The proposed bill aims to establish a community solar program in West Virginia, allowing subscribers to gain credits against their utility bills for participating in solar energy generation. It introduces new legal language that defines key terms such as "community solar facility," "subscriber," and "bill credit," and outlines the legislative findings that support the initiative, emphasizing the benefits of solar energy, including its potential to provide affordable and clean energy options to consumers, particularly low-income households. The bill specifies that community solar facilities must meet certain criteria, such as being located within the utility's service territory and having a minimum number of subscribers, while also ensuring that at least 40% of the facility's capacity is reserved for smaller subscriptions.

Additionally, the bill grants the West Virginia Public Service Commission the authority to regulate the community solar program, including the establishment of rules for its implementation by January 1, 2026. It mandates that utilities provide bill credits to subscribers based on their proportional output from the community solar facility and outlines the responsibilities of subscriber organizations in managing these credits. The legislation also emphasizes the importance of accessibility for low-income customers and includes provisions for consumer protection, interconnection standards, and the transferability of subscriptions, thereby fostering a competitive and inclusive environment for solar energy development in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 24-2J-1, 24-2J-2, 24-2J-3, 24-2J-4