HB 3723 requires county commissioners in every Oklahoma county where a wind or solar project is planned to vote on approval before the project can move forward with state permitting. Developers must submit detailed plans - including engineering specs, environmental assessments, construction schedules, and decommissioning plans - at least 60 days before the vote. The county commission must hold a public vote with 15 days of notice, and landowners within the project boundary and within five miles must be notified. If residents disagree with the commission's decision, they can initiate a referendum by collecting signatures from 10% of the county's registered voters, which would be decided at the next general election.
HB 4060, titled the Plug-In Solar Power Amendments Act, would establish a new program allowing residential and commercial solar power systems to connect to Oklahoma's electrical grid under specific rules. The Corporation Commission would create regulations for how solar energy producers (like homeowners and businesses) connect their systems and receive compensation for excess energy sent back to the grid. The bill also defines key terms to clarify the program and sets an effective date for implementation. This legislation directly affects solar system owners and utility companies regulated by the Corporation Commission.
SB 2126 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to create rules for net metering of commercial-scale solar and other distributed energy systems exceeding 300 kilowatts. This directly affects businesses and large solar installations that generate excess electricity and seek credit for feeding it back into the grid. The bill mandates the Commission develop specific regulations by November 1, 2026, to govern how these larger systems connect to and are compensated by the electrical grid. The rules will be codified under Oklahoma Statutes Title 17, Section 156.1.
SB 1917 bans the installation of solar energy devices (like panels) on agricultural land in Oklahoma, directly affecting farmers and ranchers who use land primarily for farming or ranching. The bill restricts solar installations to single-family homes and commercial/industrial properties only, prohibiting them on any land classified as agricultural by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. It defines "agricultural land" as property used for farming or ranching under state agriculture department oversight. The law takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration, with no exceptions for existing installations on farmland after the effective date.
HB 2972 would allow Oklahoma county commissioners to create local rules for commercial wind and solar projects in unincorporated areas (outside city limits). County ordinances could set requirements for setbacks from homes, facility height and spacing, and noise or visual impact mitigation. Voters could also propose similar rules through petitions requiring signatures from 10% of registered county voters. These local rules must comply with state and federal law but can be stricter than state minimum standards.
SB 239 modifies Oklahoma's tax credit for electricity generated by zero-emission facilities (like wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal power plants). It limits the credit to tax years ending by 2025, ending the ability to carry forward unused credits beyond that year. For credits claimed after July 2019, taxpayers must choose between receiving an 85% direct refund or carrying the credit forward for up to 10 years (ending in 2025). This bill directly affects businesses and entities generating eligible renewable electricity in Oklahoma, altering how they can use or access these tax credits.
HB 1452 imposes a state tax on owners of wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric facilities in Oklahoma, equal to the federal production tax credit amount they could have claimed. The tax applies regardless of whether the facility owner actually used the federal credit. Government-owned facilities are exempt from this tax, while private owners must report and pay the tax monthly to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. All revenue collected flows into the state's General Revenue Fund.
SB 1003 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to create rules ensuring electricity grid affordability and reliability. It mandates that the grid maintain 115% guaranteed power capacity (sufficient backup power) to prevent outages, requires new wind/solar projects to include backup power costs in their total expense calculations, and directs the Commission to select new power sources based on the lowest total cost to ratepayers. These rules directly affect electric utilities and the Corporation Commission, with specific requirements including preventing premature retirement of existing power plants unless cost-effective and ensuring power sources meet continuous operating needs during extreme weather. The bill aims to prevent power shortages through measurable reliability standards, effective November 1, 2025.
HB 1450 places an indefinite moratorium on constructing or expanding new wind and utility-scale solar energy facilities in Oklahoma, affecting all new projects and expansions by state agencies and political subdivisions. The bill exempts facilities already permitted, approved by regional transmission organizations, and operational before the bill's passage, as well as existing operational facilities. It declares an emergency to take immediate effect upon passage, halting all new renewable energy infrastructure development while allowing current projects to continue. The measure directly impacts developers planning new wind or solar projects but does not alter existing operational facilities.
SB 994 prohibits the use of eminent domain (government power to seize private property) for siting or building specific renewable energy infrastructure on private land. It directly affects private property owners by preventing energy companies from using eminent domain to acquire land for wind turbines, solar facilities, battery storage, hydrogen gas facilities, or carbon capture projects. The bill amends Oklahoma law to explicitly exclude these energy projects from the eminent domain rights previously available to utilities. This change would require energy developers to negotiate land purchases directly with property owners instead of using government seizure authority. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage.
