Happy Friday!

March 21, 2025

We’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of the America First Energy Podcast! Energy Right will be bringing on VA’s Department of Energy Director Glenn Davis to discuss the current landscape of energy in the Commonwealth. You can listen in on Spotify March 26th when the podcast goes live to hear how we discuss

Clean Energy the Right Way.

Virginia Launches CARE Package: Expands Solar and Grid Resilience

Virginia is turning over a new leaf with the Community Access to Renewable Energy (CARE) package, and it feels like a breath of fresh air—literally. This set of laws, featuring the Distributed Generation Expansion Act and the Community Energy Act, is shaking up how the Commonwealth approaches renewable energy. By making it easier to install small-scale solar projects and turning overlooked spaces like parking lots and landfills into solar energy hubs, the Distributed Generation Expansion Act isn’t just about cleaner power—it’s about putting real energy choices into the hands of Virginians. It’s a shift toward self-reliance, giving people’s more power in the communities they live in.

The Community Energy Act also brings something refreshingly innovative to the table: the Virtual Power Plant program. The program will allow residents that have solar panels or energy storage units to allot some of that energy back to the community’s energy grid. In effect, residents producing energy for themselves will now be able to give excess and receive a rebate or credit towards their own energy bill. Incentives like this for already-in-place energy infrastructure is a progressive step towards having the entire Commonwealth working together for the same cause: a stronger, more resilient and energy independent state.

For Virginia, a state that’s weathered the ups and downs of relying on fossil fuels, this couldn’t have come at a better time. Pushing for renewable energy isn’t just an environmental move—it’s an economic one too. Building up a green energy infrastructure creates jobs, gives rural and urban communities an equal shot at lower energy costs, and helps insulate the state from energy price spikes that seem to come out of nowhere. It’s a way to future-proof Virginia’s economy while giving every community a fair shake.

The CARE package doesn’t solve every problem, but it’s a bold step forward. If nothing else, it sends a message: Virginia is ready to lead the charge toward a sustainable, resilient energy future. Let’s hope the rest of the country is paying attention.

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WHAT WE’RE THINKING

 U.S. Tariffs on Solar Panels: Trends Support Manufacturing within the States

Over the past decade, the United States has implemented escalating tariffs on imported solar panels, particularly from China, to incentivize domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. Beginning in 2012 under the Obama administration, tariffs were introduced to counteract alleged unfair trade practices by Chinese manufacturers. The Trump administration expanded these measures in 2018 with Section 201 and Section 232 tariffs, which affected not only Chinese imports but also those from other key solar-producing nations. Biden continued this trend in 2022 by modifying the tariffs and later, in 2024, doubling the tariff on Chinese solar panels to 50% due to geopolitical and economic concerns. Most recently, in 2025, Trump raised tariffs again by 10%, bringing the total to 60%, the highest level in history.

These trade policies have significantly reshaped the solar industry, driving increased investment in U.S. solar manufacturing. While tariffs have raised costs for utility-scale solar projects that rely on inexpensive imports, they have also created strong incentives for companies to establish domestic production facilities. The outcome of these tariffs is that American solar panel manufacturers are now in a more competitive position, leading to an expansion of factories and supply chains within the states. Despite concerns about short-term price increases, proponents argue that these policies will ultimately lead to a more resilient and independent solar industry.

As the U.S. moves forward, the debate over tariffs and their impact on solar energy growth will continue. Policymakers must weigh the benefits of protecting domestic manufacturing against the potential downsides of higher costs for solar deployment. Given the current trade environment, domestic solar manufacturing is now more viable and necessary than ever, positioning the U.S. to become a leader in renewable energy production with imports being decreasingly incentivized.

Where We Went

FROM THE ROAD

Prince Edward County, Tobacco Trail solar concepts

Energy Right team member Seth Cogbill met in Prince Edward County with solar developers from Strata this week; there, they shared and discussed options for solar projects within the Tobacco Trail space. The community of Prince Edward County has shown they are a leader in taking steps towards clean energy initiatives, and we look forward to seeing the project develop in the near future!

WHAT WE READ

WHAT NEXT?

WORTH A READ + SHARE

Roanoke City Public Schools has signed a 25-year agreement with Secure Solar Futures to install 5.7 megawatts of solar across 11 locations, including roof restorations at seven schools—all at no upfront cost. Combined with a prior phase, the district will host 7.3 MW of solar at 17 locations, generating $46.5 million in savings and offering career training opportunities in clean energy.

The project will install nearly 10,000 high-efficiency bifacial solar panels, generating enough electricity to power nearly 47,000 homes over 35 years. Alongside major cost savings and reduced emissions, the program integrates solar education into classrooms and provides job training for students.

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