Solar, Agricultural, Farmland and Environmental Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE "SOLAR, AGRICULTURAL, FARMLAND, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACT"; TO PROVIDE FOR DEFINITIONS; TO ESTABLISH CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY FACILITIES; TO ESTABLISH THE CERTIFICATE APPLICATION PROCESS; TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR HEARINGS REGARDING THE CERTIFICATE APPLICATION; TO ESTABLISH THE PARTIES TO A CERTIFICATION PROCEEDING; TO REQUIRE A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND TO PERMIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO CONSOLIDATE THE REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS; TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S DECISION REGARDING AN APPLICATION; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ISSUE AN ORDER WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS FROM THE DATE THE APPLICATION IS FILED; TO PROVIDE FOR PAYMENT OF COSTS FOR THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR A FILED APPLICATION; AND TO CREATE THE AGRICULTURAL AND FARMLAND VIABILITY PROTECTION FUND.