Virginia House Bill 945

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: Introduced on January 13 2026 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2026-02-18 - Left in Committee Rules
Pending: House Rules Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Department of Energy to study geothermal energy; State Corporation Commission proceeding to establish geothermal energy requirements for high energy users. Directs the Department of Energy to conduct a study on geothermal electric generating resources and geothermal heating and cooling systems in the Commonwealth and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the State Corporation Commission by July 1, 2027. The bill also directs the State Corporation Commission to initiate a proceeding by September 30, 2027, to establish requirements for high energy users to utilize standardized amounts of capacity from geothermal electric generating resources and geothermal heating and cooling systems, as informed by the study submitted by the Department of Energy. The bill defines "high energy user" as a retail electric service customer of a utility regulated by the Commission with a consistent demand of 100 megawatts, but the Commission is permitted to adjust the megawatt size threshold for high energy users as determined by the Commission to be appropriate to manage electric demand in the Commonwealth through the use of geothermal energy.

Geothermal energy; Dept. of Energy to study, SCC to establish requirements for high energy users.

Del. Nadarius Clark [D]

2026-01-23 - House - Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 0-N) (Y: 5 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-02-18	House	Left in Committee Rules
2026-01-23	House	Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 0-N)
2026-01-22	House	Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee
2026-01-13	House	Referred to Committee on Rules
2026-01-13	House	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104051D

Type	Source
Summary	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB945
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB945/text/HB945
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/HB945/20261/H20001V2610342