The West Virginia legislature made it easier in 2021 for West Virginians to use power purchase agreements (PPAs), a popular method, to finance distributed energy generation projects such as rooftop solar panels.
West Virginia joins 28 other states — including Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Georgia — in making available on-site PPAs.
“Solar energy helps West Virginians save money and take control of where their electricity comes from,” said Autumn Long, Solar United Neighbors’ West Virginia program director. “West Virginia lawmakers made the smart decision to allow power purchase agreements so that more West Virginia families and businesses can benefit from solar energy.”
The passage of House Bill 3310 wraps up our three-year #PPAs4WV campaign. Supporters across the state have worked diligently to educate lawmakers about the benefits of expanding solar access. The bill received broad support in both legislative chambers and passed 83-16 in the state House of Delegates and 33-1 in the state Senate.
Under a PPA, a third party owns and operates a solar installation. The host customer buys the electricity the system generates at a fixed rate. This rate is typically lower than what the customer pays to their utility for electricity.
PPAs allow customers to benefit from distributed energy with minimal upfront costs. Customers see electric bill savings from Day 1 and are able to lock in long-term energy rates. This allows them to stabilize their monthly budget expenditures and protect themselves against utility rate increases.