                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ACHIEVING OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH CLEAN
ENERGY POLICY (§ 45.2-1708)

A. In the development of any local ordinance addressing the siting of renewable
energy facilities that generate electricity from wind or solar resources, such
ordinance shall:

   1. Be consistent with the provisions of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy
   pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; 45.2-1706.1;

   2. 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

   3. 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.

B. Any measures required by an ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection A shall
be consistent with the locality&#8217;s existing ordinances.

HISTORY: 2011, c. 750, § 67-103; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 327, 387.