Virginia lawmakers are moving to outlaw "blanket bans" on utility-scale solar farms. (Canary Media)
For context: With nearly two-thirds of the state’s counties now effectively banning utility-scale solar, new installations plummeted in 2025—endangering the state's ability to meet its clean energy mandates and power the world's largest data center market.
The new legislation would strip localities of the power to enact bans, replacing them with new, strict statewide criteria on setbacks, environmental protection, and decommissioning costs.