EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1328*
HOUSE BILL 1328
C5, M5, P2 4lr2845
CF SB 1082
By: Delegates Ziegler and Crosby
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2024
Assigned to: Economic Matters and Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Solar Energy and Energy Storage – Development and State Procurement 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a county to enact a local law creating a conservation and 3
restoration fund for a certain purpose; establishing the Utility–Scale Solar Design 4
and Siting Commission in the Power Plant Research Program to provide 5
recommendations related to solar energy development and land conservation and 6
preservation; requiring the owner or operator of a certain solar energy generating 7
station to plant and maintain a certain cover crop on the land on which the station 8
is located and submit a certain vegetation management plan to a certain entity; 9
requiring the Public Service Commission, in consultation with certain other entities, 10
to develop certain model standards for energy storage permitting and fire 11
suppression; requiring the Department of General Services, in consultation with the 12
Public Service Commission, to procure a certain amount of solar energy each year 13
for a certain number of years for a certain purpose; requiring the State to offer for 14
sale certain energy or associated renewable energy credits under certain 15
circumstances; exempting the State from certain renewable energy portfolio 16
standard requirements under certain circumstances; establishing certain labor 17
requirements for certain solar energy developers; requiring the Maryland Energy 18
Administration’s Solar Technical Assistance Program to analyze State–owned land 19
for solar development and create a certain database; requiring each electric company 20
to submit certain information to the Administration for a certain purpose; requiring 21
the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation to submit a report on 22
certain property and easements to the Solar Technical Assistance Program and the 23
General Assembly on or before a certain date; stating the intent of the General 24
Assembly that a certain number of positions be created in the Department of Natural 25
Resources for positions that will focus on providing certain support and guidance to 26
local governments; and generally relating to the development of solar energy and 27
energy storage technology in the State. 28
BY adding to 29
Article – Local Government 30 2 HOUSE BILL 1328
Section 12–905 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2013 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 3
BY adding to 4
Article – Natural Resources 5
Section 3–306.2 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Public Utilities 10
Section 7–215.1 and 7–216.2 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
Section 4–325 to be under the new part “Part IV. State Purchase of Solar Energy” 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – State Government 20
Section 9–2016 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 23
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
Article – Local Government 26
12–905. 27
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “GENERATING STATION ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED 28
IN § 7–207 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 29
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL COUNTIES . 30
(C) A COUNTY MAY ENACT A L OCAL LAW TO: 31
(1) CREATE A CONSERVATIO N AND RESTORATION FU ND; 32
(2) REQUIRE A DEVELOPER OF A SOLAR GENERATIN G STATION TO 33
PAY A REASONABLE AMO UNT INTO A CONSERVAT ION AND RESTORATION FUND IF 34 HOUSE BILL 1328 3
THE SOLAR GENERATING STATION IS ON LAND Z ONED FOR AGRICULTURA L USE OR 1
SILVICULTURAL USE ; AND 2
(3) REQUIRE THAT THE FUN D UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 3
BE USED FOR: 4
(I) CONSERVATION OR REST ORATION OF AGRICULTU RAL, 5
ENVIRONMENTAL , OR HISTORICALL Y SENSITIVE AREAS ; AND 6
(II) INCENTIVES FOR SOLAR DEVELOPMENT . 7
Article – Natural Resources 8
3–306.2. 9
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 10
INDICATED. 11
(2) “COMMISSION” MEANS THE UTILITY–SCALE SOLAR DESIGN AND 12
SITING ADVISORY COMMISSION. 13
(3) “GENERATING STATION ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–207 OF 14
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 15
(B) THERE IS A UTILITY–SCALE SOLAR DESIGN AND SITING ADVISORY 16
COMMISSION IN THE PROGRAM. 17
(C) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F THE FOLLOWING MEMB ERS: 18
(1) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A WESTERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 19
WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 20
OF COUNTIES; 21
(2) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A SOUTHERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 22
WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 23
OF COUNTIES; 24
(3) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A CENTRAL COUNTY IN THE STATE 25
WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 26
OF COUNTIES; 27
(4) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN EASTERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 28
WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 29
OF COUNTIES; 30 4 HOUSE BILL 1328
(5) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A RURAL MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE 1
WHO HAS LAND USE EXP ERIENCE, DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL 2
LEAGUE; 3
(6) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN URBAN MUNICIPALIT Y IN THE 4
STATE WITH LAND USE EXPERIENCE , DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL 5
LEAGUE; 6
(7) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ; 7
(8) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 8
AGRICULTURE ; 9
(9) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 10
PLANNING; 11
(10) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 12
ENVIRONMENT ; 13
(11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE MARYLAND ENERGY 14
ADMINISTRATION ; 15
(12) ONE REPRESENTATIVE AP POINTED BY THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC 16
SERVICE COMMISSION; 17
(13) THREE REPRESENTATIVES O F THE SOLAR DEVELOPM ENT 18
INDUSTRY, APPOINTED BY THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION AS FOL LOWS: 19
(I) AT LEAST ONE REPRESEN TATIVE OF THE COMMUN ITY 20
SOLAR INDUSTRY ; AND 21
(II) AT LEAST ONE REPRESEN TATIVE OF THE UTILIT Y–SCALE 22
SOLAR INDUS TRY; 23
(14) ONE REPRESENTATIVE DE SIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND FARM 24
BUREAU; 25
(15) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL NON PROFIT 26
ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 27
ENVIRONMENT ; 28
HOUSE BILL 1328 5
(16) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUS TICE 1
COMMUNITY , APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT ; 2
(17) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A LAND PRESERVATION 3
ORGANIZATION , APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ; AND 4
(18) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE. 5
(D) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE, SHALL SERVE AS 6
CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. 7
(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION. 8
(F) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2024, THE COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE 9
TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 10
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATI ONS ON: 11
(1) BALANCING COMPETING G OALS RELATED TO SOLA R ENERGY 12
DEVELOPMENT AND LAND CONSERVATION AND PRE SERVATION; 13
(2) THE APPROPRIATE APPRO ACH FOR SOLAR DEVELO PMENT ON 14
PRIME AND PRODUCTIVE SOILS THAT: 15
(I) DOES NOT INCLUDE SPECIFIC S OIL CLASSIFICATION 16
PROHIBITIONS; AND 17
(II) CONSIDERS THE IMPACT ON LOCAL PROGRAMS OF 18
AGRICULTURAL LAND PR ESERVATION APPROVED UNDER § 2–512 OF THE 19
AGRICULTURE ARTICLE; 20
(3) SETBACK RANGES AND SC REENING REQUIREMENTS THAT 21
CONSIDER THE STATE’S GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSI TY, NATIVE VEGETATION , AND 22
STORMWATER MANAGEMEN T; 23
(4) ENCOURAGING THE DEVEL OPMENT OF SOLAR ENER GY 24
GENERATING STATIONS ON BROWNFIELDS , PARKING LOTS, AND OTHER AREAS ; AND 25
(5) PRESERVING FORESTS , SOIL, AND NATURAL RESOURCE S. 26
(G) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, THE COMMISSION SHALL PROV IDE 27
TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 28
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATI ONS ON: 29
6 HOUSE BILL 1328
(1) BEST PRACTICES FOR SI TING SOLAR ENERGY GE NERATING 1
STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CAPA CITY OF 2 MEGAWATTS OR MORE ; 2
(2) ESTABLISHING A MODEL POLICY FOR THE DEVEL OPMENT OF 3
SOLAR ENERGY GENERAT ING STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CAPACITY OF 2 4
MEGAWATTS OR MORE IN EACH COUNTY TO MEET THE STATE’S SOLAR ENERGY 5
COMMITMENTS UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE; 6
(3) METHODS BY WHICH A LO CAL JURISDICTION MAY PRIORITIZE 7
THE DEVELOPMENT OF S OLAR ENERGY WITH OTH ER LOCAL NEEDS ; AND 8
(4) DECOMMISSIONING STAND ARDS FOR SOLAR ENERG Y 9
GENERATING STATIONS . 10
(H) THE COMMISSION SHALL CONV ENE AT LEAST ONCE EV ERY 10 YEARS TO 11
PROVIDE TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 12
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATI ONS ON: 13
