Bill would let farmers separate nonproductive land from Chapter 61A to host renewable energy

A bill filed as H 3,256 would allow farmers to separate nonproductive land from the protections of Chapter 61A without first triggering a municipal right of first refusal and would eliminate a five‑year rollback or conveyance tax, supporters told the Joint Committee on Revenue.

Supporters said the measure is aimed at small‑to‑mid‑sized renewable energy projects on land adjacent to active farms — particularly cranberry operations — and is designed to provide supplemental revenue to keep farming economically viable.

Kate Daniel, Northeast regional director for the Coalition for Community Solar Access, told the committee that removing right‑of‑first‑refusal rules and rollback penalties would reduce barriers to building renewable energy on suitable farm properties. “Putting renewable energy on farm properties is a really important…