The proposed legislation, General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5457, aims to enhance safety protocols regarding fires and explosions at solar photovoltaic facilities. It amends Section 29-303 of the general statutes, requiring local fire marshals to report incidents of fire or explosion at these facilities not only to the State Fire Marshal but also to the Connecticut Siting Council. This report must include details about the incident's cause, origin, and the property involved. The bill introduces a new requirement that if the Siting Council, in conjunction with the local fire marshal, determines that solar photovoltaic equipment contributed to the incident, an amendment proceeding will be initiated to require the facility owner to adopt a fire mitigation plan.

Additionally, the bill mandates that within 180 days of concluding an amendment proceeding that results in a fire mitigation plan, the Siting Council must assess whether there are other similarly situated facilities in the state. If such facilities exist, the Council may initiate further amendment proceedings to require those owners to adopt the same fire mitigation plan. This legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and aims to improve fire safety measures and risk management for solar photovoltaic facilities across Connecticut.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-303
PS Joint Favorable: 29-303
File No. 253: 29-303
APP Joint Favorable: 29-303