HB 331 — Small Hydro Amends.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2019 H 12 HOUSE BILL 331 Committee Substitute Favorable 3/26/19 Short Title:

Representatives Szoka and Arp (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Energy and Public Utilities, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House March 12, 2019 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE SMALL HYDROELECTRIC POWER FACILITIES CERTAIN TREATMENT SIMILAR TO THAT GIVEN TO SMALL POWER PRODUCERS THAT PRODUCE ENERGY FROM SWINE AND POULTRY WASTE.

SECTION 1.(a)1. G.S.

G.S.

62-110.1(c) has identified a projected capacity need to serve system load and the identified need can be met by the type of small power producer resource based upon its availability and reliability of power, other than hydropower, if the hydroelectric power facility total capacity is equal to or less than fivefor: megawatts (MW), or swine or poultry waste for which a need is established consistent with G.S.

62-133.8(e)(i) andswine (f)."or SECTIONpoultry 1.(b)waste for which a need is established consistent with G.S.

62-133.8(i)(4)62-133.8(e) readsand (f).(f) and (ii) hydropower small power producers with power purchase agreements with an electric public utility in effect as rewritten:of July 27, 2017, and the renewal of such a power purchase agreement, if the hydroelectric small power producer's facility total capacity is equal to or less than five megawatts (MW)." SECTION 2.

"(i) Adoption of Rules.

– The Commission shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section.

In developing rules, the Commission shall:

… (4) Establish standards for interconnection of renewable energy facilities and other nonutility-owned generation with a generation capacityof 10 megawatts or less to an electric public utility's distribution system;

provided, however, that the Commission shall adopt, if appropriate, federal interconnection standards.

The standards adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall include an expedited review process for hydroelectric power projects of two megawatts (MW) or less, and swine and poultry waste to energy projects of two *H331-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 megawatts (MW) or less and other measures necessary and appropriate to achieve the objectives of subsections (e) and (f) of this section." SECTION 2.

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