Substitute House Bill No. 5916, now Public Act No. 25-127, mandates that solar developers provide farmland restoration bonds for solar projects that require approval from the Siting Council. The bill amends subsection (a) of section 16-50k of the general statutes, which is repealed and replaced with new language that emphasizes the need for a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need before commencing any construction that may have substantial adverse environmental effects. The bill specifies that certificates are not required for smaller fuel cells but introduces a requirement for a decommissioning bond for solar photovoltaic facilities with a capacity of two or more megawatts located on prime farmland or forestland.

The new legal language inserted into the bill includes a requirement for applicants to furnish a bond covering all costs associated with the decommissioning of the facility and the restoration of prime farmland. This includes an assessment by a qualified soil scientist to ensure the land is suitable for farming post-decommissioning. Additionally, the decommissioning bond requirement is extended to any solar photovoltaic facility of two megawatts or more that is approved by declaratory ruling, thereby reinforcing the commitment to environmental protection and farmland preservation in the context of solar energy development.