EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb1082*
SENATE BILL 1082
C5, M5, P2 4lr2120
CF 4lr2845
By: Senator Hester
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment and Budget and Taxation
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 cred its 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 SENATE BILL 1082
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 STATED 28
IN § 7–207 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE. 29
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL COUNTIES . 30
(C) A COUNTY MAY ENACT A LOCAL LAW TO: 31
(1) CREATE A CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION FUND; 32
(2) REQUIRE A DEVELOPER OF A SOL AR GENERATING STATIO N TO 33
PAY A REASONABLE AMO UNT INTO A CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION FUND IF 34 SENATE BILL 1082 3
THE SOLAR GENERATING STATION IS ON LAND Z ONED FOR AGRICULTURA L USE OR 1
SILVICULTURAL USE; AND 2
(3) REQUIRE THAT THE FUND UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 3
BE USED FOR: 4
(I) CONSERVATION OR REST ORATION OF AGRICULTU RAL, 5
ENVIRONMENTAL , OR HISTORICALLY SENS ITIVE AREAS; AND 6
(II) INCENTIVES FOR SOLAR DEVELOPMENT . 7
Article – Natural Resources 8
3–306.2. 9
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING 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 STATED 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 O F A WESTERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 19
WHO HAS LAND USE EXPERIENCE , DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 20
OF COUNTIES; 21
(2) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A SOUTHERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 22
WHO HAS LAND USE EXPERIENCE , DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 23
OF COUNTIES; 24
(3) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A CENTRAL COUNTY IN THE STATE 25
WHO HAS LAND USE EXPERIENCE , DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 26
OF COUNTIES; 27
(4) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN EASTERN COUNTY IN THE STATE 28
WHO HAS LAND USE EXPERIENCE , DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 29
OF COUNTIES; 30 4 SENATE BILL 1082
(5) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A RURAL MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE 1
WHO HAS LAND USE EXPERIENCE , DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL 2
LEAGUE; 3
(6) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN URBAN MUNICIPALIT Y IN THE 4
STATE WITH LAND USE E XPERIENCE, 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 OF THE SOLAR DEVELOP MENT 18
INDUSTRY, APPOINTED BY THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION AS FOLLOWS: 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 INDUSTRY ; 23
(14) ONE REPRESENTATIVE DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND FARM 24
BUREAU; 25
(15) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT 26
ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 27
ENVIRONMENT ; 28
SENATE BILL 1082 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 PROVIDE STAFF FOR TH E 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 RECOMMENDATIONS ON : 11
(1) BALANCING COMPETING G OALS RELATED TO SOLAR ENERGY 12
DEVELOPMENT AND LAND CONSERVATION AND PRE SERVATION; 13
(2) THE APPROPRIATE APPROACH FOR SOLAR DEVELOPMENT ON 14
PRIME AND PRODUCTIVE SOILS THAT: 15
(I) DOES NOT INCLUDE SPECIFIC SOIL CLASSI FICATION 16
PROHIBITIONS; AND 17
(II) CONSIDERS THE IMPACT ON LOCAL PROGRAMS OF 18
AGRICULTURAL LAND PR ESERVATION A PPROVED 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 M ANAGEMENT ; 23
(4) ENCOURAGING THE DEVEL OPMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY 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 RECOMMENDATIONS ON : 29
6 SENATE BILL 1082
(1) BEST PRACTICES FOR SI TING SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING 1
STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CA PACITY OF 2 MEGAWATTS OR MORE; 2
(2) ESTABLISHING A MODEL POLICY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 3
SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING ST ATIONS WITH A GENERATING CA PACITY OF 2 4
MEGAWATTS OR MORE IN EACH COUNTY TO ME ET THE STATE’S SOLAR ENERGY 5
COMMITMENTS UNDER TITLE 7, SUBTITLE 7 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE; 6
(3) METHODS BY WHICH A LOCAL JURISDICTION MAY PRIORITIZE 7
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY WITH OTHER LOCAL NEEDS ; AND 8
