SB 422 — AN ACT CONCERNING BIOMASS FACILITIES.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

422472 February Session, 2026 LCOSenate Bill No.

2712422 ReferredSenate, toApril 7, 2026 The Committee on ENERGYEnergy ANDand TECHNOLOGYTechnology Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(ET)NEEDLEMAN ANof ACTthe CONCERNING33rd BIOMASSDist., FACILITIES.Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING BIOMASS FACILITIES.

(20) "Class I renewable energy source" means (A) electricity derived from (i) solar power, (ii) wind power, (iii) a fuel cell, (iv) geothermal, (v) anaerobic digestion or other biogas derived from biological sources, (vi) thermal electric direct energy conversion from a certified Class I renewable energy source, (vii) ocean thermal power, (viii) wave or tidal power, (ix) low emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, including, but not limitedto,zero emissionlowgrade heat power generation systems based on organic oil free rankine, kalina or other similar nonsteam cycles that use waste heat from an industrial or commercial process that does not generate electricity, (x) (I) a run-of- the-river hydropower facility that began operation after July 1, 2003,has a generating capacity of not more than sixty megawatts, is not based on aSB422 new/ damFile or a dam identified by the Commissioner of Energy and LCO 2712 1 of 4 Raised Bill No.

422472 Environmental1 ProtectionSB422 asFile aNo. candidate for removal, and meets applicable state and federal requirements, including state dam safety requirements and applicable site-specific standards for water quality and fish passage, or (II) a run-of-the-river hydropower facility that received a new license after January 1, 2018, under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules pursuant to 18 CFR 16, as amended from time to time, is not based on a new dam or a dam identified by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as a candidate for removal, and meets applicable state and federal requirements, including state dam safety requirements and applicable site-specific standards for water quality and fish passage, [(xi) a biomass facility, provided such facility has executed an agreement to provide energy to an electric distribution company prior to October 1, 2025, that (I) uses sustainable biomass fuel and has an average emission rate of equal to or less than .075 pounds of nitrogen oxides per million BTU of heat input for the previous calendar quarter, or (II) has a capacity of less than five hundred kilowatts that began construction before July 1, 2003, may be considered a Class I renewable energy source for the duration of such agreement,]or [(xii)](xi)anuclear power generating facility constructed on or after October 1, 2023, or (B) any electrical generation, including distributed generation, generated from a Class I renewable energy source, provided, on and after January 1, 2014, any megawatt hours of electricity from a renewable energy source described under this subparagraph that are claimed or counted by a load-serving entity, province or state toward compliance with renewable portfolio standards or renewable energy policy goals in another province or state, other than the state of Connecticut, shall not be eligible for compliance with the renewable portfolio standards established pursuant to section 16-245a;

472 a new dam or a dam identified by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as a candidate for removal, and meets applicable state and federal requirements, including state dam safety requirements and applicable site-specific standards for water quality and fish passage, or (II) a run-of-the-river hydropower facility that received a new license after January 1, 2018, under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules pursuant to 18 CFR 16, as amended from time to time, is not based on a new dam or a dam identified by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as a candidate for removal, and meets applicable state and federal requirements, including state dam safety requirements and applicable site-specific standards for water quality and fish passage, [(xi) a biomass facility, provided such facility has executed an agreement to provide energy to an electric distribution company prior to October 1, 2025, that (I) uses sustainable biomass fuel and has an average emission rate of equal to or less than .075 pounds of nitrogen oxides per million BTU of heat input for the previous calendar quarter, or (II) has a capacity of less than five hundred kilowatts that began construction before July 1, 2003, may be considered a Class I renewable energy source for the duration of such agreement,]or [(xii)](xi)anuclear power generating facility constructed on or after October 1, 2023, or (B) any electrical generation, including distributed generation, generated from a Class I renewable energy source, provided, on and after January 1, 2014, any megawatt hours of electricity from a renewable energy source described under this subparagraph that are claimed or counted by a load-serving entity, province or state toward compliance with renewable portfolio standards or renewable energy policy goals in another province or state, other than the state of Connecticut, shall not be eligible for compliance with the renewable portfolio standards established pursuant to section 16-245a;

LCOSB422 2712/ 2File of 4 Raised Bill No.

422472 (1)2 "ExistingSB422 biomassFile powerNo. purchase agreement" means a power purchase agreement that:

472 (1) "Existing biomass power purchase agreement" means a power purchase agreement that:

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may direct any electric distribution LCOcompany 2712to 3enter ofinto 4one Raisedor Billmore additional biomass power purchase SB422 / File No.

422472 company3 toSB422 enterFile intoNo. one or more additional biomass power purchase agreements with any eligible biomass facility, provided any such agreement considers the costs to operate such facility, is in the best interest of ratepayers and supports the state's solid waste management plan pursuant to section 22a-228.

472 agreements with any eligible biomass facility, provided any such agreement considers the costs to operate such facility, is in the best interest of ratepayers and supports the state's solid waste management plan pursuant to section 22a-228.

2 October 1, 2026 16a-3u(a) and (b) ET Joint Favorable LCOSB422 2712/ 4File ofNo. 4

472 4 SB422 File No.

472 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill removes an exemption in PA 25-173 for biomass facilities withanexecuted agreement to provideenergy to anelectricdistribution company before October 1, 2025, and has no fiscal impact to the state.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None SB422 / File No.

472 5 SB422 File No.

472 OLR Bill Analysis SB 422 AN ACT CONCERNING BIOMASS FACILITIES.

SUMMARY PA 25-173 removed biomass facilities from the types of energy sources considered Class I renewable energy sources, but created an exception for biomass facilities with an executed agreement to provide energy to an electric distribution company (EDC;

Eversource or United Illuminating) before October 1, 2025.

This bill removes that exception.

Specifically, the bill removes from Class I any biomass facility that has an executed agreement to provide energy to an EDC before October 1, 2025, and:

1.

uses sustainable biomass fuel and has an average emission rate of up to .075 pounds of nitrogen oxides per million British thermal units of heat input for the previous calendar quarter or 2.

has a capacity of less than 500 kilowatts and began construction before July 1, 2003.

Under current law, the biomass facility is considered a Class I renewable energy source for the duration of its agreement.

Generally, removing a type of energy source from Class I makes these facilities ineligible for benefits the law provides for Class I resources, such as participation in certain power procurements administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the ability to sell Class I renewable energy credits.

Relatedly, the bill removes a biomass facility’s environmental attributes and capacity from the products that EDCs may purchase through a DEEP solicitation authorized under existing law and makes SB422 / File No.

472 6 SB422 File No.

472 conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: