Financial Evaluation Exhibits Increasing Shared Photo voltaic Would Generate 10,000 New Jobs and $4.5 Billion in Financial Exercise
Ballot Exhibits 61 P.c of Virginians Assist Chopping Limitations to Shared Photo voltaic
RICHMOND, Va. — A brand new financial research launched as we speak by the Coalition for Neighborhood Photo voltaic Entry (CCSA) confirmed that decreasing limitations in Virginia that block customers from collaborating in shared photo voltaic packages would generate over 12,000 new jobs and domesticate $5.6 billion in financial exercise over the following 30 years. New photo voltaic developments will also be constructed on marginal land, paying landowners, together with generational household farms, an estimated $12 million in annual lease funds.
On the identical time, the Coalition additionally launched the outcomes of a brand new ballot, which confirmed a bipartisan demand for shared photo voltaic in Virginia. Nearly all of respondents, with a breakdown of 76 p.c of Republicans, 61 p.c of Democrats and 62 p.c of Independents, stated they assist Virginia’s power plan to take away limitations to accessing different power assets, together with shared photo voltaic. Not solely did the vast majority of respondents from all political events specific a necessity for shared photo voltaic in Virginia, however 64 p.c of Republicans, 72 p.c of Independents, and 78 p.c of Democrats, need their legislators to think about all the advantages of a Virginia shared photo voltaic program, not simply the direct power program prices. In a Commonwealth that’s deeply divided, that’s an amazing consensus.
Regardless of political social gathering affiliation, survey outcomes confirmed that an amazing 63 p.c of respondents rank it “crucial” that their elected representatives make delivering options to growing power prices a high precedence. Throughout social gathering strains, members admitted to experiencing monetary hardships as a result of quickly rising power prices, reporting that they’ve needed to reduce on family bills, resembling spending much less on meals and even delaying paying their payments.
At the moment, a misguided and unsubstantiated minimal invoice price and a program capability cap for shared photo voltaic tasks stop subscribers from adopting shared photo voltaic and builders from coming into the state. These insurance policies limit communities and companies’ entry to photo voltaic power, whereas additionally hindering industry-wide competitors and shopper selection.
“Shared photo voltaic offers Virginians the power to save cash on their power payments whereas supporting clear power,” stated Charlie Coggeshall, CCSA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director. “Virginia lawmakers ought to attempt to ship power options that can cut back financial hardships within the Commonwealth – not supporting limitations to this clear power different.”
Attributable to its small-scale nature, shared photo voltaic can even profit Virginia’s power infrastructure by strengthening the ability grid and making it extra resilient in opposition to large-scale disruptions. It additionally avoids transmission and distribution investments, all whereas offsetting risky gas prices.
“It’s clear that Virginians need entry to shared photo voltaic. Constituents must contact their lawmakers in Richmond to induce them to move laws that enables shared photo voltaic to flourish and helps the Commonwealth’s ‘all-of-the-above’ power technique,” stated Karla Loeb, Head of Authorities Affairs for Arcadia, a CCSA member. “Virginians ought to have the chance to freely select their power supply, work sustainable jobs, lease their land to photo voltaic developments, and reside in a state with an influence grid that’s resilient and dependable.”
CCSA is at present working with shared photo voltaic builders, lawmakers, and group stakeholders to make sure Virginians are now not prevented and deterred from subscribing to shared photo voltaic.
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