On March 6, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko testified before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 983 – Solar Energy – Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Ground-Mounted Solar, and Small Solar Siting Workgroup with amendments.
This bill would establish an expedited approval process for solar energy-generating systems between 2MW and 5MW.
Last session, MACo opposed the DG-CPCN legislation, citing concerns that it overrode community input and public process. MACo has since worked with both the sponsors and advocates on amendments that address local concerns while at the same time moving the ball forward in developing renewable energy.
With the amendments developed by the bill sponsors, MACo, industry stakeholders, and the Administration, SB 983 represents a smart, well-balanced approach to accelerating the deployment of small- and medium-scale solar projects. These amendments ensure that increased efficiency does not come at the expense of community input, environmental protections, or other key considerations.
SB 983’s cross-file, HB 827, was heard on March 13 in the House Economic Matters Committee. Dominic Butchko testified in support of this bill with amendments.
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