(1) BEST PRACTICES FOR SI TING SOLAR ENERGY GE NERATING 14
STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CAPA CITY OF 2 MEGAWATTS OR MORE ; 15
(2) ADAPTING TO CHANGES I N TECHNOLOGY ; 16
(3) MEETING STATE ENERGY GOALS ; AND 17
(4) ANY OTHER ISSUE THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE . 18
Article – Public Utilities 19
7–215.1. 20
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A GROUND –MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY 21
GENERATING STATION L OCATED IN THE STATE THAT: 22
(1) HAS THE CAPACITY TO PRODUCE MORE THAN 2 MEGAWATTS OF 23
ELECTRICITY; AND 24
(2) IS DESIGNED TO PRODU CE ELECTRICITY FOR S ALE ON THE 25
WHOLESALE MARKET . 26
(B) (1) THE OWNER OR O PERATOR OF A GROUND –MOUNTED SOLAR 27
ENERGY GENERATING ST ATION SHALL: 28
HOUSE BILL 1328 7
(I) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND 1
EXTENSION, PLANT AND MAINTAIN ON THE LAND ON WHICH THE STATION IS 2
LOCATED A COVER CROP THAT IS BENEFICIAL T O SOIL HEALTH AND RE GENERATION 3
AND PROVIDES CARBON SEQUESTRATION ; AND 4
(II) SUBMIT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION A 5
VEGETATION MANAGEMEN T PLAN DESIGNED TO M ITIGATE HARM TO NATI VE 6
VEGETATION AND POLLI NATOR HABITATS . 7
(2) THE REQUIREMENT TO PL ANT A COVER CROP UND ER PARAGRAPH 8
(1)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION D OES NOT APPLY TO LAN D THAT IS ADJACENT T O THE 9
LAND ON WHICH THE SO LAR ENERGY GENERATIN G STATION IS LOCATED . 10
7–216.2. 11
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “ENERGY STORAGE DEVIC E” HAS THE MEANING 12
STATED IN § 7–216 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
(B) THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE POWER PLANT 14
RESEARCH PROGRAM, THE COMMISSION’S ENERGY STORAGE WORKING GROUP, 15
AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, SHALL DEVELOP FOR AD OPTION BY THE STATE OR 16
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS : 17
(1) MODEL PERMITTING STA NDARDS FOR ENERGY STORAGE 18
DEVICES; AND 19
(2) MODEL FIRE SUPPRESSI ON STANDARDS AND REQ UIREMENTS FOR 20
ENERGY STORAGE DEVIC ES. 21
Article – State Finance and Procurement 22
4–323. RESERVED. 23
4–324. RESERVED. 24
PART IV. STATE PURCHASE OF SOLAR ENERGY. 25
4–325. 26
(A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2025, AND EACH DECEMBER 31 27
THEREAFTER THROUGH 2035, THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE 28
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SHALL PROCURE 200 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR 29
ENERGY TO MEET THE STATE’S ENERGY NEEDS , THE STATE’S RENEWABLE ENERGY 30 8 HOUSE BILL 1328
PORTFOLIO STANDARD , AND THE STATE’S NET–ZERO STATEWIDE GREEN HOUSE GAS 1
EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOALS. 2
(B) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE 3
COMMISSION: 4
(1) SHALL ISSUE A COMPET ITIVE SEALED PROCURE MENT 5
SOLICITATION FOR THE SOLAR ENERGY REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS 6
SECTION; AND 7
(2) MAY ENTER INTO AT LE AST ONE CONTRACT FOR A POWER 8
PURCHASE AGREEMENT T O PROCURE SOLAR ENER GY. 9
(C) THE STATE SHALL: 10
(1) OFFER FOR SALE ANY E NERGY OR RENEWABLE E NERGY CREDITS 11
REMAINING AFTER THE STATE HAS MET ITS REN EWABLE ENERGY PORTFO LIO 12
STANDARD REQUIREMENT S UNDER § 7–703 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE ON 13
THE COMPETITIVE WHOL ESALE POWER MARKET O PERATED BY PJM 14
INTERCONNECTION , THROUGH BILATERAL SA LES TO CREDIT –WORTHY 15
COUNTERPARTIES , OR INTO RENE WABLE ENERGY CREDIT MARKETS; AND 16
(2) BE EXEMPTED FROM THE RENEWABLE ENERGY POR TFOLIO 17
STANDARD REQUIREMENT S UNDER § 7–703 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE IF 18
THE DEPARTMENT PROCURES 100% OF THE STATE’S ENERGY NEEDS FROM A 19
POWER PURCHASE AGREE MENT REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 20
SECTION. 21
(D) EACH CONTRACT ENTERED INTO UNDER SUBSECTIO N (B) OF THIS 22
SECTION SHALL : 23
(1) INCLUDE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT FO R A SOLAR 24
ENERGY DEVELOPER ; AND 25
(2) BE SUBJECT TO A PROJ ECT LABOR AGREEMENT FOR A SOLAR 26
ENERGY DEVELOPER THAT : 27
(I) BINDS ALL CONTRACTOR S AND SUBCONTRACTORS ON A 28
CONTRACT THROUGH THE INCLUSION OF SPECIFI CATIONS IN ALL RELEV ANT 29
SOLICITATION PROVISI ONS AND CONTRACT DOC UMENTS; 30
(II) ALLOWS ALL CONTRACTO RS AND SUBCONTRACTOR S TO 31
COMPETE FOR CO NTRACTS AND SUBCONTR ACTS ON THE PROJECT WITHOUT 32 HOUSE BILL 1328 9
REGARD TO WHETHER TH EY ARE OTHERWISE PAR TIES TO COLLECTIVE B ARGAINING 1
AGREEMENTS ; 2
(III) ESTABLISHES UNIFORM TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF 3
EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL C ONSTRUCTION LABOR EM PLOYED ON A PROJECT ; 4
