There’s a long line of energy systems waiting to connect to the grid in Virginia right now. Sometimes, these energy systems are waiting for years. Meanwhile, energy demand is rising, and our utility bills are getting higher.
Many power plants in Virginia that are plugged into our grid don’t always use the entire capacity of that plug or interconnection point. It’s like a grocery store checkout lane that isn’t open in a store full of customers. Surplus interconnection simply opens the lane — without years of waiting for brand-new, pricey grid infrastructure. Surplus interconnection helps us connect new projects without the long wait times and costs associated with building entirely new infrastructure.
The FAST Act, which has already been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly, is the legislative answer to fixing the long wait. It directs Virgina’s utility companies to identify potential opportunities to leverage surplus interconnection so we can leverage existing infrastructure to connect new clean energy quickly. The FAST Act prioritizes clean energy, which is quicker to build and cheaper to operate than dirty fossil fuels- we know these pollute our communities and hurt our health.
Email your state legislators using the form on this page to ask them to support the FAST Act.