Community solar

AN ACT Relating to fair access to community solar; amending RCW 1
80.28.370, 80.28.375, and 82.16.182; adding new sections to chapter 2
80.28 RCW; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares that 5
community solar:6
(1) Provides investor owned utilities, ratepayers, and 7
communities the opportunity to realize the benefits of distributed 8
energy generation; 9
(2) Will provide family sustaining jobs and investments in the 10
state of Washington; 11
(3) Expands equitable access to the benefits of clean energy for 12
investor-owned utility ratepayers and communities, particularly for 13
income-qualified households, renters, and other individuals who might 14
not be able to install on-site solar energy systems at their 15
buildings; 16
(4) Prevents or reduces negative impacts to the health, safety, 17
and welfare of Washingtonians, especially for vulnerable populations;18
(5) Strengthens the security, resilience, and reliability of the 19
electric grid; 20
H-0740.1
HOUSE BILL 1598
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Bernbaum, Parshley, Tharinger, Berry, Ramel,
Doglio, Pollet, Reed, and Kloba
Read first time 01/24/25. Referred to Committee on Environment &
Energy.
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(6) Contributes to the timely achievement of Washington's 1
greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals; 2
(7) Alleviates stress on electric grid infrastructure in a cost-3
effective manner, which makes it possible to defer or avoid costly 4
transmission and distribution system investments; 5
(8) Helps the state cost-effectively meet the mandates in the 6
Washington state energy code; 7
(9) Is consistent with the goals and intent of the energy 8
assistance provisions of the Washington clean energy transformation 9
act; and 10
(10) Will enhance the state's economy by capitalizing on the 11
opportunities created by local, state, and federal programs and 12
incentives such as the inflation reduction act. 13
Sec. 2. RCW 80.28.370 and 2017 3rd sp.s. c 36 s 10 are each 14
amended to read as follows: 15
The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and 16
RCW 80.28.375 and sections 3 through 6 of this act unless the context 17
clearly requires otherwise. 18
(1) (("Community solar company" means a person, firm, or 19
corporation, other than an electric utility or a community solar 20
cooperative, that owns a community solar project and provides 21
community solar project services to project participants.22
(2) "Community solar project" means a solar energy system that 23
has a direct current nameplate generating capacity that is no larger 24
than one thousand kilowatts.25
(3) "Community solar project services" means the provision of 26
electricity generated by a community solar project, or the provision 27
of the financial benefits associated with electricity generated by a 28
community solar project, to multiple project participants, and may 29
include other services associated with the use of the community solar 30
project such as system monitoring and maintenance, warranty 31
provisions, performance guarantees, and customer service.32
(4) "Electric utility" means a consumer-owned utility or 33
investor-owned utility as those terms are defined in RCW 19.280.020.34
(5) "Project participant" means a customer who enters into a 35
lease, power purchase agreement, loan, or other financial agreement 36
with a community solar company in order to obtain a beneficial 37
interest in, other than direct ownership of, a community solar 38
project.39
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(6) "Solar energy system" means any device or combination of 1
devices or elements that rely upon direct sunlight as an energy 2
source for use in the generation of electricity )) "Community solar 3
bill credit" means a monetary credit for electricity generated by a 4
community solar project, in proportion to a community solar project 5
subscriber's portion of the community solar project's kilowatt-hour 6
output, and allocated to a community solar project subscriber's 7
electricity bill on the utility's monthly billing cycle.8
(2) "Community solar program" or "program" means a program that 9
allows for the development of community solar projects and provides 10
customers of a utility with the option of subscribing to a project 11
and receiving community solar bill credits.12
(3)(a) "Community solar project" means a solar photovoltaic 13
energy system that provides community solar subscribers a community 14
solar bill credit and:15
(i) Has an alternating current nameplate generating capacity no 16
larger than 5,000 kilowatts unless a larger size is approved by the 17
utility serving the site of the project;18
(ii) Is located in the state and is connected to an electric 19
utility's distribution system;20
(iii) Has a minimum of three subscribers and a single customer 21
does not own or subscribe to more than 49 percent of the generating 22
capacity of the project; and23
(iv) Is not located on the same or adjoining parcel as another 24
community solar project, unless the parcel is considered a preferred 25
site, or the project includes an energy storage system.26
(b) At least 50 percent of community solar generating capacity in 27
each community solar project must be subscribed by residential 28
subscribers. At least 30 percent of community solar generating 29
capacity in each community solar project must be subscribed by low-30
income subscribers, low-income service provider subscribers, or a 31
combination of them.32
(4) "Community solar project manager" means an entity, other than 33
an electric utility, that develops, owns, or operates one or more 34
community solar projects.35
(5) "Community solar project services" means the provision of the 36
financial benefits associated with electricity generated by a 37
community solar project to multiple project subscribers, and may 38
include other services associated with the use of the community solar 39
project such as leasing land, system monitoring and maintenance, 40
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warranty provisions, performance guarantees, accounting, reporting, 1
and customer service. 2
(6) "Community solar subscription manager" means an entity, other 3
than an electric utility, that:4
(a) Markets community solar projects or otherwise provides 5
community solar-related services under its own brand name; and6
(b) Performs any administrative actions to connect, enroll, 7
maintain, and update customers with community solar projects.8
(7) "Electric utility" means a consumer-owned utility or9
investor-owned utility as those terms are defined in RCW 19.280.020.10
(8) "Energy storage system" means any commercially available 11
system that is capable of retaining, storing, and delivering energy 12
by chemical, thermal, mechanical, or other means.13
(9) "Low-income" means household incomes that do not exceed the 14
higher of 80 percent of area median household income or 200 percent 15
of the federal poverty level, adjusted for household size. 16
Subscribers may be considered low-income for the purposes of this 17
program if they are a retail electric customer that is enrolled in a 18
low-income program facilitated by the state or federal government, 19
enrolled in a low-income energy program facilitated by the electric 20
utility, resides in verifiable low-income housing, or is determined 21
as such by the commission or any verification method authorized by 22
the United States department of treasury for the qualified low-income 23
economic benefit project investment tax credit under P.L. 117-169 24
Sec. 13103(2)(c). 25
(10) "Low-income service provider" has the same meaning as 26
defined in RCW 82.16.182.27
(11) "Net-crediting" means a payment mechanism that requires an 28
investor-owned utility to include both the community solar 29
subscription cost and the community solar bill credit on the 30
subscriber's electric bill.31
(12) "Preferred site" means rooftops, parking structures, 32
existing impervious surfaces, landfills, brownfields, previously 33
developed sites, irrigation canals and ponds, stormwater collection 34
ponds, industrial areas, solid waste facilities, land or structures 35
owned by a metropolitan housing authority, department of natural 36
resources' properties identified for solar development, and other 37
sites that do not displace critical habitat or productive farmland as 38
defined by state and county planning processes. Solar projects that 39
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intentionally integrate with agricultural operations and projects 1
owned by tribes may also qualify as preferred sites.2
(13) "Prevailing wage" means the wage rate as identified in 3
chapter 39.12 RCW.4
(14) "Renewable energy credit" has the same meaning as defined in 5
RCW 19.285.030.6
(15) "Solar photovoltaic energy system" means any device or 7
combination of devices or elements that relies upon direct sunlight 8
as an energy source for use in the generation of electricity.9
(16) "Subscriber" means a retail customer of an electric utility 10
who enters into a contractual agreement to receive bill credits from 11
a community solar project or to secure an ownership interest in a 12
community solar project that grants the customer rights to community 13
solar bill credits for application to the customer's electricity 14
bill.15
(17) "Subscription" means a portion of the output from or 16
capacity of a community solar project located in an electric 17
utility's territory purchased from a community solar project manager 18
or a community solar subscription manager.19
(18) "Unsubscribed energy" means the bill credits not allocated 20
to a subscriber that accrue if a community solar project is not fully 21
subscribed in any given month.22
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 23
RCW to read as follows: 24
(1) The commission shall update rules for community solar 25
projects to incorporate the requirements of this act.26
(a) The commission shall host a minimum of two workshops with 27
interested parties on the community solar program described in this 28
act. The purpose of the workshops is to ensure consideration of 29
relevant information and the expertise of interested parties in the 30
creation, modification, or expansion of community solar programs.31
(b) The working group shall consist of: 32
(i) Utility representatives; 33
(ii) Solar industry representatives; 34
(iii) Consumer advocates; 35
(iv) Members of, or organizations serving, overburdened 36
communities and vulnerable populations; 37
(v) Tribes, or people or organizations working for or with tribes 38
on clean energy programs or projects; 39
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(vi) Labor unions; and 1
(vii) Other interested parties. 2
(2) Before adopting rules for the community solar program, the 3
commission shall review, at a minimum, any recommendations, comments, 4
or relevant information provided during the workshops.5
(3) Not later than 18 months after the effective date of this 6
section, the commission shall adopt rules to implement the community 7
solar program, which shall include the following: 8
(a) A methodology for valuing community solar bill credit rates 9
as outlined in section 5 of this act; 10
(b) A process for the certification of community solar11
facilities; 12
(c) Modifications of existing investor-owned utility 13
interconnection fees as needed to facilitate the efficient and cost-14
effective interconnection of community solar projects so that the 15
interconnection customer pays the reasonable costs and 16
interconnections are designed, engineered, and completed in 17
accordance with good utility practice; 18
(d) Consumer protections for subscribers, including:19
(i) Standardizing a customer disclosure form for residential 20
subscribers; 21
(ii) Prohibiting upfront sign-on fees or credit checks as a means 22
of establishing eligibility for residential subscribers; and23
(iii) Preventing early termination charges to any residential 24
subscriber; 25
(e) Notices required for each community solar project manager to 26
be sent in a standardized format containing information related to 27
subscriber enrollment to the investor-owned utility that services the 28
area where the organization's community solar project is sited;29
(f) Opportunities for subscribers that receive utility 30
allowances; and 31
(g) Community solar program evaluations to ensure that 32
subscribers are effectively and equitably receiving credits from 33
participating in the community solar program. 34
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 35
RCW to read as follows: 36
(1) The commission shall conduct reviews of the community solar 37
program described in this act at least once five years after the 38
effective date of this section and once every 10 years after the 39
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effective date of this section and submit a report to the legislature 1
with the following information: 2
(a) The number and locations of operating community solar 3
facilities; 4
(b) The amount of nameplate capacity certified;5
(c) The number of subscribers, the total generating capacity that 6
was subscribed to by those subscribers, and the types of customer 7
classes; 8
(d) The number of low-income subscribers and low-income service 9
providers, the total generating capacity that was subscribed to by 10
those subscribers, and the types of customer classes;11
(e) Whether cost savings were achieved by subscribers; and12
(f) Any other metrics identified by the commission or the 13
stakeholder working group. 14
(2) The commission may adopt rules to require community solar 15
organizations and electric utilities to provide the commission with a 16
report containing the relevant information described in subsection 17
(1) of this section. 18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 19
RCW to read as follows: 20
(1)(a) The commission must adopt a community solar bill credit 21
valuation methodology that recognizes and incorporates the values 22
that community solar programs bring to the electrical grid, 23
including: 24
(i) The value of the electricity; 25
(ii) The value of the projects to transmission and distribution 26
capacity, deferred transmission and distribution investments, 27
deferred generation investments and added generation capacity, 28
voltage, reduced system losses, reduced line losses, and ancillary 29
services; 30
(iii) The value of the projects to grid reliability and31
resilience; 32
(iv) The value of environmental attributes, greenhouse gas 33
emissions reductions, methane leakage reductions, public health, and 34
energy security; and 35
(v) Other factors associated with locally produced electricity as 36
determined by the commission. 37
(b) The community solar bill credit valuation must provide 38
additional value for community solar projects when the project:39
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(i) Is located on a preferred site; 1
(ii) Is owned by or serves tribal communities; or2
(iii) Incorporates an energy storage system. 3
(2) The community solar bill credit valuation must:4
(a) Ensure the ability to finance, develop, and maintain5
community solar projects; 6
(b) Maximize the value that ratepayers, subscribers, and host 7
communities receive from projects; and 8
(c) Include an annual escalator. 9
(3) Unsubscribed energy credits may be rolled forward on a 10
community solar project account until it is allocated by a community 11
solar project manager or community solar subscription manager to 12
subscribers. 13
(4) Nothing in this section may be construed as intending to 14
preclude persons from investing in or possessing an ownership 15
interest in a community solar project or from applying for and 16
receiving federal investment tax credits. 17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 80.28 18
RCW to read as follows: 19
(1) A community solar project manager or community solar 20
subscription manager must: 21
(a) Collect information regarding the financial costs and 22
benefits realized by subscribers; 23
(b) Administer projects in a transparent manner that allows for 24
fair and nondiscriminatory opportunities for participation;25
(c) Provide each subscriber with a disclosure form containing all 26
material terms and conditions of participation in the project; and27
(d) Register with the commission. 28
(2)(a) Each subscriber's monthly community solar bill credit must 29
be applied to the subscriber's retail electric bill in the month 30
following the billing cycle in which the community solar project 31
generated the credits. 32
(b) If the community solar project manager or community solar 33
subscription manager amends the community solar project's subscriber 34
list, the changes must be reflected on any customer bills issued more 35
than 15 days after the amendment is received by the utility.36
(3) Investor-owned utilities must reasonably allow for the 37
transfer and portability of subscriptions, including allowing a 38
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subscriber to retain a subscription if the subscriber moves within 1
the same investor-owned utility's service territory.2
(4) Investor-owned utilities may not change a subscriber's 3
applicable customer class because of the subscriber's subscription to 4
a community solar project. 5
(5) A community solar subscription manager may enter a net-6
crediting agreement on behalf of an eligible customer. Retail 7
electric bills subjected to net-crediting must display the 8
subscriber's subscription fee and furnish the subscriber with a net-9
credit equivalent to the total bill credit value for the generation 10
period, deducting the subscription fee and any program-related 11
administrative fees. 12
(a) Investor-owned utilities shall remit the subscription fee to 13
the community solar subscription manager within 60 days of the 14
energy's generation. 15
(b) The investor-owned utility may impose a net-crediting fee, 16
capped at one percent of the subscription fee, unless the commission 17
determines a higher fee is just and reasonable. 18
(6) The commission may amend the required residential, low-19
income, and low-income service provider subscriber level no sooner 20
than 10 years after the adoption of program rules.21
(a) Community solar capacity or generation allocated to low-22
income subscribers and low-income service provider subscribers are 23
exempt from community solar program-related administrative fees.24
(b) Community solar projects must maintain their low-income 25
subscriber threshold for the project's lifetime. 26
(7) Renewable energy credits associated with the generation of 27
electricity by a community solar project must be retired on behalf of 28
the subscriber. 29
Sec. 7. RCW 80.28.375 and 2017 3rd sp.s. c 36 s 11 are each 30
amended to read as follows: 31
(1) No community solar ((company)) project manager or their 32
contracted agents, affiliates, or electric service providers may 33
engage in business in this state except in accordance with the 34
provisions of this chapter unless they are an established electric 35
utility. Engaging in business ((as a community solar company )) 36
includes advertising, soliciting, offering, or entering into an 37
agreement to own a community solar project and provide community 38
solar project services to ((electric utility)) customers.39
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(2) A community solar ((company)) project manager must have a 1
valid business license pursuant to RCW 19.28.041 and register with 2
the commission before engaging in business in this state ((or 3
applying for certification from the Washington State University 4
extension energy program under RCW 82.16.165(1). Registration with 5
the commission as a community solar company must occur on an annual 6
basis)). The registration must be on a form prescribed by the 7
commission and contain that information as the commission may by rule 8
require, but must include at a minimum: 9
(a) The name and address of the community solar ((company)) 10
project manager; 11
(b) The name and address of the community solar ((company's)) 12
project manager's registered agent, if any; 13
(c) ((The name, address, and title of each officer or director;14
(d))) The community solar ((company's most current balance 15
sheet)) project manager's proof of insurance; 16
(((e))) (d) The community solar ((company's)) project manager's 17
latest annual report, if any, which should be filed confidentially;18
(((f))) (e) A description of the services the community solar 19
((company)) project manager offers or intends to offer ((, including 20
financing models)); and 21
(((g))) (f) Disclosure of any pending litigation against it.22
(3) As a precondition to registration, the commission may require 23
the procurement of a performance bond ((or other mechanism sufficient 24
to cover any advances or deposits the community solar company may 25
collect from project participants or order that the advances or 26
deposits be held in escrow or trust)). 27
(4) The commission may deny registration to any community solar 28
((company)) project manager that: 29
(a) Does not provide the information required by this section; or30
(b) Fails to provide a performance bond or other mechanism, if 31
required((;32
(c) Does not possess adequate financial resources to provide the 33
proposed service; or34
(d) Does not possess adequate technical competency to provide the 35
proposed service)). 36
(5) The commission must take action to approve or issue a notice 37
of hearing concerning any application for registration within 38
((thirty)) 45 days after receiving the application. The commission 39
