The bill amends South Dakota's existing law regarding energy conversion facilities by reducing the megawattage requirement for these facilities from one hundred megawatts to fifty megawatts. This change applies to the definitions of "energy conversion facility," "wind energy facility," and "solar energy facility," which now specify that these facilities are designed for or capable of generating fifty megawatts or more of electricity. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of "associated facilities" and modifies the term "siting area" to better reflect the areas affected by proposed energy conversion facilities.

Furthermore, the bill updates the criteria for when a facility is considered modified, specifically stating that an energy conversion facility's nameplate generating capacity must increase by a net additional fifty megawatts or greater to be classified as modified. This legislative change aims to streamline the permitting process for energy facilities and potentially encourage the development of new energy projects within the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/27/2025: 49-41B-2, 49-41B-2.2