The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5457, aims to enhance fire safety protocols at solar photovoltaic facilities by amending Section 29-303 of the general statutes. The bill mandates that the local fire marshal must report any fire or explosion incidents at solar photovoltaic facilities to the Connecticut Siting Council, in addition to the existing requirement to report to the State Fire Marshal. This report must include details about the incident's cause, origin, and the property involved. The bill also introduces a new requirement for the Connecticut Siting Council to assess whether any equipment at the facility contributed to the incident and, if so, to initiate an amendment proceeding to require the facility owner to adopt a fire mitigation plan.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that within 180 days after the conclusion of an amendment proceeding that results in a fire mitigation plan, the council must identify any similarly situated facilities in the state. If such facilities are found, the council is authorized to initiate further amendment proceedings to require those owners to adopt the same fire mitigation plan. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-303