An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preemptions, providing for accessory uses of commercial solar facilities.
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends Pennsylvania law to allow battery energy storage projects to be considered permitted accessory uses on properties with existing commercial solar facilities. Specifically, it allows battery storage projects with a capacity that doesn’t exceed the solar facility’s generating capacity to be added to a solar facility site without requiring a separate special exception or conditional use approval. The bill also clarifies that existing permits and financial commitments related to the solar facility will not be affected by the addition of the battery storage project, and ensures compliance with safety and fire codes.
Key provisions
- Battery energy storage projects are permitted as accessory uses on commercial solar facility sites.
- These projects do not require separate special exceptions or conditional use approvals.
- Existing permits and financial commitments for the solar facility remain unchanged.
- Battery storage capacity must not exceed the generating capacity of the solar facility.
- Projects must comply with federal, state, and local safety and fire codes.
- Definitions are provided for key terms such as ‘battery energy storage project,’ ‘commercial solar facility,’ and ‘conditional use.’
Who is affected
- Local government units (counties, cities, townships, etc.)
- Developers of commercial solar facilities
- Developers of battery energy storage projects
- Property owners with commercial solar facilities
Bill text
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Document of record
- Version
- Pn 3759 Html
- Published
- Not published in the source record
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
9 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Benjamin Sanchez
Danielle Friel Otten
Joseph Hohenstein
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