Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.
State lawmakers have proposed two bills that would give Connecticut towns and cities more control over the siting of solar photovoltaic facilities.
The Energy and Technology Committee has proposed a bill, HB 6779, that would give municipalities the ability to regulate and restrict the proposed location of any nonresidential solar facility, and related infrastructure, that are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Connecticut Siting Council.
Another bill, HB 5928, submitted by state Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Putnam), would allow any municipality with two or more existing nonresidential solar facilities to approve or reject any additional proposed nonresidential solar facilities and to implement a moratorium on such facilities.
Currently, the Connecticut Siting Council approves solar photovoltaic systems and other renewable energy facilities with a generating capacity of 65 megawatts or less through a declaratory ruling process.
The Siting Council's decisions can override local zoning requirements.
A public hearing is set on HB 6779 for Tuesday.
State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes submitted written testimony opposing the bill, noting that an existing statute already provides municipalities with “broad authority to regulate the siting, construction and maintenance of local energy infrastructure.”
Dykes said that the bill, as written, could remove the role of local land use commissions to approve or deny renewable energy facilities, putting the decision fully in the hands of the “municipality.”
“It is unclear what the proposal contemplates with this change,” Dykes wrote.
The proposals follow recent legislative action imposing new restrictions on warehouse size limits.
In 2023, state Rep. William Pizzuto (R-Middlebury) inserted a controversial, last-minute budget amendment that prohibited towns with populations between 6,000 and 8,000 — which included Middlebury — from approving warehouses exceeding 100,000 square feet on certain sites.
The provision was seen as specifically targeting a proposal by Drubner Equities LLC to develop a 720,000-square-foot distribution center at the former Timex headquarters.
The Hartford Business Journal 2025 Charity Event Guide is the annual resource publication highlighting the top charity events in 2025.
Learn moreHartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
SubscribeDelivering vital marketplace content and context to senior decision-makers throughout Connecticut ...
All Year Long!
The Hartford Business Journal 2025 Charity Event Guide is the annual resource publication highlighting the top charity events in 2025.
Hartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
Delivering vital marketplace content and context to senior decision-makers throughout Connecticut ...
All Year Long!
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Our privacy policy
To ensure the best experience on our website, articles cannot be read without allowing cookies. Please allow cookies to continue reading. Our privacy policy
0 Comments