Amendment #1344 to H5500

Requiring large ground mounted systems and battery energy storage systems to be subject to local zoning

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Muradian of Grafton, Vieira of Falmouth and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

"SECTION X. Section 3 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "welfare", in line 126, the following:- provided however, that for (i) ground-mounted solar photovoltaic facilities with a nameplate capacity of 250 kilowatts or greater; and (ii) battery energy storage systems with a rate capacity of 100 kilowatt hours or greater; municipalities may:

(a) require demonstration that projected municipal revenues from the facility will equal or exceed the projected costs of municipal services attributable to the facility;

(b) require impact fees reasonably calculated to offset documented increased costs to municipal services;

(c) prohibit such facilities in zoning districts designated for residential, agricultural preservation, or historic preservation purposes; and

(d) establish reasonable setback, screening, lot coverage, and dimensional requirements related to compatibility with surrounding land uses."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1344 to H5500

Requiring large ground mounted systems and battery energy storage systems to be subject to local zoning