HB4651 Summary

• Renames the "Wind Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act" to the "Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act" to include both wind and solar facilities.

• Expands the definition of "commercial renewable energy facility" to encompass commercial solar energy facilities of 500 kilowatts or greater in total nameplate generating capacity, in addition to existing wind facilities.

• Requires commercial solar energy facility owners to enter into agricultural impact mitigation agreements with the Department of Agriculture prior to making contact with landowners seeking underlying agreements, rather than before a public hearing like wind facilities.

• Makes conforming changes to the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code to update references from "commercial wind energy facility" to "commercial renewable energy facility" throughout.

• Takes effect immediately upon becoming law.