Bill H.710 aims to clarify the definition of "plant" within the context of renewable energy facilities in Vermont. The bill stipulates that multiple electricity-generating facilities will be considered a single plant if they utilize the same technology and are situated on the same parcel or contiguous parcels of land. This replaces the previous criteria, which focused on common ownership and construction timelines. The new definition allows for exceptions, such as individual net-metering and self-consumption, multi-owner net-metering on the same parcel, and colocation of renewable energy program facilities, provided specific conditions are met.

Additionally, the bill introduces several new definitions, including "common interest community," "contiguous," "electricity-generating technology," and "point of interconnection," to provide clarity on terms relevant to the legislation. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. Overall, H.710 seeks to streamline the regulatory framework for renewable energy projects by establishing clearer guidelines for how facilities are classified and interconnected.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 30-8002