(a) The Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) is directed to perform a study of the overall effects of utility-scale solar energy development in this state. The study must include, but not be limited to, examinations of:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 4-10-116

  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Short-term and long-term projections on the amount of acreage needed to accommodate utility-scale solar development;
(2) Hazardous waste as defined in § 68-212-104, that may exist in photovoltaic modules, energy storage system batteries, or other equipment used in utility-scale solar energy development;
(3) Federal regulatory requirements regarding decommissioning and managing end-of-life photovoltaic modules, energy storage system batteries, and other equipment used in utility-scale solar energy development;
(4) Statutory and regulatory requirements in other states regarding decommissioning and managing end-of-life photovoltaic modules, energy storage system batteries, and other equipment used in utility-scale solar energy development;
(5) Financial assurances and responsibilities of owners and operators in the event of natural disasters, pollution from solar energy system failures, decommissioning of a solar energy system, and end-of-life management of photovoltaic modules, energy storage system batteries, and other equipment used in utility-scale solar development;
(6) Which federal and state regulatory agencies are responsible for certification and oversight to determine the proper installation and operation of utility-scale solar energy systems;
(7) The needed state infrastructure to facilitate the collection, transport, and disposal of utility-scale solar energy systems;
(8) Implications of utility-scale solar energy systems on the local property tax base;
(9) Local zoning and regulatory templates to ensure consistency throughout the state regarding local siting of utility-scale solar energy development;
(10) The importance of private property rights and the ability of a landowner to use or transfer interests in property;
(11) The importance of a variety of energy sources in this state’s economic and community development recruiting efforts;
(12) The efforts of the Tennessee valley authority and local power companies to offer utility-scale sustainable power options; and
(13) Required lease terms and conditions to protect future property use and rights of lessors in the event of default or termination of a lease.
(b) The study must also examine, for the purpose of determining any necessary consumer protections, the installation of solar energy generation and storage on the property of residential electric customers.
(c) It is the legislative intent that this study be conducted within TACIR’s existing resources.
(d) On or before September 30, 2023, TACIR shall report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to members of the energy, agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate and members of the agriculture and natural resources committee of the house of representatives.
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