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may approve an application with or without a hearing. The commission 1
may deny an application after a hearing. 2
(6) The commission may charge a community solar ((company)) 3
project manager an ((annual)) application fee to recover the cost of 4
processing applications for registration under this section. The fee 5
must not be set in such a manner as to preclude nonprofits, 6
individuals, and small businesses from participating as community 7
solar project managers.8
(7) The commission may adopt rules that describe the manner by 9
which it will register a community solar ((company)) project manager, 10
ensure that the terms and conditions of community solar projects or 11
community solar project services comply with the requirements of 12
chapter 36, Laws of 2017 3rd sp. sess., establish the community solar 13
((company's)) project manager's responsibilities for responding to 14
customer complaints and disputes, and adopt annual reporting 15
requirements. In addition to the application fee authorized under 16
subsection (6) of this section, the commission may adopt regulatory 17
fees applicable to a community solar ((companies)) project manager 18
pursuant to RCW 80.04.080, 80.24.010, and 80.24.020. Such fees may 19
not exceed the cost of ensuring compliance with this chapter.20
(8) The commission may suspend or revoke a registration upon 21
((complaint by any interested party, or upon )) the commission's own 22
motion after notice and opportunity for hearing ((,)) when it finds 23
that a registered community solar ((company)) project manager or its 24
agent has violated this chapter or the rules of the commission, or 25
that the community solar ((company)) project manager or its agent has 26
been found by a court or governmental agency to have violated the 27
laws of a state or the United States. 28
(9) For the purpose of ensuring compliance with this chapter, the 29
commission may issue penalties against community solar ((companies)) 30
project managers for violations of this chapter as provided for 31
public service companies pursuant to chapter 80.04 RCW.32
(10) Upon request of the commission, a community solar 33
((company)) project manager registered under this section must 34
provide information about its community solar projects or community 35
solar project services. 36
(11) A violation of this section constitutes an unfair or 37
deceptive act in trade or commerce in violation of chapter 19.86 RCW, 38
the consumer protection act. Acts in violation of chapter 36, Laws of 39
2017 3rd sp. sess. are not reasonable in relation to the development 40
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and preservation of business, and constitute matters vitally 1
affecting the public interest for the purpose of applying the 2
consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW. 3
(12) For the purposes of RCW 19.86.170, actions or transactions 4
of a community solar ((company)) project manager may not be deemed 5
otherwise permitted, prohibited, or regulated by the commission.6
(13) Community solar subscription managers must have a valid 7
business license pursuant to RCW 19.28.041 and register and maintain 8
"good standing" with the commission before engaging in business in 9
this state. The registration must be on a form prescribed by the 10
commission and contain such information as the commission may by rule 11
require, but must include, at a minimum:12
(a) The name and address of the community solar subscription 13
manager;14
(b) The name and address of the community solar subscription 15
manager's registered agent, if any;16
(c) A description of the services the community solar 17
subscription manager offers or intends to offer;18
(d) Disclosure of any pending litigation against the community 19
solar subscription manager;20
(e) The community solar subscription manager's proof of 21
insurance; and22
(f) A copy of the standard community solar subscription agreement 23
the community solar subscription manager will utilize.24
Sec. 8. RCW 82.16.182 and 2022 c 212 s 4 are each amended to 25
read as follows: 26
(1) The definitions in this section apply throughout this section 27
and RCW 82.16.183 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.28
(a)(((i))) "Administrator" means the utility, nonprofit, 29
community solar project manager, community solar subscription 30
manager, tribal housing authority ((as provided in (a)(ii) of this 31
subsection)), public agency, or other local housing authority that 32
organizes and administers a community solar project as provided in 33
RCW 82.16.183 and 82.16.170. 34
(((ii) A tribal housing authority may only administer a community 35
solar project on tribal lands or lands held in trust for a federally 36
recognized tribe by the United States for subscribers who are tribal 37
members.))38
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(b)(i) "Certification" means the authorization issued by the 1
Washington State University extension energy program establishing a 2
community solar project administrator's eligibility to receive a low-3
income community solar incentive payment from the electric utility 4
serving the site of the community solar project, on behalf of, and 5
for the purpose of providing direct benefits to, its low-income 6
subscribers, low-income service provider subscribers, and tribal and 7
public agency subscribers. 8
(ii) A one-time certification may be issued to an electric 9
