Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a law on April 22 that voids county bans on large solar farms, making the state’s utilities free to meet a 100% renewable target by 2050. The measure takes effect July 1, requiring local governments to justify any denial of a solar project to state regulators. Virginia is the world’s data‑center hub, and its electricity demand is rising faster than the supply of cheap, clean power. Nearly two‑thirds of counties have prohibited or heavily restricted solar farms, but the new law removes that barrier and establishes siting guidelines that keep local control while encouraging development. Key figures show the scale of the opportunity: the state is ranked ninth nationally in installed solar capacity and already supplies almost 10% of its electricity from the source. Nationwide, solar and storage are projected to account for nearly 80% of new utility‑scale capacity this year, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. The Mid‑Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, which represents more than 50 large‑scale developers, noted that the law will allow developers to apply for interconnection to the PJM grid as early as this week. “Localities still are in the driver’s seat here. They can still deny every project from now until the end of time if they want,” said Evan Vaughan, executive director of the Mid‑Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition. He added that rising energy prices and farmer pressures may make rural communities more receptive to solar projects, emphasizing that “affordability is key” and “predictability is also key.” State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, a sponsor of the bill, said the milestone “has been years in the making” and is the result of close collaboration among bill patrons, developers, and environmental advocates. With the law in place, developers anticipate faster permitting and a clearer path to grid connection, potentially unlocking low‑hanging fruit in areas previously deemed non‑viable. The move positions Virginia to accelerate its clean‑energy transition and meet the growing power needs of its data‑center industry.