Every week, Stateside Associates will feature energy-related legislative, regulatory, and federal programs impacting state and local public policies and proceedings, including upcoming Groups events, activities, and conversations in This Week in Energy.
For more information on our Energy Practice, please contact Taylor Beis.
Generation
LEGISLATIVE
In Connecticut, HB 5471, introduced on March 5, authorizes shared clean energy organizations to develop renewable generation and storage facilities for any electric distribution customer. This measure requires utilities to provide billing credits and creates a study group on community energy impacts. A public hearing was held on March 12, and an executive session is scheduled for March 19.
In Oklahoma, HB 3175, which establishes the Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, passed the House on March 17. The office is designed to coordinate with federal regulators, streamline the permitting process for advanced reactors, and manage a new revolving fund for grants.
In Hawaii, SCR 166, introduced on March 16, requests that the Public Utilities Commission impose strict conditions on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) costs to avoid stranded assets and prioritize the state's 100% renewable goal. A hearing was held on March 25 in the Senate Commerce Committee.
Affordability
LEGISLATIVE
As previously noted, SB 3183 in Hawaii, which restricts solar tax credits after 2026 to single-family homeowners with incomes of $250,000 or less, passed the Senate on March 10. Following a March 19 hearing in the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, the bill passed committee on March 24 unanimously.
Tennessee's HB 1843/SB 1769, which proposes the implementation of energy rate caps specifically for senior citizens, passed the House on March 23.
Large Load and Data Centers
LEGISLATIVE
In California, SB 886 passed the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee on March 17 with a 12-4 vote. The bill, which establishes tariffs for the interconnection of large load facilities exceeding 75 MW, was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 25.
Also in California, AB 2383, requires the Public Utilities Commission to create a new, distinct classification for retail electric consumers who are large energy users, defined as facilities with peak load of 20 MW or greater. The bill aims to prevent cost shifting and that ensures these facilities are responsible for electrical infrastructure upgrades required for interconnection. A hearing in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee is scheduled for April 8.
In Florida, SB 484, introduced on January 13, prohibits nondisclosure agreements for data centers and mandates that large-load customers pay full service costs to protect ratepayers. The measure also requires water conservation plans, restricts foreign countries of concern, and an independent study on data center impacts. Following its passage in the House on March 11, it passed the Senate on March 13. It awaits the Governor’s signature.
In Tennessee, HB 1847/SB 2128 requires data center owners or operators to pay the cost of infrastructure needed to support their facilities and ensures costs are not shifted to other retail and residential customers. The measure was assigned to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on March 25.
Wisconsin’s SB 843 introduced January 15 to shield ratepayers from data center infrastructure costs, mandates on-site renewables and closed-loop cooling. A March 17 amendment further requires local municipal approval for any off-site power projects serving these facilities.
Electricity and Market Issues
LEGISLATIVE
Arizona’s HB 2912, which shifts electric utilities to a three-year integrated resource plan cycle, passed the House, and hearings were held by the Senate Natural Resources and Rules Committees on March 17 and 24.
Also in Arizona, HB 2389 allows utilities to replace existing facilities or construct new plants adjacent to current sites without a new certificate of environmental compatibility. The measure passed the House on March 17 and assigned to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
Illinois’s HB 4371, which establishes a streamlined regulatory framework for small-scale solar devices, held additional committee hearings on March 18 and 24.
REGULATORY
The Public Service Commission in New York is accepting comments until March 27 on utility ownership of renewable generation including potential ratepayer impacts, generation siting impacts, standardized interconnection requirements, and potential broader regulatory impacts.
Permitting and Siting
LEGISLATIVE
HB 1268 in Colorado, which establishes a new framework for local governments to designate “renewable energy reinvestment areas”, held a hearing on March 11 and passed the House on March 16. The measure was assigned to the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee on March 19.
In Mississippi, HB 1069, the Mississippi Agricultural and Farmland Wind Tower Protection Act of 2026, establishes statewide siting and permitting requirements for large wind facilities. After the Senate passed an amended version on March 9, the House declined to concur on March 16, sending the bill to a conference committee to resolve disputes over a proposed one-year moratorium.
In Rhode Island, HB 8294, introduced on March 13, grants "by-right" zoning status, which allows projects to proceed without special permits or requirements, to energy storage located on abandoned property. The measure also expands current renewable permitting laws to include storage.
REGULATORY
In New York, a request for information, RFI 6138, was issued by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on March 23 to solicit input on the development of the Sun and Soil Program. The request seeks feedback on agrivoltaics, solar and battery storage microgrids for farm operations, and strategies for co-utilizing solar infrastructure and commercial agricultural production.
GROUPS EVENTS
For more information on upcoming events, contact Taylor Beis.
