Legislation proposing new erosion and sediment control practices for solar projects has reported out of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and been rereferred to the House Appropriations Committee.
SB 1258 (Marsden) makes changes to § 62.1-44.15:55.1 of the Code of Virginia, which deals with localities and solar projects. Specifically, SB 1258 requires that the State Water Control Board administer a Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) on behalf of any locality that notifies the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that it has chosen not to administer a VESCP for a solar project larger than 5 megawatts (MW).
SB 1258 initially passed the Senate by a vote of 39-0 on February 4.
VACo has no position on this bill provided it remains a local option.
VACo Contact: Chris McDonald, Esq.