HB 1675

Abstract

Siting of solar facilities in economically disadvantaged localities. Requires any applicant for a solar facility to give to the host locality written notice of the applicant's intent to locate a solar facility in an opportunity zone, defined in the bill, in such locality and request a meeting. Such applicant shall meet, discuss, and negotiate a siting agreement with such locality. The siting agreement may include terms and conditions, including mitigation of any impacts of such solar facility and financial compensation to the host locality to address various capital needs. If the parties to the siting agreement agree upon the terms and conditions of a siting agreement, the host locality shall schedule a public hearing for the purpose of consideration of such siting agreement. If a majority of a quorum of the members of the governing body present at such public hearing approve of such siting agreement, the siting agreement shall be executed by the signatures of (i) the chief executive officer of the host locality and (ii) the applicant or the applicant's authorized agent. The siting agreement shall continue in effect until it is amended, revoked, or suspended. The provisions of the bill shall not apply to any solar facility that has received zoning and site plan approval, preliminary or otherwise, from the host locality on or before January 1, 2020.

Siting of solar energy facilities. Requiresany applicant seeking to locate a commercial solar photovoltaic (electricenergy) generation or storage facility, or any portion thereof, on any census tract meeting the eligibility requirements for an opportunity zone as designated by the federal Internal Revenue Service to executea siting agreement with the host locality in which the census tractis located, prior to the issuance of a permit by rule or certificateof public need. The bill grants localities various powers in executingsuch siting agreement and contains certain requirements for the agreement provisions. The bill does not apply to any solar photovoltaic (electricenergy) generation or storage facility that has received zoning orsite plan approval, preliminary or otherwise, from the host locality on or before January 1, 2020.