SB 79 — Government buildings, certain; net-zero energy consumption building design for schools.

SESSION SENATEHOUSE SUBSTITUTE 24107199D24107927D SENATE BILL NO.

79 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the SenateHouse Committee on FinanceGeneral andLaws Appropriations on February 6,20, 2024) (Patron Prior to Substitute––Senator Favola) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-1183 and 15.2-1804.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to consumption building design for schools;schools.ems for certain government buildings;

report.certain government buildings;

EO 2.

TPhotovoltaic B.solar panels shall be Ehe primary choice for on-site renewable energy systems.

AnyB. executive branch agency or institution may exceed the design and construction standards required by subsection A, provided that such agency or institution obtains prior written approvEl from the Director of the Department.

C.Any executive branch agency or institution may exceed the design and construction standards required by subsection A, provided that such agency or institution obtains prior written approval from the Director of the Department.

TheS Directorstandards ofrequired theby Departmentsubsection mayA grantupon ana exemptionfinding fromthat thespecial designcircumstances andmake the construction or renovation to the standards impracticable.

If the Director cites cost as a factor in granting an exemption, the Director shall include a comparison of the cost the agency or institution will incur over the nUxtnSxt 20 years if the agency does not comply with the standards required by subsection A versus the costBcostT to the agencyageD. or institution if the agency or institution were to comply with such standards.

Each agency or institution shall submit an annual report to the Governor by January 1 of each year detailing the energy-efficiency and associated carbon emissions metrics for each building built or 36 renovated in accordance with the design and construction standards required by subsection A andT :37 completed during the prior fiscal year.

3638 completed§ during15.2-1804.1. the prior fiscal year.

37 § 15.2-1804.1.

3839 high performance standards.

T 39"Design A.phase" means the design of a building construction or renovation project, inclusive Ef the issuance of a request for proposal and the project budget approval.

As"EV" usedmeans inan thiselectric section:vehicle.

U"High issuanceperformance ofbuilding acertification requestprogram" formeans proposala andpublic thebuilding projectdesign, budgetconstruction, approval.novationand project,renovation inclusiveprogram ofthat theachieves "EV"certification meansusing anthe electricU.S. vehicle.

TGreen "HighBuilding performanceCouncil's Leadership in Initiative's "Green Globes" building certificationstandard, program"or meets the requirements of VEES.n Building "Sufficient ZEV charging and fueling infrastructure" means athe publicprovision buildingof design,ZEV constructiEn,charging or fueling infrastructure, including EV-ready charging electrical capacity and renovationpre-wiring, program(i) sufficient So support every passenger-type vehicle owned by the locality and available for use by the locality that will be located at such building upon full occupancy, meet projected demand for such infrastructure durHng the first 10 years following building occupancy, or (ii) that achieves certificationthe usingcurrent ZEV or EV chargi1g credit for"VEES" means the Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards developed by the Department considering the U.S.

Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating standard or the Green Building Ini"Sufficient ZEV charging and fueling infrastructure" means the provision of ZEV charging or fueling infrastructure, including EV-ready charging electrical capacity and pre-wiring, (i) sufficient to support every passenger-type vehicle owned by the locality and available for use by the locality that will be located at such building upon full occupancy, meet projected demand for such infrastructure during the first 10 years following building occupancy, or (ii) that achieves the current ZEV or EV chargiSg credit for a high performance building certification program.

7 Department considering the U.S.

Any locality entering the design phase for the construction of a new building greater than 5,000 SB79H1 2 of 2 gross square feet in size, or the renovation of a building where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 SB79S2 2 of 2 percent of the value of the building, shall ensure that such building:

Photovoltaic solar panels shall be the primary choice for on-site renewable energy systems.

That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall apply only (i) to projects entering the design phase on or after January 1, 2026,2025. and (ii) where the legislative scope of such projects incorporates design elements and costs related to the infrastructure necessary for renewable energy systems.

3.

That the Virginia Department of Energy (the Department) shall convene a work group consisting of stakeholders with representation from K-12 schools, local governments, architects, engineers, and other relevant stakeholders to make recommendations on how to implement renovations to existing public school buildings and facilities.

These recommendations shall include strategies for building the infrastructure necessary for renewable energy systems capable of providing most or all of the building's energy needs.

The Department shall report the work group's findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on General Laws by November 1, 2024.