AN ACT CONCERNING THE TESTING OF SOILS AT CERTAIN SOLAR FACILITIES.

Energy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Environment Committee
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on what actions will be taken if a facility fails its soil test.

Soil Testing for Solar Facilities

This act requires soil testing at solar facilities larger than two megawatts every two years to check for harmful substances.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to set rules for soil tests at large-scale solar photovoltaic facilities with a capacity of two or more megawatts.
Before a facility can start operating, it must pass a soil test checking for contaminants like cadmium, lead, arsenic, and zinc.
After two years of operation, the facility owner must conduct another soil test to check for harmful substances.

Who It Names or Affects

Solar facility owners who want to build or operate large-scale solar photovoltaic facilities in the state with a capacity of two or more megawatts.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) which will set testing rules and receive results.
The Siting Council which will also receive soil test results.

Terms To Know

Solar photovoltaic facility: A large-scale solar power plant that converts sunlight into electricity using panels.
Contaminants: Harmful substances in the soil, like heavy metals and toxic materials.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a solar farm fails its soil test.
It is unclear how much it will cost to conduct these tests.
The exact procedures for submitting soil test results are not detailed in the summary.

Bill History

2026-04-14 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-14 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-14 Connecticut General Assembly
No New File by Committee on Appropriations
2026-04-14 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-04-13 APP
Joint Favorable
2026-04-08 Connecticut General Assembly
Immediate Transmittal to Committee on Appropriations
2026-03-30 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-03-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 175
2026-03-30 LCO
File Number 220
2026-03-23 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/30/26 12:00 PM
2026-03-13 ENV
Joint Favorable Substitute
2026-03-13 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-02-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/04
2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Environment

Official Summary Text

To require the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to conduct soil testing on a biennial basis at utility-scale solar arrays in the state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO 1 of 2

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 316
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE TESTING OF SOILS AT CERTAIN SOLAR
FACILITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) ( Effective October 1, 2026 ) Notwithstanding any 1
provision of chapter 277a of the general statutes, any applicant for a 2
certificate, or petitioner for a declaratory ruling, pursuant to section 16-3
50k of the general statutes, for a solar photovoltaic facility with a 4
capacity of two or more megawatts shall cause a soil test to be conducted 5
at the proposed location for such facility to determine the presence of 6
contaminants, including, but not limited to, degraded heavy metals and 7
toxic substances such as cadmium, lead, arsenic and zinc. The 8
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall prescribe the 9
parameters and requirements of such soil test and the results of such soil 10
test shall be submitted by the applicant or petitioner, as applicable, to 11
the Siting Council and to the Department of Energy and Environmental 12
Protection prior to the issuance of any such certificate or declaratory 13
ruling and in accordance with any procedures established by the Siting 14
Council and department for submission of such soil test results. Not 15
earlier than two years after the construction of any such facility, the 16
owner or operator of such facility shall cause a second such soil test to 17
be conducted at the location of such facility. Such second soil test shall 18
determine the presence of the same contaminants tested for in 19
Substitute Bill No. 316

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connection with the application for a certificate or petition for a 20
declaratory ruling for such facility, as applicable. Such second soil test 21
shall be conducted in accordance with the parameters and requirements 22
prescribed by the department for such second soil test. The results of 23
such second soil test shall be submitted by the owner or operator of such 24
facility to the Siting Council and the department in accordance with any 25
procedures established by the Siting Council and the department for the 26
submission of such second soil test results. The cost of any soil test 27
conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be assumed 28
by such respective applicant, petitioner, owner or operator. 29
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section

ENV Joint Favorable Subst.
APP Joint Favorable