(IV) GUARANTEES AGAINST STR IKES, LOCKOUTS, AND SIMILAR 5
JOB DISRUPTIONS ; 6
(V) ESTABLISHES MUTUALLY BINDING PROCEDURES F OR 7
LABOR DISPUTES ; AND 8
(VI) INCLUDES ANY OTHER P ROVISIONS NEGOTIATED BY THE 9
PARTIES TO PROMOTE S UCCESSFUL DELIVERY O F SOLAR ENERGY . 10
Article – State Government 11
9–2016. 12
(A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, TO ASSIST THE STATE IN MEETING 13
ITS SOLAR ENERGY COM MITMENTS UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC 14
UTILITIES ARTICLE, THE ADMINISTRATION ’S SOLAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 15
PROGRAM, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT , THE DEPARTMENT OF 16
NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, SHALL: 17
(1) ANALYZE LAND IN THE STATE TO IDENTIFY LAN D SUITABLE FOR 18
SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOP MENT TO ASSIST THE STATE IN MEETING ITS SOLAR 19
ENERGY COMMITMENTS U NDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES 20
ARTICLE; 21
(2) DEVELOP A DATABASE , SORTED BY COUNTY , IDENTIFYING AND 22
RECOMMENDING STATE LAND SUITABLE F OR SOLAR ENERGY DEVE LOPMENT, 23
INCLUDING: 24
(I) BROWNFIELDS ; 25
(II) LANDFILLS; 26
(III) PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES ; AND 27
(IV) LAND OWNED OR UNDER EASEMENT BY : 28
1. THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND 29
PRESERVATION FOUNDATION; 30 10 HOUSE BILL 1328
2. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ; AND 1
3. THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; AND 2
(3) ESTABLISH A GOAL FOR THE AMOUNT OF STATE LAND THAT MAY 3
BE USED FOR SOLAR EN ERGY GENERATION TO M EET THE STATE’S RENEWABLE 4
ENERGY PORTFOLIO STA NDARD GOALS FOR SOLA R ENERGY UNDER TITLE 7, 5
SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 6
(B) THE DATABASE DEVELOPE D IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (A) OF 7
THIS SECTION SHALL I NCLUDE: 8
(1) THE ACREAGE OF EACH PLOT OF LAND; 9
(2) WHETHER THE PLOT OF LAND IS SUBJECT TO C ONSERVATION 10
EASEMENTS OR ZONING ; AND 11
(3) THE ACREAGE THAT A STATE AGENCY OFFERS F OR USE FOR 12
SOLAR DEVELOPMENT . 13
(C) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, EACH ELECTRIC COMPAN Y SHALL SUBMIT 14
TO THE SOLAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION T O ASSIST THE 15
PROGRAM IN ITS ANALYS IS UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING: 16
(1) THE LOCATION OF EACH TRANSMISSION AND DIS TRIBUTION 17
CIRCUIT USED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 18
(2) THE NUMBER OF SUBSTA TION TRANSFORMERS OW NED BY THE 19
ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 20
(3) THE KILOVOLT –AMPERE RATING OF EAC H SUBSTATION 21
TRANSFORMER OWNED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 22
(4) LINE EQUIPMENT FOR E ACH CONDUCTOR OWNE D BY THE 23
ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 24
(5) CONDUCTOR RATINGS FO R EACH CONDUCTOR OWN ED BY THE 25
ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 26
(6) CURRENT AND QUEUED G ENERATION ON CIRCUIT S AND 27
TRANSFORMERS OWNED B Y THE ELECTRIC COMPA NY, TO BE UPDATED QUARTE RLY; 28
HOUSE BILL 1328 11
(7) THE LOADS OF EACH CI RCUIT AND SUBSTATION OWNED BY THE 1
ELECTRIC COMPANY , INCLUDING PEAK AND M INIMUM DAYTIME LOAD ; 2
(8) THE STATUS OF CONSTR UCTION FOR NEW LINES AND 3
SUBSTATIONS OWNED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ; AND 4
(9) AVERAGE COSTS TO UPG RADE SUBSTATIONS AND CIRCUITS 5
OWNED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY . 6
(D) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL 7
LAND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF 8
AGRICULTURE , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HOWARD HUGHES CENTER FOR 9
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE , SHALL SUBMIT TO THE SOLAR TECHNICAL 10
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE 11
GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REPORT CON TAINING: 12
(1) A LIST OF REAL PROPE RTY OWNED AND CONSER VATION 13
EASEMENTS HELD BY TH E FOUNDATION; 14
(2) THE FUNDS REQUIRED T O RENEW EACH CONSERV ATION 15
EASEMENT; AND 16
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS CONC ERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 17
STATE TO RETURN LAND HELD BY THE FOUNDATION UNDER A CO NSERVATION 18
EASEMENT TO ITS ORIG INAL CONDITION . 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 20
Assembly that two Position Identification Numbers (PINs) be created in the Department of 21
Natural Resources for full–time positions in the Power Plant Research Program that will 22
focus on providing support and guidance to local governments on the permitting process for 23
solar energy development. 24
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 25
1, 2024. 26