Community Solar Gardens Modernization Act

Electric utilities - solar energy - community solar gardens - allowable size and location - standards for construction and installation of components. The act amends the current statute authorizing the creation of community solar gardens (CSGs) by:

• Increasing the maximum size of a CSG from 2 megawatts to 5 megawatts, with the option for the public utilities commission (PUC) to authorize construction of a CSG up to 10 megawatts beginning July 1, 2023;
• Removing the requirement that a CSG subscriber's identified physical location be in the same county as, or a county adjacent to, that of the CSG, while retaining the requirement that it be within the service territory of the same investor-owned utility; and
• Requiring all photovoltaic electrical work on a CSG of greater than 2 megawatts to be supervised by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, or licensed residential wireman, and comply with all applicable electrical codes and standards. If an investor-owned utility owns all or part of a CSG, the utility is required to use either its own employees or a contractor whose employees have access to specified apprenticeship programs to operate and maintain the CSG.

Beginning in 2020, all photovoltaic electrical work for installations of at least 300 kilowatts must be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly supervised electrical apprentices and must comply with all applicable electrical codes and standards.

The PUC shall determine the conditions under which a subscriber to a CSG may choose to retain or sell the renewable energy credits attributable to the subscriber's participation in the CSG.

Section 4 of the act is contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)