Bill
Bill > A5056
NJ A5056
NJ A5056Specifies that prior SADC approval is not required in order to authorize construction, installation, or operation of biomass, solar, or wind energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment on farmland preservation exception areas.
summary
Introduced
12/09/2024
12/09/2024
In Committee
12/09/2024
12/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would amend the law pertaining to the construction, installation, and operation of biomass, solar, and wind energy generation systems on preserved farms. Existing law requires the State Agriculture Development Committee (the committee) to review, and to approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve, landowner applications seeking to construct, install, or operate biomass, solar, or wind energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment on farmland, regardless of whether those facilities, structures, and equipment are proposed to be constructed, installed, or operated on a preserved portion of the farm or on a portion of the farm (known as a "farmland preservation exception area") which has been formally excluded from preservation. This bill would clarify that a landowner is required to submit, and that the committee is required to review and approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve, an application for the construction, installation, or operation of a biomass, solar, or wind energy generating facility, structure, or equipment on a preserved farm, as provided by existing law, only when the landowner is proposing to construct, install, or operate such facility, structure, or equipment on a preserved portion of the farm, and not when the landowner is proposing to construct, install, or operate such facility, structure, or equipment on a farmland preservation exception area. The bill would additionally clarify, however, that a landowner will still be required to obtain the prior approval of the Department of Agriculture, as provided by existing law, in order to construct, install, or operate any biomass facility, structure, or equipment on any portion of a preserved farm, regardless of whether that portion of the farm is actually preserved or is excluded from preservation.
AI Summary
This bill clarifies the regulations surrounding energy generation on preserved farmland in New Jersey by modifying existing law to specify that the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) approval is only required when energy facilities are proposed on the preserved portion of a farm, not on areas excluded from preservation. Specifically, the bill amends the existing law to remove the mandatory SADC approval for constructing biomass, solar, or wind energy facilities on farmland preservation exception areas while maintaining that landowners must still obtain approval from the Department of Agriculture if the farm is assessed under the Farmland Assessment Act. The bill allows farm owners to generate energy through biomass, solar, or wind facilities with certain limitations, such as ensuring the facilities do not significantly interfere with agricultural production, are owned by the landowner, provide power or heat to the farm, and are limited to either 10% above the previous year's energy demand or occupy no more than 1% of the total farm area. Additionally, the bill preserves existing requirements for energy generation in sensitive areas like the Pinelands and defines key terms such as "biomass" and "net metering" to provide clarity and context for the proposed changes.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee (on 12/09/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5056 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A5500/5056_I1.HTM |
Loading...