MACo Policy Associate Alex Butler testified to the Senate on February 11, 2020 to support SB 281 – Renewable Energy Development and Siting (REDS) –
Evaluations and Tax and Fee Exemptions. This bill would allow counties that wish to develop a previously contaminated “superfund” site for a clean energy project to apply to the voluntary cleanup program without charge.

From the MACo Testimony:

SB 281 would exempt a public service company that is a Public Private Partnership (P3) formed for the generation of clean or renewable energy from the existing public service company franchise tax if the public partner purchases at least 30% of the electricity produced, and the project is sited on qualifying parcels of land that includes rooftops, parking lots, voluntary cleanup program sites, landfills, and more. This would be a benefit to counties who wish to form a P3 and take advantage of the incentive.

SB 281 is consistent with MACo’s position on renewable energy siting by offering incentives that prioritize the utilization of brownfields, grayfields, industrial areas, and appropriate government-owned lands for these projects.

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2020 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.