Document Type
Research Report
Original Publication Date
2024
Date of Submission
January 2025
Abstract
Distributed solar energy is growing rapidly in Virginia, and prices are dropping. If these trends continue, the state has the potential to meet a significant percentage of its electricity needs via distributed solar, supporting thousands of jobs and achieving substantial economic benefits in the process. However, reaching these targets will require the continuation of a positive policy and regulatory environment. This includes the removal of several remaining policy barriers, particularly related to shared / community solar, and avoiding some of the negative policy changes that have slowed distributed solar in other states.
This report is an update to a VCU study from 2020, which evaluated the potential job creation and other economic benefits from the installation of 2,500 megawatts (MW) of new distributed solar generation capacity in Virginia. It describes the curent state of distributed solar in Virginia, reviews national-level research findings on solar energy price trends and projections, summarizes and discusses the prior findings on potential job creation and economic impacts from distributed solar, reviews the latest findings on the value of distributed solar to electric utilities and consumers, and discusses policy obstacles and challenges for distributed solar in Virginia.
Recommended Citation
Pitt, D., and Oakley, D. (2024). “Assessing the Benefits of Distributed Solar in Virginia: 2024 Update and Status Report.” Report to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
Is Part Of
Publications from the Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment
Included in
Energy Policy Commons, Public Policy Commons, Urban Studies Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons
