Public Comment Period

 A 60-day public comment period will begin on Monday, October 7, 2024, upon publication of the proposed regulatory action for HB 206 in Volume 41, Issue 3 of the Virginia Register.

Additional dates associated with this action:  

  • The comment period will run from Oct. 7 through Dec. 6, 2024.
  • A public hearing will be held on Nov. 19, 2024, at 10 a.m. on the third floor of the Bank of America Building.

Comments can be submitted through the public comment forum on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall webpage.

Additional Resources

Draft Regulatory Text

Draft amendments to 9VAC15-60, the Small Renewable Energy Projects (Solar) Permit by Rule regulation, are available for review on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. The draft regulation must first go through executive branch review and be published in the Virginia Register before the 60-day public comment begins. Individuals that sign up for the Town Hall email notification service will be notified when the comment forum opens.

These draft amendments were required House Bill 206 (HB206) which was introduced and enacted into law during the regular session of the 2022 General Assembly in Chapter 688 of the Acts of Assembly. Chapter 688 required DEQ to consider significant adverse impacts to prime agricultural soils and forest lands and to address ways to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate damage to prime agricultural soil and forest caused by the construction and operation of renewable energy solar projects.

DEQ convened two separate advisory panels that met over the last two years to assist with developing the amended regulations. Links to agendas and minutes from these meetings are below.

2023 Meetings
2022 Meetings