Solar Power Plant Amendments
HB 241 regulates utility-scale solar power plants (over 1 megawatt) in Utah by establishing new rules for state incentives, land use, and environmental planning. It restricts full state incentives for solar projects on protected farmland (including prime cropland and grazing land with high vegetation) or reduces them to half for less sensitive agricultural land, while exempting projects with pre-existing agreements. The bill also requires wildlife impact consultations, mandates detailed decommissioning plans with financial assurance for cleanup, and creates a new permitting process for solar facilities. These provisions directly affect solar developers, landowners, and state agencies managing incentives and environmental reviews, without appropriating new state funds.
Bill status
passed
3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2025
Last action Mar 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute #1
→
Substitute #2
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5 edits
MODERATE
This bill adds new definitions for 'state incentive' and clarifies which incentives are included, introduces a pro-rated reduction of incentives when plants overlap with protected farmland, and creates exemptions for projects with pre-existing agreements or queue positions. It also expands financial assurance requirements to include state entities and land owners, and adds an effective date of May 7, 2025 for new permits.
Scope change
The bill now applies to solar power plants permitted after May 7, 2025, and includes new exemptions for projects with pre-existing interconnection queues or commercial agreements dated before January 1, 2025.
DEFINITION
Added new definition of 'state incentive' to clarify which financial supports are covered, including specific tax credits and grants.
ELIGIBILITY
Added pro-rated reduction of state incentives when a solar plant partially overlaps with protected farmland, reducing incentives by the percentage of area overlap.
Created exemptions for solar power plants with interconnection queue positions, signed commercial agreements, or existing incentives before specific dates to protect ongoing projects.
REQUIREMENT
Expanded financial assurance requirements to allow placement with state entities or land owners in addition to local jurisdictions.
TIMELINE
Added effective date of May 7, 2025 for permit requirements and eligibility rules.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
26
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable
upper
Mar 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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