Bill > SB1935

This bill, known as the Commercial Solar Facility Setback Act, establishes new regulations for the placement of utility-scale solar energy facilities, which are defined as solar power generation sites with a capacity exceeding one megawatt (MW) designed to send electricity to the main power grid. The act mandates that these facilities must be located at least 125 feet away from any residence, which is defined as a primary, owner-occupied or leased single-family detached dwelling, unless the resident owner provides written consent for a shorter distance. It also requires that non-project-related overhead infrastructure, such as power lines not connected to the solar facility, must be at least 50 feet from the edge of a public road, with exceptions for necessary project-related lines. Importantly, the bill clarifies that "repowering," which involves upgrading or replacing components of an existing solar facility without changing its connection point to the grid or expanding its footprint, will not trigger new setback requirements if the facility was established before the original generation interconnection agreement date (GIA date), which is the initial contract date for connecting to the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) under its Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT). This means that upgrades to existing facilities will adhere to the setback rules that were in place when they were first approved, unless the upgrade involves relocating the connection point or increasing the facility's capacity by more than 20%. These provisions do not apply to residential solar panels. The act will take effect on November 1, 2026.

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http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1935&Session=2600