(4) DECOMMISSIONING STAND ARDS FOR SOLAR ENERGY 9
GENERATING STATIONS . 10
(H) THE COMMISSION SHALL CONV ENE AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 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 GENERATING 14
STATIONS WITH A GENERATING CA PACITY 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 LOCATED 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 OPERATOR OF A GROUND–MOUNTED SOLAR 27
ENERGY GENERATING STATION SHALL: 28
SENATE BILL 1082 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 MITIGATE HARM TO NATIVE 6
VEGETATION AND POLLI NATOR HABITATS . 7
(2) THE REQUIREMENT TO PLANT A COVER CROP UNDER PARAGRAPH 8
(1)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APP LY TO LAND THAT IS A DJACENT TO THE 9
LAND ON WHICH THE SO LAR ENERGY GENERATING 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 ADOPTION BY THE STATE OR 16
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS : 17
(1) MODEL PERMITTING STANDARDS FOR ENERGY STORAGE 18
DEVICES; AND 19
(2) MODEL FIRE SUPPRESSION STANDARDS AND REQUIR EMENTS FOR 20
ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES. 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 SENATE BILL 1082
PORTFOLIO STANDARD, AND THE STATE’S NET–ZERO STATEWIDE GREENHOUSE 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 SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS 6
SECTION; AND 7
(2) MAY ENTER INTO AT LE AST ONE CONTRACT FOR A POWER 8
PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO PROCURE SOLAR ENE RGY. 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 REQUIREMENTS UNDER § 7–703 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE ON 13
THE COMPETITIVE WHOL ESALE POWER MARKET O PERATED BY PJM 14
INTERCONNEC TION, THROUGH BILATERAL SA LES TO CREDIT –WORTHY 15
COUNTERPARTIES , OR INTO RENEWABLE EN ERGY 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 PROCURE S 100% OF THE STATE’S ENERGY NEEDS FROM A 19
POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT REQUIRED U NDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 20
SECTION. 21
(D) EACH CONTRACT ENTERED INTO UNDER S UBSECTION (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 THA T: 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 CONTRACT S AND SUBCONTRACTS O N THE PROJECT WITHOU T 32 SENATE BILL 1082 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 S TRIKES, 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 OF SOLAR EN ERGY. 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 LAND 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 GAR AGES; AND 27
(IV) LAND OWNED OR UNDER EASEMENT BY: 28
1. THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND 29
PRESERVATION FOUNDATION; 30 10 SENATE BILL 1082
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 ENERGY GENERAT ION TO MEET THE STATE’S RENEWABLE 4
ENERGY PORTFOLIO STA NDARD GOALS FOR SOLAR 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 INCLUDE: 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) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE WITH PUBLIC SAF ETY AND SECURITY , ON 14
OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, EACH ELECTRIC COMPANY SHA LL SUBMIT TO THE SOLAR 15
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION TO ASSIST THE PROGRAM IN ITS 16
ANALYSIS UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING: 17
(1) THE LOCATION OF EACH TRANSMISSION AND DIS TRIBUTION 18
CIRCUIT USED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY; 19
(2) THE NUMBER OF SUBSTA TION TRANSFORMERS OW NED BY THE 20
ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 21
(3) THE KILOVOLT –AMPERE RATING OF EAC H SUBSTATION 22
TRANSFORMER OWNED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 23
(4) LINE EQUIPMENT FOR E ACH CONDUCTOR OWNED BY THE 24
ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 25
(5) CONDUCTOR RATINGS FO R EACH CONDUCTOR OWN ED BY THE 26
ELECTRIC COMPANY ; 27
(6) CURRENT AND QUEUED G ENERATION ON CIRCUIT S AND 28
TRANSFORMERS OWNED B Y THE ELECTRIC COMPA NY, TO BE UPDATED QUARTE RLY; 29 SENATE BILL 1082 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 CONTAINING: 12
(1) A LIST OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED AND CONSERVATION 13
EASEMENTS HELD BY THE FOUNDATION; 14
(2) THE FUNDS REQUIRED T O RENEW EACH CONSERVATION 15
EASEMENT; AND 16
(3) RECOMMENDATION S CONCERNING 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