The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6959, aims to amend Section 7-147f of the general statutes concerning the approval process for solar energy systems in historic districts. The bill introduces new language that stipulates that a historic district commission must issue a certificate of appropriateness for the installation of solar energy systems unless it can be demonstrated that such installation would substantially impair the historic character and appearance of the district. Specifically, the bill clarifies that a solar energy system installed on a roof surface facing the rear of the property cannot be deemed to impair the district's historic character.

Additionally, the bill modifies the criteria for determining appropriateness by replacing the term "passing on" with "determining" and emphasizes that the commission must consider various architectural features and their relationship to the surrounding area. The legislation also allows for design modifications and location limitations on the solar energy systems, provided they do not significantly impair the system's effectiveness. Overall, the bill seeks to balance the preservation of historic districts with the promotion of renewable energy initiatives.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-147f