying for infrastructure that would not be needed except for this one industry. HB2578 Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for data centers, reports: This bill is needed to provide incentives for data centers to adhere to best practices regarding air pollution from on-site generation. Considering the high levels of particulate pollution that some generators emit, this is a public health concern in my county. HB2755 Underground transmission lines; qualifying projects: Loudoun county is being forced to tolerate additional electric infrastructure on huge towers. These lines should be built underground rather than on towers in order to minimize impact on local residents, such as myself. Thank you, -Chris Tandy

Dear Members of Subcommittee #4: I am writing you to ask that you vote HB2101, Electric utilities: data center cost allocation out of the subcommittee and onto the full Labor and Commerce committee for action. This bill would protect ratepayers from increases in their utility bills which would pay utility costs of infrastructure expansion to power data centers. Data Centers need to pay their fair share of utility such costs. I do not wish to subsidize data center utility use. Aditional, I'm asking that you vote to bring HB2755 before the full committee. This bill would fund a pilot program for underground transmission lines qualifying projects. There must be ratepaer fairness in the utility grid system. Thank you, Rev. Dr. Jean Wright, Ashburn, VA 20147

I am writing in support of these three bills.

I am a resident and business owner in Loudoun County where above ground power lines are destroying property values and our quality of life. The main thrust is that this bill provides a framework that permits energy to be delivered to high energy use customers without destroying existing residential and commercial neighborhoods that would otherwise be severely impacted by massive overhead power lines. I speak in favor of this bill.