SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1266        FILED ON: 2/12/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 590

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Susan L. Moran

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act encouraging the use of renewable energy on agricultural land.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Susan L. Moran

Plymouth and Barnstable

 

William M. Straus

10th Bristol

2/26/2021

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Bristol

3/3/2021

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

3/9/2021

Walter F. Timilty

Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth

3/17/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1266        FILED ON: 2/12/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 590

By Ms. Moran, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 590) of Susan L. Moran, William M. Straus, Michael D. Brady, Michael O. Moore and others for legislation to encourage the use of renewable energy on agricultural land.  Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 528 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act encouraging the use of renewable energy on agricultural land.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Subsection (a) of section 2A of chapter 61A of the general laws is hereby amended by striking the words “chapter 25” and inserting in place thereof the following:- chapter 25A.

SECTION 2. Said section 2A of said chapter 61A is hereby further amended by striking out subsections (b) to (c), inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following sections:-

(b) In addition to the use provided for in subsection (a), land used primarily and directly for agricultural purposes pursuant to section 1 or land used primarily and directly for horticultural use pursuant to section 2 may, in addition to being used primarily and directly for agriculture or horticulture, be used to site a renewable energy generating source, as defined in subsection (b) of section 11F of chapter 25A, that qualifies in accordance with a solar incentive program for agriculture or horticulture sectors developed by the department of energy resources if such renewable energy generating source does not impede the continued use of the land for agricultural or horticultural purposes pursuant to this chapter.

(c) Land used primarily and directly for agricultural purposes pursuant to section 1 or land used primarily and directly for horticultural purposes pursuant to section 2 shall be deemed to be in agricultural or horticultural use pursuant to this chapter if used to simultaneously site a renewable energy generating source pursuant to subsection (a) and subsection (b).

(d) Renewable energy generating sources located on land used primarily and directly for agricultural purposes pursuant to section 1 or land used primarily and directly for horticultural purposes pursuant to section 2 shall be subject to the provisions afforded to agriculture in accordance with section 3 of chapter 40A.