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Agency: Section 248 requires reclamation plans for solar sites; permanent impacts handled via mitigation
Summary
Agency staff told the committee Section 248 proceedings treat underlying agricultural soils as retaining their classification after decommissioning and recommended permit conditions (pre/post bulk density testing, reclamation plans); permanent features such as substations may require off‑site mitigation to VHCB. Committee members asked about decommissioning bonds and technical specifics.
Ari Rockman Miller told the committee that Section 248 (the separate permitting framework for certain generation projects) is distinct from Act 250 but that the agency reviews solar projects for impacts to agricultural soils. ‘‘In the section 2 48 context, at least, at least in theory, the law says that the underlying soils, if they're agricultural land, maintain that classification, in the future once the site is decommissioned,’’ he said, and described the agency’s recommended permit conditions to protect soils and enable reclamation.
Miller said…
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