Community Solar Bills Introduced in Both House and Senate
The community solar concept allows consumers who cannot install their own solar panels to participate in solar energy generated at a community facility. The concept is operating in many states, but not West Virginia. Bills promoting community solar have stalled in the Legislature in 2023 and 2024 but now have been re-introduced in 2025 in both the House of Delegates and Senate.
The bills are HB 2419, sponsored by Delegates Hansen and Young, and SB 34, sponsored by Senator Oliverio. The bills are similar, but SB 34 involves a cap on the generation of community solar facilities and has a sunset provision.
The virtues of community solar are many. Solar energy is abundant, renewable and non-polluting. Community solar allows consumers access to the benefits of solar energy unconstrained by the physical aspects of their home site. Solar energy can reduce the cost of energy for consumers and lower carbon emissions.
Both bills require the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations achieving the community solar goals, while protecting consumers from abuse. HB 2419 has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works and then to Judiciary. SB 34 has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining and then to Finance.
