Establishing requirements for the development, construction, modification, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of certain industrial energy facilities and providing jurisdiction to the state corporation commission to control and permit such development, construction, modification, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of such facilities.

HB 2636 regulates large-scale industrial energy facilities in Kansas, including wind, solar, and battery storage systems with a capacity of one megawatt or more. It requires facility owners to register with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), obtain SCC permits before new construction or expansion, and submit detailed decommissioning plans with financial assurance. The bill shifts permitting authority from county commissions (which can initially approve or deny projects) to the SCC for final approval, while establishing minimum setback distances and requiring agricultural mitigation protocols. It directly affects energy developers, facility owners, and landowners near proposed sites, particularly through the new protest process for county permitting decisions. The law aims to standardize oversight of these facilities’ full lifecycle, from construction to decommissioning, to address statewide environmental and land-use concerns.