HB 5916 — AN ACT REQUIRING SOLAR DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE FARMLAND RESTORATION BONDS FOR BOTH PETITION AND APPLICATION PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE SITING COUNCIL.

Substitute House ofBill Representatives General Assembly File No.

4525916 JanuaryPublic Session,Act 2025 Substitute House Bill No.

591625-127 HouseAN ofACT Representatives,REQUIRING AprilSOLAR 2,DEVELOPERS 2025TO ThePROVIDE CommitteeFARMLAND onRESTORATION EnvironmentBONDS reportedFOR throughBOTH REP.PETITION AND APPLICATION PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE SITING COUNCIL.

PARKER of the 101st Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT REQUIRING SOLAR DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE FARMLAND RESTORATION BONDS FOR BOTH PETITION AND APPLICATION PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE SITING COUNCIL.

Certificates shall not be required for (1) fuel cells built within the state with a generating capacity of two hundred sHB5916fifty /kilowatts Fileor No.less, or (2) fuel cells built out of state with a generating capacity of ten kilowatts or less.

452Any 1facility sHB5916with Filerespect to which a certificate is required shall thereafter be built, maintained and operated in conformity with such certificate and any terms, limitations or Substitute House Bill No.

4525916 fiftyconditions kilowattscontained ortherein. less, or (2) fuel cells built out of state with a generating capacity of ten kilowatts or less.

Any facility with respect to which a certificate is required shall thereafter be built, maintained and operated in conformity with such certificate and any terms, limitations or conditions contained therein.

In addition to all other requirements for the issuance of a certificate, the council shall not issue a certificate for a facility described in subparagraph (B)(iii) of this subdivision unless the applicant for such certificate furnishes a bond to cover all costs associated with the sHB5916decommissioning /of Filesuch facility and the restoration of such prime farmland, including, but not limited to, an inspection by a qualified soil Public Act No.

45225-127 2 sHB5916of File3 Substitute House Bill No.

4525916 decommissioning of such facility and the restoration of such prime farmland, including, but not limited to, an inspection by a qualified soil scientist or other agricultural soils professional to assess and assure that the soils of such prime farmland are restored and will be suitable for farming.

ThisGovernor's actAction: shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

SectionApproved 1July from8, passage2025 16-50k(a)Public ENVAct JointNo. Favorable Subst.

sHB591625-127 /3 Fileof No.3

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452 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 makes a procedural change regarding solar photovoltaic facilities and does not result in a cost to the state or municipalities.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sHB5916 / File No.

452 4 sHB5916 File No.

452 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5916 AN ACT REQUIRING SOLAR DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE FARMLAND RESTORATION BONDS FOR BOTH PETITION AND APPLICATION PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE SITING COUNCIL.

SUMMARY This bill prohibits the Connecticut Siting Council from approving by declaratory ruling a two-megawatt or more solar photovoltaic facility on prime farmland or forestland unless the project applicant provides a decommissioning bond (e.g., a bond to cover the costs of decommissioning the facility and restoring the land).

Existing law already prohibits the council from issuing a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need approving a two- megawatt or more solar photovoltaic facility on prime farmland or forestland unless the project applicant provides a decommissioning bond.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Upon passage COMMITTEE ACTION Environment Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 33 Nay 0 (03/14/2025) sHB5916 / File No.

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