Bill Text: VA SB1207 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Solar and energy storage projects; siting agreements throughout the Commonwealth.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-11 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0058) [SB1207 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-SB1207-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§15.2-2316.6 through 15.2-2316.9 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
Article 7.3.
Siting of Solar Energy Facilities Projects and Energy
Storage Projects.
§15.2-2316.6. Definitions.
A. As used
in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Energy storage facilities" means the energy storage equipment and technology within an energy storage project that is capable of absorbing energy, storing such energy for a period of time, and redelivering such energy after it has been stored.
"Energy storage project" means the energy storage facilities within the project site.
"Host locality" means any locality within the
jurisdictional boundaries of which construction of a commercial solar facility project or an energy
storage project is proposed.
"Opportunity zone"
means a census tract in an area of the host locality meeting the eligibility
requirements for designation as a qualified opportunity zone by the U.S. Secretary
of the Treasury via his delegation of authority to the Internal Revenue
Service.
"Solar facility facilities" means a commercial solar
photovoltaic (electric energy) generation or storage
facility, or any portion thereof facilities.
"Solar facility facilities"
does not include any solar project that is (i) described in §56-594, 56-594.01, or
56-594.2 or Chapters 358 and 382 of the Acts of Assembly of 2013, as amended,
or (ii) five megawatts or less.
"Solar project" means the solar facilities, subject to this chapter, that are within the project site.
B. This article applies only
to a solar facility located in an opportunity zone.
§15.2-2316.7. Negotiations; siting agreement.
A. Any applicant for a solar facility project or an energy storage project shall give to the host locality written notice of the
applicant's intent to locate a solar
facility in an opportunity zone in such locality and
request a meeting. Such applicant shall meet, discuss, and negotiate a siting
agreement with such locality.
B. The siting agreement may include terms and conditions,
including (i) mitigation of any impacts of such solar facility project or energy
storage project; (ii) financial compensation to the host
locality to address capital needs set out in the (a) capital improvement plan
adopted by the host locality, (b) current fiscal budget of the host locality,
or (c) fiscal fund balance policy adopted by the host locality; or (iii)
assistance by the applicant in the deployment of broadband, as defined in §
56-585.1:9, in such locality.
§15.2-2316.8. Powers of host localities.
A. The governing body of a host locality shall have the power to:
1. Hire and pay consultants and other experts on behalf of the
host locality in matters pertaining to the siting of a solar facility project or energy
storage project;
2. Meet, discuss, and negotiate a siting agreement with an applicant; and
3. Enter into a siting agreement with an applicant that is binding upon the governing body of the host locality and enforceable against it and future governing bodies of the host locality in any court of competent jurisdiction by signing a siting agreement pursuant to this article. Such contract may be assignable at the parties' option.
B. If the parties to the siting agreement agree upon the terms and conditions of a siting agreement, the host locality shall schedule a public hearing, pursuant to subdivision A of §15.2-2204, for the purpose of consideration of such siting agreement. If a majority of a quorum of the members of the governing body present at such public hearing approve of such siting agreement, the siting agreement shall be executed by the signatures of (i) the chief executive officer of the host locality and (ii) the applicant or the applicant's authorized agent. The siting agreement shall continue in effect until it is amended, revoked, or suspended.
§15.2-2316.9. Effect of executed siting agreement; land use approval.
A. Nothing in this article shall be construed to exempt an applicant
from any other applicable requirements to obtain approvals and permits under
federal, state, or local ordinances and regulations. An applicant may file for
appropriate land use approvals for the solar facility project or energy
storage project, as applicable, under the regulations and
ordinances of the host locality at or after the time the applicant submits its
notice of intent to site a solar facility project or energy
storage project as set forth in
subdivision A of §15.2-2316.7.
B. Nothing in this article shall affect the authority of the host locality to enforce its ordinances and regulations to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the siting agreement.
C. Approval of a siting agreement by the local governing body
in accordance with subdivision B of §15.2-2316.8 shall deem the solar facility project or energy
storage project to be substantially in accord with the
comprehensive plan of the host locality, thereby satisfying the requirements of
§15.2-2232.
D. The failure of an applicant and the governing body to enter
into a siting agreement may be a factor in the decision of the governing body
in the consideration of any land use approvals for a solar facility project or energy
storage project, but shall not be the sole reason for a
denial of such land use approvals.
2. That the provisions of this act shall not apply to any energy storage project that has received zoning and site plan approval, preliminary or otherwise, from the host locality before January 1, 2021.
3. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective with respect to energy storage projects unless the General Assembly approves legislation that authorizes localities to adopt an ordinance for taxation of energy storage projects such as solar projects with a local option for machinery and tools tax or solar revenue share.
