VT H0394

Requires regional and municipal plans to be consistent with Vermont Conservation Design to obtain energy compliance certification for enhanced energy planning

Raises the net metering threshold from 15 kW to 25 kW for triggering additional application requirements, and allows collocated independent solar facilities with separate equipment and grid connections to be treated as separate plants (capped at 500 kW cumulative)

Limits Public Utility Commission jurisdiction over electric distribution upgrades to stability, reliability, and public health and safety impacts only

Creates a Public Energy Advocate position in the Attorney General's Office to assist applicants seeking certificates of public good for energy storage and generation projects, with $120,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2026

Establishes decision deadlines of 12 months for facilities 5 MW or less and 15 months for facilities over 5 MW, and requires a December 2025 report on forest land converted for renewable energy and associated mitigation measures