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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL 915 By: Green of the Senate
and
Boles of the House
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
An Act relating to solar energy facilities; defining
terms; requiring certain newly constructed facilities
to meet certain standards; providing applicability;
providing for fee payment; directing rule
promulgation; providing for codification; providing
an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section o f law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 160.41 of Title 17, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. As used in this section:
1. “Commercial solar energy facility ” means an installation of
interconnected photovoltaic, ground -mounted solar panels on a tract
of land in this state, which generate electricity for distribution.
Provided, the term shall no t include any solar energy generated
through distributed generation installed by residential customers;
and
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2. “Distributed generation ” means distributed generation as
defined in Section 156 of Title 17 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B. Any commercial solar energ y facility constructed on land
owned and leased by the Commissioners of the Land Office on and
after the effective date of this act shall:
1. Be installed on permanent grass that is suitable for
livestock grazing. Provided, the landowner shall not be liable for
any damage to the facility caused by livestock;
2. Be constructed at not less than six (6) feet high from the
lowest point of the solar panel;
3. If there is more than one row of solar panels, provide not
less than twenty-five (25) feet of space between each row;
4. Be constructed not less than three hundred (300) yards from
the nearest point on the outside wall of any residential dwelling;
5. Promote optimal runoff flow with diversions, terraces,
basins, and other earthworks to prevent soil los s and erosion; and
6. Be liable for all soil erosion occurring along the land in
which the panels are i nstalled for the life of the project.
C. Upon the effective date of this act, the Commissioners of
the Land Office shall be required to make a payment in lieu of ad
valorem taxes with respect to real property located i n any county of
this state that has a commercial solar facility installed. The
Commissioners of the Land Office shall make the required payment to
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the county treasurer of the county not la ter than December 31 of
each year.
D. 1. A leasing agreement offered to a landowner by an
operator of a solar energy facility shall, if elected by the
landowner, offer the same provisions as prescribed in paragraphs 1
through 6 of subsection B of this se ction. The landowner may elect
not to include such provisions in t he leasing agreement.
2. The monetary rate offered in such leasing agreement shall be
proportional to the amount of power generated by the operator of the
commercial solar energy facility.
E. The Corporation Commission shall enforce the provisions of
this act and may promulgate any rules ne cessary to effectuate the
provisions of this act , including the assessment of fines and fees .
SECTION 2. This act shall become effectiv e July 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and afte r its passage and approval.
60-1-1720 RD 3/6/2025 12:02:57 PM