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Committee adopts substitute for HB 440 and HB 1160 setting taxes, setbacks for large solar projects
Summary
The Missouri House Committee on Legislative Review voted unanimously to advance a substitute that sets a $2,500-per-megawatt tax for large solar projects, preserves local assessment at commercial rates, exempts certain Chapter 100 projects and reduces a proposed setback from 500 to 200 feet.
The House Committee on Legislative Review voted 8-0 to adopt a house committee substitute for House Bills 440 and 1160 that sets tax and siting rules for commercial-scale solar projects.
The substitute requires projects larger than 5 megawatts to pay $2,500 per megawatt in taxes, leaves the land under solar arrays locally assessed at commercial rates, and retains an exemption for projects authorized under Chapter 100. Committee members also adopted two committee amendments: one reduced a proposed setback from 500 feet to 200 feet; the other exempts projects that hold a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission from those restrictions.
Representative (presenter) told committee members the measure represents a multiyear negotiation on the HB 440 portion and related components of HB 1160. He said the substitute removes earlier limits on the number of acres a county could have subject to the policy and preserves local assessment of the underlying real property at commercial tax rates. He said the tax level in the substitute is $2,500 per megawatt and that the bill applies only to projects greater than 5 megawatts, i.e., commercial-size projects.
Committee amendment 1, adopted by voice vote, changed the setback language to require 200 feet rather than the prior 500 feet. Committee amendment 2, also adopted by voice vote, carved out projects that possess a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission, meaning projects that already have that certificate would not fall under the new setback restriction.
The committee rolled the two amendments into the substitute and voted the house committee substitute number 2 for the two bills do pass by voice and a roll-call tally recorded as 8 yes, 0 no.
The committee discussion included a brief reference to a separate lighting provision affecting wind towers; the presenter said there may be more discussion on that provision if the bills reach the House floor.
Votes at a glance • Motion: "I move that house committee substitute for house bills 440 and 1160 be voted do pass." — Passed by roll call, 8 yes, 0 no.
Next steps The substitute was recommended do pass to the full House. Committee members noted further debate could occur on the floor, particularly on related wind-tower lighting provisions that were discussed but not resolved in committee.
