Bill > A3974

This bill modifies various provisions of the state's renewable energy incentive programs, including allowing for the co-location of solar facilities on the same or contiguous properties, removing size restrictions for solar projects on landfills, brownfields, contaminated sites, or mining sites when participating in community solar or remote net metering programs, and extending the time to achieve commercial operation for projects on these specific sites to 33 months, with automatic extensions for utility-caused interconnection delays. It also requires electric public utilities to process and approve interconnection applications for community solar or remote net metering facilities on electric lines sized 34.5 kilovolts or less within 90 days of receiving a complete application. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "renewable energy facility" to include battery storage technology and allows for the purchase of remote net metering credits, similar renewable energy credits, or renewable energy production credits under programs administered by the Board of Public Utilities as a method of procurement for contracting units. Finally, it increases the capacity limit for remote net metered solar energy projects serving public entities from five megawatts to 20 megawatts and allows these projects to be located on contaminated sites, landfills, or mining sites.