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Committee approves H.710 to revise definition of electricity-generating facilities for commercial solar

Environment & Energy · February 13, 2026

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Summary

The Environment & Energy committee approved H.710, a bill that revises Vermont’s statutory definition of "electricity generating facilities" to clarify treatment of commercial and utility-scale solar arrays (described in testimony as up to about 5 megawatts and 6–30 acres), sending the bill to the floor with an amendment.

Representative Kathleen James (Bennington-4) said the committee voted to approve H.710, legislation "relating to defining electricity generating facilities," after the Public Utility Commission convened stakeholder workshops to draft clearer statutory language.

The change targets larger commercial or utility-scale solar arrays — what Rep. James described as projects "up to maybe 5 megawatts" and "maybe 6 to 30 acres" — and aims to allow siting on already disturbed sites such as gravel pits while preserving the PUC’s ability to review co-located projects. "We asked the public utility commission to convene a workshop and get all the stakeholders in the room," Rep. James said, describing the process that produced the draft language now before the committee.

Rep. James said developers and invited groups worked with the PUC and legislative counsel to refine the text; "the solar developers who are most impacted by the change" told the committee they "agree that the language was better," she said. The committee considered draft 1.1 of H.710 (dated 02/05/2026, 12:55 PM), which is posted on the committee website.

A motion "to approve H.710 as amended" was made and the clerk called the roll. The roll call recorded the following responses: Bailey — No; Campbell — Yes; Howland — No; Kluttner — Yes; Morrow — Yes; Sebelia — Yes; Southport — No; Tory — Yes; James — Yes; Graham — Yes. After the roll call, the clerk announced, "we voted favorably with amendment 6 3 0," and named the floor reporter for the bill.

The transcript shows the clerk announced the final tally as 6 yes, 3 no, 0 abstentions. The roll-call responses captured in the meeting text record seven persons saying "Yes." Committee members briefly discussed remote voting mechanics and recordkeeping before closing. The committee’s next procedural step is to send the amended H.710 to the House floor for further consideration.

The committee also previewed upcoming testimony on other energy topics, including net metering and a data-center bill; those items will be considered separately.