[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6328393,"mediaKeyId","2320198-4dee839dd6f1ba18aaa59959074aef11","parentId",2320198,"title","Committee approves solar siting substitute that limits state incentives on prime farmland and requires decommissioning plans","audioSeconds",3783,"startMs",2223000,"endMs",6006000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320198-4dee839dd6f1ba18aaa59959074aef11&start=2223&end=6006","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320198-4dee839dd6f1ba18aaa59959074aef11/thumbnail_2223000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328393/Utah/Committee-approves-solar-siting-substitute-that-limits-state-incentives-on-prime-farmland-and-requires-decommissioning-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328393-f439aaf0d7dab83a5d778e70e5a8c047/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150506&Signature=Tqmk-O6ZpifBvX1txLr1QFFDAPsuKCq-WoBJCObDDZNpGRSCvDN94VYb~DdONWRDchwn3XdVE5mEZZMqJPhILnFcllEo-8jUT3Zb46gf7YmhaA7vT8mCNVIqMu6ZSeH5FSR~6wftf2f33QY3UImULgBZPVFuP1CWyzUHsdnxZ6fxTAAC-Q06dL7Pz5l6dVsHIBP5UBGa9x8sz3b13bgehEO8au07p39TIwPskz41Eys2cGXLQPBst5V7-ctpU5rIgbdNcXMFkff2sEmqMFHJUhyT1xEsv-jkUJ6BTVZ5AO8YBmur68eszamhbXPRb3p4SKN2WMagBGT6vpgTN-r6aQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","The House Public Utilities and Energy Committee on Friday adopted changes to HB 241 that would restrict state incentives for utility-scale solar projects sited on certain productive croplands and grazing lands and would require decommissioning plans and financial assurances for large solar installations.

Under the first substitute — adopted in committee — project sites located on soils or grazing lands classified in the bill as productive would not be eligible for specified state incentives. The second substitute, which the committee recommended favorably on a 9–1 vote, also added a requirement that solar project owners submit decommissioning plans and provide financial security (for example, a bond, escrowed funds, a letter of credit, or other acceptable financial assurance) adequate to cover reclamation costs, with credit allowed for reasonable salvage value.

Representative Kevin J. Jack (committee chair) and sponsor Representative Jack said the bill is intended to protect Utah’s agricultural capacity while preserving private property rights; the substitute does not prohibit landowners from building solar on their own land, but removes some state incentives for projects placed on soils or grazing lands the bill defines as prime for farming or grazing.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food reported the state has about 10.5 million acres of farmland (irrigated, dryland and pasture) and roughly 45 million acres of grazing land. The department’s director of legislative affairs, Amber Brown, told the committee she supports the sponsor’s approach of steering incentives away from high-value agricultural soils while still allowing solar development on lower-quality or nonproductive lands.

Industry representatives said they appreciate the sponsor’s engagement and several improvements in the substitute, but asked for clarifications and exemptions for projects that are already contracted or permitted. EDF Renewables and other developers noted project timelines sometimes span a decade or more; EDF said one Millard County project’s lease negotiations began in 2013 and construction procurement is planned for this year, and requested that the bill’s incentive restrictions and permitting requirements be clarified so projects already well into development are not unfairly disadvantaged.

The substitute’s decommissioning section requires an estimate of reclamation cost prepared by a third party with decommissioning expertise, agreed by the local permitting authority, and financial security not less than the estimated cost less reasonable salvage. Several witnesses — including developers and trade groups — supported the concept of financial assurance but asked the committee to clarify whether the requirement would duplicate county bonding or other existing local requirements.

Environmental and conservation groups urged careful siting and suggested additional study of agrivoltaics (dual use of land for solar and agriculture). The Utah chapter of the Sierra Club asked the Legislature to add a study provision to examine agrivoltaic opportunities before imposing eligibility restrictions on incentives.

Public testimony included landowners and developers who described local economic benefits from existing projects — lease payments, property taxes and job creation — and local ranchers who use sheep to manage vegetation beneath panels. Industry groups asked that wildlife consultation be optional and time‑bound and that projects already contracted be explicitly exempted from new incentive eligibility restrictions.

After public comment and additional clarification from the sponsor, the committee adopted the first substitute and then voted 9–1 to pass the substitute version of HB 241 with a favorable recommendation. Representative Dominguez recorded the lone “no” vote.

What the substitute does
- Limits eligibility for certain state incentives (as defined in statute) on land the bill identifies as irrigated cropland or productive grazing land, based on soil/grazing classifications provided by agricultural experts.
- Requires a decommissioning and reclamation plan for solar power plants with an independent cost estimate and financial assurance (bond, escrow, letter of credit, or other security) no less than the estimated reclamation cost after deducting reasonable salvage value.
- Preserves local permitting authority; the substitute defers technical permitting details to the local jurisdiction and requires coordination with county planners and conservation districts in some cases.

Key committee concerns and clarifications sought
- Industry asked for explicit exemptions for projects with existing contracts/permits and for clear definitions of which state incentives are affected (some developers asked that incentives tied to federal tax credits be clarified).
- Stakeholders requested time limits and a defined scope for required wildlife consultation to avoid indefinite permitting delays.
- Developers sought guidance on whether local bonding regimes would be considered duplicative and how financial assurance levels would be calculated; the substitute establishes a third-party estimate process to set amounts.

