HB3146 Summary

• Modifies wind tower setback distances from occupied community buildings and nonparticipating residences to require 1,320 feet or 3 times the maximum blade tip height, whichever is greater (increased from 2.1 times).

• Allows counties to require a comprehensive agricultural drainage plan to mitigate surface and subsurface drainage impacts on farmland for both wind and solar facilities.

• Requires facility owners to reach agreements with drainage districts to cross or impact drainage systems and to repair or compensate for drainage damage caused by construction.

• Removes the requirement for commercial solar energy facility owners to submit agricultural impact mitigation agreements to the Department at least 45 days prior to construction.

• Clarifies that construction and deconstruction standards must conform to the Department of Agriculture's standard agricultural impact mitigation agreements unless underlying landowner agreements are more restrictive.