SF 2321 (LSB 5306SV (2) 89)

SENATE FILE 2321

BY  COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 2127)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to utility-scale solar energy facilities installation on agricultural land.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  476A.16  Agricultural land —— solar energy facilities.
   1.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Agricultural land” means a parcel of land suitable for use in farming.
   b.  “Utility-scale solar energy facility” or “solar energy facility” means an assemblage of photovoltaic modules, equipment, or structural features that collect and convert incident solar radiation into thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy, store such solar energy, or transform such solar energy to transmission on the electric grid. A “utility-scale solar energy facility” does not include a solar energy facility for which the generated electricity is planned to be primarily consumed on the property or immediately adjacent property.
   c.  “Corn suitability rating” or “CSR” means the most recent corn suitability rating index as determined by the Iowa state university extension and outreach to rate different types of soil for potential row-crop productivity.
   2.  A utility-scale solar energy facility shall not be installed upon agricultural land unless all of the following apply:
   a.  The agricultural land has an average CSR of sixty-five or lower.
   b.  The solar energy facility is not less than a one-half mile distance from another utility-scale solar energy facility.
   c.  The solar energy facility is not less than one thousand two hundred fifty feet from the nearest residence.
   3.  All distances shall be measured horizontally by standard survey methods between the closest point of each location or object.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to utility-scale solar energy facility installation on agricultural land.
   The bill defines “agricultural land” to mean land that is suitable for farming. The bill defines “utility-scale solar energy facility” or “solar energy facility” to mean an assemblage of photovoltaic modules, equipment, or structural features that collect and convert incident solar radiation into other specific forms of energy or transform the solar energy to transmission on an electric grid. The bill defines “corn suitability rating” (CSR) to mean Iowa state university extension and outreach’s corn suitability rating index which determines the potential for row-crop productivity for a parcel of land.
   The bill provides that a utility-scale solar energy facility shall not be installed on agricultural land unless the agricultural land has a CSR of 65 or lower, the solar energy facility is at least one-half mile from the next solar energy facility, and the solar energy facility is located at least 1,250 feet from the nearest residence.
   The bill provides that distances shall be measured horizontally by standard survey methods between the closest point of each location or object.