Stop regulatory overreach

Legislators in Virginia’s General Assembly have woven a web of regulations that restrict citizens’ ability to harness solar energy. These regulations prevent us from saving money, creating jobs and protecting our lands. And it has all been done to protect Dominion Energy, one of the biggest campaign contributors to bipartisan legislators in the state, including Delegate Michael Webert.

Here are some of the ways that citizen energy freedom is suppressed by crony capitalism in the Commonwealth:

1. Customer-owned solar energy in Virginia is capped at 1 percent of total electric generation. Somehow, Maryland has a 10 percent cap, and many states have no caps at all.

2. Communities are not allowed to generate power with large solar facilities on vacant lots, closed landfills or open airport land, as Virginians can’t generate more than one megawatt of energy on any commercial facility.

3. We can’t use solar panels on a garage to power a house with a separate meter, even if they are on the same property.

4. Large residential facilities more than 10 kilowatts have to pay a hefty standby fee.

5. A growing business in Virginia can only make as much solar energy as it used in the past, not how much it will need in the future.

It’s time for Virginia’s General Assembly to legislate for citizens, not Dominion stockholders. That means electing bipartisan candidates who refuse Dominion campaign contributions. In the 18th District, that candidate is Laura Galante. Samantha Ahdoot

Sperryville