Substitute Senate Bill No. 385, known as Public Act No. 24-38, is an act that amends the general statutes regarding energy procurements, including the appraisal and potential solicitation of nuclear power generating facilities. The bill defines "best interest of ratepayers" and "eligible nuclear power generating facility," and sets forth procedures for the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to evaluate nuclear facilities and decide if a solicitation process is needed. The bill allows for power purchase agreements with nuclear, hydropower, Class I renewable energy sources, and energy storage systems, with varying contract lengths and a cap on annual energy output. It includes language changes, such as "nuclear power generation" to "nuclear power generating," and requires PURA to review and approve agreements to ensure they are reasonable and reliable.

The bill also mandates that agreements with nuclear power facilities must be approved in at least two other states, and costs are recoverable through a nonbypassable rate component. It outlines coordination with other states for solicitations after July 1, 2024, and includes provisions for offshore wind facilities, such as prevailing wage payments and project labor agreements. The bill establishes a commission on environmental standards and allows for power purchase agreements for offshore wind facilities for up to thirty years if coordinated with other states. It amends section 16-243q to increase the required percentage of total output from Class III sources and adjusts eligibility based on environmental standards. The bill also addresses hydropower procurement, establishes a rebate program for natural gas customers, allows additional biomass power purchase agreements, and creates a task force to improve consumer protection for solar photovoltaic system purchasers. Finally, it forms a task force on energy and technology, grants PURA the power to select entities for renewable energy and electric vehicle charging programs, and was approved on May 21, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
ET Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 351:
Public Act No. 24-38: