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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB457 • 2026

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources, etc.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 56-585.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources; zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities.

Energy
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
DeSteph
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not mention fusion energy or any other specific updates to the definition of eligible sources beyond zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities.

Electric Utilities; Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Eligible Sources

This bill adds zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities to the list of eligible sources under Virginia's renewable energy portfolio standard.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities as an eligible source under the renewable energy portfolio standard.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Electric utilities in Virginia
  • Companies operating zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities

Terms To Know

renewable energy portfolio standard
A rule that requires electric companies to produce a certain amount of their power from renewable sources.
zero-carbon electricity
Electricity produced without releasing carbon dioxide into the air, which helps reduce pollution and climate change.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much of their power electric utilities must produce from nuclear facilities.
  • It is unclear if this will lead to more nuclear plants being built in Virginia.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB457ASC1

2026-02-12 • Committee

Commerce and Labor Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds fusion and nuclear energy to the list of eligible sources for renewable energy portfolio standards.

  • Adds fusion energy as an eligible source under the renewable energy portfolio standard.
  • Includes nuclear energy as another eligible source.
  • It is unclear how this amendment will affect existing definitions and regulations related to fusion and nuclear energy in Virginia's Code of Virginia.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Commerce and Labor

    Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N)

  2. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  3. 2026-01-25 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB457)

  4. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102224D

  5. 2026-01-13 Commerce and Labor

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

Official Summary Text

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources; zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities.
Provides that, for the purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard, eligible sources include zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities located in the Commonwealth.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB 457

COMMERCE AND LABOR

1. Line 46, introduced, after electricity

insert

, including electricity generated by fusion energy, as defined in §
1-208.1
, or nuclear energy