Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Virginia General Assembly, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CHAPTER 29 An Act to direct the Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting certain transmission lines in existing state highway rights-of-way; report. [S 497] Approved March 31, 2026 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. § 1. That in the siting of new electric transmission facilities, including high-voltage transmission lines, it is the policy of the Commonwealth that existing linear infrastructure corridors, including existing utility corridors and highways corridors, shall be prioritized over new corridors. Consideration of priority corridors shall be done to the greatest extent such prioritization is feasible and in a manner that is (i) consistent with economic and engineering considerations, (ii) ensuring reliability of the electric grid, and (iii) protective of cultural and historical resources and the environment. § 2. That the Department of Transportation shall convene a work group of relevant stakeholders, including the State Corporation Commission and members of the Virginia Utility Coordinating Committee, to identify opportunities and develop recommendations to amend regulations and permitting processes to facilitate the expedient and efficient siting of new electrical transmission infrastructure in existing state highway rights-of-way. The work group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Labor and Commerce and Transportation and the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor and Transportation by November 1, 2026.
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