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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55204</law_id><section_number>45.2-1708</section_number><catch_line> Role of local governments in achieving objectives of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="45.2">Mines, Minerals, and Energy</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Other Sources of Energy; Energy Policy</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="17">Other Sources of Energy Generally; Energy Policy</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Energy Policy of the Commonwealth</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In the development of any local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> addressing the siting of renewable energy facilities that generate electricity from wind or solar resources, such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall: <a id="paragraph-202402" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1708/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Be consistent with the provisions of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title=" Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy" href="/45.2-1706.1/">45.2-1706.1</a>; <a id="paragraph-202403" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1708/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Provide reasonable criteria to be addressed in the siting of any renewable energy facility that generates electricity from wind or solar resources. Such criteria shall provide for the protection of the locality in a manner consistent with the goals of the Commonwealth to promote the generation of energy from wind and solar resources; and <a id="paragraph-202404" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1708/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Include provisions establishing reasonable requirements upon the siting of any such renewable energy facility, including provisions limiting noise, requiring buffer areas and setbacks, and addressing generation facility decommissioning. <a id="paragraph-202405" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1708/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any measures required by an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted pursuant to subsection A shall be consistent with the locality&#x2019;s existing <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span>. <a id="paragraph-202406" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1708/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2011, c. 750, &#xA7; 67-103; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 327, 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
