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Committee approves amended energy production zones bill that preserves local control over wind, solar
Summary
Senators approved Senate Bill 425 as amended 7-3. The amendment extended notice to local governments from 180 to 270 days, removed wind and solar from the bill’s energy production zone preemption, and added clarifying language on utility siting; some senators warned the changes still raise local-control and generation-priority concerns.
The Senate Utilities Committee voted 7-3 to pass Senate Bill 425 as amended, adopting amendment number 4 and then passing the amended bill. The amendment lengthened the required notice to local units of government and removed wind and solar projects from the bill’s energy production zone preemption language.
Senator Donato offered amendment number 4, which extended initial notice to local units of government from 180 days to 270 days, removed wind and solar projects from designation as energy production zones and from the bill’s local preemption provisions, and added clarifying language that utility siting authority in the bill should not be construed to limit siting options outside explicitly identified areas.
“This amendment addresses the concerns that we have heard since the bill was introduced,” Donato told the committee and asked for support. The committee first adopted the amendment by roll call, with the record showing a 7-3 vote to adopt Amendment 4.
Senator Hundley acknowledged the goal of adding generation quickly but warned the amendment “deprioritize[s] wind and solar” and said the bill raised questions about balancing rapid generation deployment with oversight and local decision-making. “I’m not comfortable with the bill as it is,” Hundley said, citing concerns about local input and generation agnosticism.
After further discussion the committee voted on the amended bill. Roll-call entries recorded for the final vote were: Senator Hundley — No; Senator Spencer — Nay; Senator Ford — No; Senator Buchanan — Aye; Senator Dorio — Aye; Senator Burton — Aye; Senator Dirie — Aye; Senator Lysing — Yes; Senator Donato — Aye; Chair Cook — Aye. Senator Zay was excused. The committee recorded the bill as passed 7-3.
Committee records show the amendment and the bill were intended to respond to concerns raised by local governments and electric cooperatives; the amendment specifically preserved local authority over wind and solar projects where prior agreements exist and removed those project types from the bill’s preemption provisions. The amendment also clarified that language about where utilities may site infrastructure should not be read to limit siting in other areas not explicitly described in law.
The committee’s passage sends the amended bill forward in the legislative process; the transcript does not record additional floor action or final enactment steps.
