The bill amends Florida Statutes to enhance the regulatory framework for solar facilities, particularly focusing on their decommissioning processes. It establishes a legislative intent to promote renewable solar energy while ensuring that agricultural land used for solar facilities is returned to a viable agricultural state after the facility's operational life. The bill defines key terms such as "agricultural land" and "decommissioned," and allows counties to adopt ordinances that mandate proper decommissioning of solar facilities, especially those over 2 megawatts. It also provides counties with the authority to presume a solar facility has reached the end of its useful life under specific conditions, such as prolonged inactivity or abandonment, and outlines the process for facility owners to rebut this presumption.

Additionally, the bill requires solar facility owners to provide financial assurance for decommissioning costs and mandates regular updates on these costs. If a facility owner fails to decommission as required, the county can take action to complete the decommissioning, including forfeiting the financial assurance. The bill also includes a provision that exempts certain sites from these regulations based on the timing of their construction applications. Furthermore, it amends a related section to ensure consistency in the approval process for electric substations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1595 Filed: 163.3205, 163.3208
H 1595 c1: 163.3205, 163.3208