A. Renewable generators shall be reimbursed 100 percent of the eligible cost of relocating distribution facilities installed in the public rights-of-way, for the first three years after the completion of the installation, that are incurred at the direction of a locality that imposes by ordinance the public rights-of-way use fee or the Department of Transportation in any public rights-of-way in accordance with §§ 56-458 and 56-462. For the fourth through sixth year after the completion of the installation, the renewable generator shall be reimbursed 50 percent of the eligible cost for the relocation of facilities installed in the public rights-of-way. Beginning in the seventh year, the renewable generators shall be responsible for the cost of relocating facilities installed in the public rights-of-way. Such reimbursement shall be received from either (i) the locality that granted the permit or franchise to use such right-of-way or (ii) the Commonwealth Transportation Board if the road or street is in the primary state highway system or the secondary state highway system.

Terms Used In Virginia Code 56-618

  • Distribution facilities: includes poles and wires, or cables, or pipelines or other underground conduits by which a renewable generator is able to (i) supply electricity generated at its renewable energy facility to the electric distribution grid, (ii) distribute steam generated at its renewable energy facility to customers, or (iii) supply landfill gas it collects to customers or a natural gas distribution or transmission pipeline. See Virginia Code 56-614
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Locality: means the same as that term is defined in § 15. See Virginia Code 56-614
  • Public rights-of-way use fee: means the fee chargeable to a renewable generator for the occupation and use of public streets, roads, highways, works, turnpikes, streets, avenues, and alleys in the Commonwealth by a locality or the Commonwealth Transportation Board for a renewable generator for its distribution facilities. See Virginia Code 56-614
  • Renewable generator: means a person that (i) does not have the power of a public service corporation to acquire rights-of-way, easements, or other interests in lands as provided in § 56-49 and (ii) operates a renewable energy facility. See Virginia Code 56-614
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245

B. The amount of relocation reimbursement in any fiscal year to be reimbursed under this section shall not exceed the amount of public rights-of-way use fees received by that locality or the Department of Transportation from the renewable generator required to relocate its distribution facilities.

2009, c. 807, § 67-1104; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.