Next steps
The bill advances from committee to further floor and committee consideration. The sponsor and industry representatives said they will continue to negotiate clarifying language on exemptions, incentive definitions and consultation timelines.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Public Utilities and Energy Committee - February 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Public Utilities and Energy Committee on Friday approved the first and second substitutes to HB 241, a bill that limits certain state incentives for utility-scale solar sited on productive croplands and grazing land and requires decommissioning plans with financial assurance for large solar plants.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328398,"Committee backs fee increases for Bureau of Criminal Identification, including $25 registry hike; sponsor cites $1 million shortfall",2136,71000,2207000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320198-4dee839dd6f1ba18aaa59959074aef11&start=71&end=2207","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320198-4dee839dd6f1ba18aaa59959074aef11/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6328398/Utah/Committee-backs-fee-increases-for-Bureau-of-Criminal-Identification-including-25-registry-hike-sponsor-cites-1-million-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328398-150a0dcfbff2d54d7205994a503e8855/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150506&Signature=Tc-f7AKy8BVMZVy5pOxDePMLP9ExZszIFHMCny5SztLVuYAglqe1Azv7JQQtKu8siwJNlOQ6al~7nt7yeL-FP6GxN~EkjOJPC--jR2YHYB2IRm2HRAS6jj4ob0gfiuDZuAmG1J4xzCfQc-rZnqnqH6O38PFXKYzDNXleMMCr-f3-JjK1xNiN23G6aXJcKd0xkJrCzgAbGx5GQ08D-DHNPglWRlryZ0Tg~mTye8UWU0b2-18VmdQUMuRrsnwXVtShT2hYVxXtM40uN7y3ISTExsdJhCMbs5wwN~u5aK7lJ-RphDcZg8HTkQT2-a~oWqpP-iDXkeNM8VfTSRGOlY26LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Public Utilities and Energy Committee on Friday recommended favorably the first substitute to HB 4 25, a bill that would raise fees collected by the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) and change the timing for transfers from the concealed-weapon permit account to the state’s suicide prevention education fund.

The measure would increase the fee for persons on the offender registry from $100 to $125 and raise certain nonresident concealed-firearm permit fees. The bill also amends when surplus money in the concealed-weapon permit account may flow to the suicide prevention education fund by allowing a reserve to build before transfers occur.

Proponents said the increases are intended to close a program funding gap. Joe Brown, finance director for the Utah Department of Public Safety, told the committee the BCI program “spends around $4,000,000 to operate,” and that projected revenue for the year is about $2.8 million to $3 million — leaving an approximate $1 million shortfall. Brown also said software and other fixed costs have risen, and that the department has reduced staff in the program by attrition.

Bill language submitted to the committee would raise the registry fee by $25, from $100 to $125, and would increase some out-of-state concealed-permit fees. Brown said the registry increase would bring about $125,000 in additional revenue to help cover rising software and maintenance costs for the registry system.

Opponents pressed on several points, including notice and timing. Bill Pedersen, director of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, testified the council and the National Rifle Association oppose the nonresident fee increases and raised concerns that BCI should have notified stakeholders earlier and that an audit of the division might be warranted. Pedersen said opponents believe out-of-state applicants should not shoulder higher costs because, in his words, processing does not require additional staff time compared with in‑state applicants.

A family member of a person on the registry, Leah Hanson of Saratoga Springs, urged the committee to leave the registry fee at $100, saying increased fines would further burden people she described as trying to “make good on their lives.” Hanson asked legislators to strike the bill’s language that would alter transfers to the suicide prevention fund and said she opposed the bill.

Committee members questioned department staff about staffing reductions and the historic transfers to suicide-prevention programs. Sponsors noted several million dollars of prior transfers occurred in years when Utah required permits of residents and the account had built a surplus; those funds were spent and there is no reserve now. The substitute sets a reserve threshold (the bill text references a $2,000,000 cushion) before automatic transfers to suicide prevention, according to committee discussion.

After questions and public comment, the committee voted to recommend the first substitute favorably; the chair announced the motion passed 5–4.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: Recommend favorably HB 4 25 (1st substitute), Bureau of Criminal Identification fee amendments. Outcome: Approved 5–4.

What remains unresolved
The bill as passed out of committee raises questions opponents said merit further review: whether BCI properly notified stakeholders earlier, whether an audit is needed to explain program spending and prior transfers, and whether the fee structure appropriately balances resident versus nonresident applicants. Sponsors said the increases are needed to avoid shifting the program’s operating costs onto general fund appropriations.

Key numbers and details cited in committee
- Current registry fee: $100. Proposed: $125 (increase of $25).
- Department estimate: program operating costs roughly $4,000,000 per year; projected revenue $2.8–$3,000,000; shortfall ≈ $1,000,000.
- Staff reductions: the department said it has eliminated about 6–7 positions from the program through attrition.
- Historical transfers: committee discussion cited several million dollars (committee discussion referenced roughly $7 million) previously moved from the concealed-permit account to the suicide prevention fund in years when resident permit issuance was much higher.

Next steps
The bill will proceed through the legislative process following the committee recommendation. Committee members and public witnesses urged continued transparency from the Department of Public Safety about program costs and recommended consideration of an audit to review past spending and transfers.

","The House Public Utilities and Energy Committee on Friday recommended favorably the first substitute to HB 4 25, which raises certain Bureau of Criminal Identification fees — including a $25 increase to the offender registry fee — and changes when surplus concealed-permit funds flow to the suicide prevention education fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves solar siting substitute that limits state incentives on prime farmland and requires decommissioning plans

Committee backs fee increases for Bureau of Criminal Identification, including $25 registry hike; sponsor cites $1 million shortfall