Bill Text: CT HB06547 | 2017 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning A Connecticut Green Plan And Land Resource And Use Inventory For Energy Infrastructure.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-15 - Tabled for the Calendar, House [HB06547 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2017-HB06547-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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January Session, 2017 |
*_____HB06547ET____032217____* |
AN ACT CONCERNING A CONNECTICUT GREEN PLAN AND LAND RESOURCE AND USE INVENTORY FOR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2017) (a) There is established a Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and Green Plan Advisory Committee that shall assist the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection with the drafting of the Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and the Connecticut Green Plan, as described in subsection (b) of this section. Such advisory committee shall consist of the following members: (1) The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and Agriculture, or the commissioners' designees, (2) the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, or the chairperson's designee, (3) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, (4) a faculty member of the Center for Land Use Education and Research at The University of Connecticut, as appointed by the Governor, (5) a representative of the Connecticut Siting Council, (6) a representative of the Connecticut Green Bank, (7) a representative of the solar photovoltaic industry, as appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, (8) a representative of a conservation organization that specializes in farm preservation, as appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, (9) a representative of the gas and electric distribution industries, as appointed by the Governor, (10) a representative of the fuel cell industry, as appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, (11) a representative of the farming community, as appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, (12) a representative of a nonprofit conservation organization with expertise in land use planning and environmental protection, as appointed by the Governor, and (13) a representative of either the commercial wind industry or an organization familiar with commercial wind power, as appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall convene the first meeting of such advisory committee not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section and shall serve as the chairperson of such advisory committee. The commissioner may request members of the advisory committee to assist with administrative functions of the advisory committee, including, but not limited to, convening and noticing meetings and drafting assessments and reports. The advisory committee shall be located in the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for administrative purposes only.
(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and Green Plan Advisory Committee, established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and within available resources, shall: (1) Coordinate the completion of a Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory by a Connecticut Land Inventory subcommittee to be convened by The University of Connecticut. Such resource and use inventory shall be comprised of the best available information and data regarding the land resources within Connecticut and use of such land, including, but not limited to, all: (A) Plants; (B) habitats; (C) prime farmland, unique farmland and farmland of state-wide importance, as defined in 7 CFR 657, as amended from time to time; (D) farm land, as defined in section 12-107b of the general statutes, not included in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision; (E) forest land and open space land, as defined in section 12-107b of the general statutes; (F) brownfields, landfills and other previously developed land; (G) uses of the land described in subparagraphs (C) to (E), inclusive, of this subdivision, including, but not limited to: (i) Agricultural, (ii) forestry, (iii) recreational, (iv) hunting, (v) commercial and industrial, (vi) energy facilities, and (vii) electric power line, gas pipeline and telecommunications crossings; and (H) any updates and additions to the comprehensive environmental assessment and plan completed, in accordance with section 25-157a of the general statutes; and (2) develop a Connecticut Green Plan that may include maps, illustrations and other media. Such Connecticut Green Plan shall: (A) Promote science-based management practices that take into account the existing natural, social, cultural, historic and economic characteristics of land within Connecticut; (B) promote maximum accessibility to public land in Connecticut for traditional public trust uses, except when necessary to preserve public health, safety and welfare, or when it is in the interest of national security; (C) reflect the importance of farm land and forest land in Connecticut to the citizens of this state who derive livelihood and recreation benefits from such land; (D) analyze the implications of existing and potential uses and users of Connecticut land with a focus on avoiding potential use conflicts; (E) be consistent with the Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory, prepared pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, with provision for the ongoing acquisition and application of up-to-date resource and use data; (F) adapt to evolving knowledge and understanding of the state's environment, including adaptation of climate change and rise in sea level; (G) foster sustainable uses that capitalize on economic opportunity without significant detriment to the ecology or natural beauty of the state; (H) be coordinated, to the maximum extent feasible, with local, regional and federal planning entities and agencies; (I) be developed through a transparent and inclusive process that seeks widespread participation of the public and stakeholders and encourages public participation in decision making; (J) identify appropriate locations and performance standards for activities, uses and facilities regulated under existing state permit programs; (K) be consistent with the state plan of conservation and development and the goals and policies described in section 22a-92 of the general statutes; (L) reflect the importance of planning for Connecticut land use, including the identification of potential measures that encourage such planning; and (M) provide recommendations for best practices for placement of energy infrastructure on land within the state.
(c) The Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and Green Plan Advisory Committee shall hold not less than three public hearings in different municipalities of the state to receive comments and submissions from the public and interested persons and may provide for other public outreach and input measures, as appropriate, to assure sufficient stakeholder engagement and representation. The advisory committee shall assist the commissioner in completing a draft of the Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and the Connecticut Green Plan not later than March 1, 2021.
(d) During the drafting of the Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and Connecticut Green Plan, and prior to making such draft available for public comment, in accordance with subsection (e) of this section, the advisory committee shall consult with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, representatives of the telecommunications industry, the state's two federal recognized Indian tribes and the tourism or recreation industry.
(e) Upon completion of the draft Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and the Connecticut Green Plan, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall make such draft available for public review and comment and shall publish notice thereof in the Environmental Monitor and the Connecticut Law Journal. The commissioner shall cause such draft and notice of public comment period to be posted on the Internet web site of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Office of Policy and Management. Such notice of public comment period shall provide for a public comment period of not less than ninety days. Not later than ninety days after the end of such public comment period, the commissioner shall adopt a final draft of the Connecticut Land Resource and Use Inventory and the Connecticut Green Plan.
(f) Upon completion of the final draft of the Connecticut Green Plan, such plan shall be submitted to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and land management. Said committees, not later than forty-five days after the start of the next occurring legislative session following receipt of such plan, shall conduct a public hearing on the plan. Not later than forty-five days after such public hearing, said committees shall submit such plan, in conjunction with the committees' recommendations for approval or disapproval of such plan, to the General Assembly. Such plan shall become effective when approved by a majority vote of each chamber of the General Assembly. In the event that the General Assembly disapproves the plan, in whole or in part, such plan shall be deemed to be rejected and shall be returned to the advisory committee for revision.
(g) Upon approval of such inventory and plan: (1) Such plan shall be considered as a factor in the review of solicitations conducted by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to sections 16a-3f, 16a-3g, 16a-3h and 16a-3j of the general statutes, (2) the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall, within available resources, develop and implement a public outreach and information program to provide information to the public regarding the Connecticut Green Plan, (3) the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall provide for the review and update of such inventory and plan at least once every five years and any revision to such inventory and plan shall become effective upon approval by the General Assembly, in accordance with subsection (f) of this section, (4) the advisory committee, not later than six months after such approval, shall advise the commissioner on the operation, implementation and updating of the inventory and plan, as applicable, and shall meet on a quarterly basis to review implementation of such plan, identify emerging issues and recommend any necessary or desirable alterations or improvements to such plan, and (5) the advisory committee shall, within available resources, hold not less than one public hearing each year to receive comments and submissions from the public on such inventory and plan.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2017 |
New section |
ET |
Joint Favorable Subst. |