HB 4111

Community Solar Program


HB 4111 establishing a community solar program for subscribers to gain credits against their utility bills.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

ISSUES: Clean Air, Climate

CWV Position: Supports

Position Statement: HB 4111 expands access to clean, affordable solar energy for households, businesses, and communities that cannot install rooftop solar, while reducing pollution, strengthening energy resilience, and supporting local economic development.

  • Expands access to clean energy: Community solar allows renters, low-income households, and those with unsuitable roofs to benefit from solar power, making clean energy more equitable.

  • Reduces air pollution and climate impacts: Increasing solar generation helps cut emissions from fossil-fuel power plants, improving air quality and supporting climate resilience.

  • Protects water resources: Solar energy uses far less water than traditional power generation, helping reduce pressure on rivers and drinking water supplies.

  • Strengthens grid resilience: Distributed solar can reduce strain on the grid and improve reliability, especially during peak demand or extreme weather.

  • Supports local jobs and investment: Community solar projects create local construction and maintenance jobs and keep energy dollars circulating in West Virginia communities.

  • Preserves local choice: The program enables voluntary participation without mandating utility or customer involvement.

Status: Introduced January 14, 2026; referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works then Finance.