This sounds excellent; I’d also love to see Virginia pass legislation to provide subsidies for people for energy efficiency improvements to their homes and businesses, solar and energy storage installations, etc. How to pay for this, you ask? Simple: raise taxes on the wealthiest Virginians, as well as on big/rich corporations – including the industry with money to burn on data centers, Artificial Intelligence, etc, etc. With regard to the politics of raising taxes on the wealthy, polling shows that this is *HIGHLY* popular among Americans, with the overwhelmingly majority of Democrats and “[a]t least half of moderate and liberal Republicans favor[ing] raising taxes on large businesses and corporations (58%) and household income over $400,000 (53%).” Also note that even if Democrats do NOT raises taxes, Republicans are still going to claim (falsely) that they did, so might as well just raise them on the super-rich and get the benefits from a public policy perspective, with no marginal political downsides, really…
Governor Spanberger Announces First-in-the-Nation Energy Affordability Initiative
Program Ensures Virginians Receive Lower Prices on Solar Installations, Average Household Could Save $2,200 Yearly on Electricity Costs, Protect Against Future Rate Hikes
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced that Virginia will be the first state in the nation to offer residents across the Commonwealth the opportunity to participate in Switch Together — an optional solar group purchasing initiative designed to increase energy generation, protect families against future utility rate hikes, and make energy more affordable for Virginians.
Switch Together helps families lower their utility bills by saving an average of 23 percent on home and business solar installations — equivalent to $6,300 on a typical system, which is estimated to save the average household approximately $2,200 a year on electricity costs, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. While previously only being offered in a handful of localities across Virginia and the country, Switch Together has helped thousands of families save money, with some Virginians now paying $0 for electricity on their monthly utility bill. The initiative achieves these savings by leveraging the power of group purchasing and requires no direct expenditure of state funds.
“We are taking real, practical action to address high energy costs for Virginians, protect families from future rate hikes, and meet rising energy demand,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “Virginia families have already seen thousands of dollars in savings from Switch Together, and now, we are empowering more Virginians with the chance to access those same savings. By using the power of the free market, leveraging the Commonwealth’s buying power, and cutting out middlemen, we are creating significant discounts for families and businesses.”
Switch Together organizes a reverse auction with trusted, qualified installers who compete to offer their most competitive prices — ensuring participants receive a discount on a high-quality solar installation. Participants can also receive discounts on battery storage systems and, in many locations, heat pumps. In addition to the group discounts, residents may qualify for additional incentives to further lower their costs. Switch Together is supported by a partnership between national nonprofit Solar United Neighbors and local governments, including multiple cities and counties throughout the United States.
“Expanding access to home solar and storage is a core part of delivering more affordable, homegrown energy options for Virginia’s families and achieving our state’s long-term energy goals,” said Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond. “I am glad to be partnering with Solar United Neighbors to help us reach more households across the state.”
“If you’ve ever thought about going solar, now’s a great time to do it. And by going solar through Switch Together, you’ll have expert support every step of the way,” said Brandon Praileau, Virginia Program Director for Solar United Neighbors. “We’re excited to be working with Governor Spanberger to help bring access to lower-cost solar to more families across the Commonwealth and help Virginians save money.”
“For Fairfax County, group purchasing programs like Switch Together have delivered three critical benefits: helping households access solar to cut their energy bills, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, and strengthening the electric grid,” said John Morrill, Director, Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, Fairfax County. “We’re excited that Governor Spanberger is taking this program across the state to show that clean and renewable energy isn’t just a future goal, it’s a present-day priority that benefits every Virginia community, urban and rural alike.”
The 2026 Switch Together Virginia campaign is open through October 15 and is available in more than 100 localities across Virginia, with plans to expand to every community. Residents can learn more at the Switch Together website and sign up by October 15 to secure a no-obligation, personal recommendation to figure out if home solar is a good solution for them.
The new initiative builds on Governor Spanberger’s focus on making energy more affordable and reliable for families across the Commonwealth. Since taking office, the Governor has signed a slate of bipartisan bills into law focused on addressing high costs and meeting rising demand — including legislation from her Affordable Virginia Agenda.
Click here to read more about how Virginians can save money by participating in Switch Together. Virginians can also learn more about available programs and incentives to reduce their electricity bills through Virginia’s one-stop-shop VE Connect.
BACKGROUND
About Solar United Neighbors
Solar United Neighbors is a national nonprofit organization that represents the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Bulk purchase programs, like Switch Together, are part of the organization’s mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies.