utility for the purpose of implementing billing system upgrades that 10
enable community solar bill crediting. The incentive payment may not 11
exceed $1,000,000 per investor-owned utility or $250,000 per consumer 12
owned utility.13
(c)(i) "Community solar project" means a solar energy system 14
that: 15
(A) Has a direct current nameplate capacity ((that is greater 16
than 12 kilowatts but no greater than 199 kilowatts;17
(B) Has, at minimum, either two subscribers or one low-income 18
service provider subscriber; and19
(C) Meets the applicable eligibility requirements in RCW 20
82.16.183.21
(ii))) no greater than 199 kilowatts, has, at minimum, two 22
subscribers or one low-income service provider subscriber, and meets 23
the applicable eligibility requirements in RCW 82.16.183; or24
(B) Has the same meaning as defined in RCW 80.28.370.25
(ii) A community solar project may include a storage system with 26
a solar energy system. 27
(d) "Community solar project manager" has the same meaning as 28
defined in RCW 80.28.370.29
(e) "Consumer-owned utility" has the same meaning as in RCW 30
19.280.020. 31
(((e))) (f) "Electric utility" or "utility" means a consumer-32
owned utility or investor-owned utility as those terms are defined in 33
RCW 19.280.020. 34
(((f))) (g) "Energy assistance" has the same meaning as provided 35
in RCW 19.405.020. 36
(((g))) (h) "Energy burden" has the same meaning as provided in 37
RCW 19.405.020. 38
(((h))) (i) "Governing body" has the same meaning as provided in 39
RCW 19.280.020. 40
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(((i))) (j)(i) "Installed cost" includes only the renewable 1
energy system components and fees that are integral and necessary for 2
the generation and storage of electricity. Components and fees 3
include: 4
(A) Solar modules and inverters; 5
(B) Battery systems; 6
(C) Balance of system, such as racking, wiring, switch gears, and 7
meter bases; 8
(D) Nonhardware costs incurred up to the date of the final 9
electrical inspection, such as fees associated with engineering, 10
permitting, interconnection, and application; 11
(E) Labor; and 12
(F) Sales tax. 13
(ii) "Installed cost" does not include structures and fixtures 14
that are not integral and necessary to the generation or storage of 15
electricity, such as carports and roofing. 16
(((j))) (k) "Interconnection customer" means the person, 17
corporation, partnership, government agency, or other entity that 18
proposes to interconnect, or has executed an interconnection 19
agreement, with the electric utility. 20
(((k))) (l) "Low-income" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 21
((19.405.020)) 80.28.370. 22
(((l))) (m) "Low-income service provider" includes, but is not 23
limited to, a local community action agency or local community 24
service agency designated by the department of commerce under chapter 25
43.63A RCW, local housing authority, tribal housing authority, low-26
income tribal housing program, affordable housing provider, food 27
bank, or other nonprofit organization that provides services to low-28
income households as part of their core mission. 29
(((m))) (n) "Multifamily residential building" means a building 30
containing more than two sleeping units or dwelling units where 31
occupants are primarily permanent in nature. 32
(((n))) (o) "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, 33
corporation, company, association, agency, or any other legal entity.34
(((o))) (p) "Preferred sites" ((means rooftops, structures, 35
existing impervious surfaces, landfills, brownfields, previously 36
developed sites, irrigation canals and ponds, stormwater collection 37
ponds, industrial areas, dual-use solar projects that ensure ongoing 38
agricultural operations, and other sites that do not displace 39
critical habitat or productive farmland as defined by state and 40
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county planning processes )) has the same meaning as defined in RCW 1
80.28.370. 2
(((p))) (q) "Public agency" means any political subdivision of 3
the state including, but not limited to, municipal and county 4
governments, special purpose districts, and local housing 5
authorities, but does not include state agencies. 6
(((q))) (r)(i) Except as otherwise provided in (((q))) (r)(ii) of 7
this subsection, "qualifying subscriber" means a low-income 8
subscriber, low-income service provider subscriber, tribal agency 9
subscriber, or public agency subscriber. 10
(ii) For tribal agency subscribers and public agency subscribers, 11
only the portion of their subscription to a community solar project 12
that is demonstrated to benefit low-income beneficiaries, including 13
low-income service providers and services provided to low-income 14
citizens or households, is to be considered a qualifying subscriber.15
(((r))) (s) "Retail electric customer" has the same meaning as in 16
RCW 80.60.010. 17
(((s))) (t) "Subscriber" ((means a retail electric customer of an 18
electric utility who owns or is the beneficiary of one or more units 19
of a community solar project directly interconnected with that same 20
utility)) has the same meaning as defined in RCW 80.28.370.21
(((t))) (u) "Subscription" ((means an agreement between a 22
subscriber and the administrator of a community solar project )) has 23
the same meaning as defined in RCW 80.28.370. 24
(2) This section expires June 30, 2038. 25
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