Virginia HB 945

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.