Bill would ask PUC to map municipal 'preferred' renewable sites near existing lines to speed development
Summary
H.597 asks the Public Utility Commission to study and report on an overlay mapping municipal or regional 'preferred' renewable siting areas against existing transmission and distribution infrastructure, with the intent of identifying sites that are easier to develop and that municipalities prefer.
Representative Scott Campbell introduced H.597, asking the Public Utility Commission to undertake "a study and a report on an overlay, sort of a map overlay between preferred, renewable energy siting, places preferred by municipalities or regional planning, commissions." The sponsor said the overlay would highlight locations that are both municipally preferred and adjacent to existing transmission or distribution lines to "channel development into these areas."
Committee members pressed practical questions: who would use such a map and whether utilities or private developers already maintain similar data. Scott Campbell said merchant generators and utilities would be primary users, but regional planners and municipalities could also find the tool helpful. Several members observed that utilities often maintain GIS and capacity information and asked whether a PUC product would duplicate existing resources.
Discussion turned to implementation details. Members asked that the study include identified constraints (for example, capacity limitations or siting barriers) and considered whether the overlay could be automated so updates from utilities and regional planning commissions would refresh the map. The sponsor described the bill as exploratory and emphasized that follow‑up testimony from the PUC and utilities would be needed to refine scope and technical approach.
Next steps: members requested technical testimony from the PUC and utilities to assess feasibility, data sources, and any potential redundancy with utility-maintained mapping before the committee proceeds.
