STEPs is Sustainable, Transparent and Efficient Practices for Solar Development  

To advance the Governor's Council on Climate Change (GC3) and Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) recommendations, DEEP created a stakeholder engagement process for Sustainable, Transparent and Efficient Practices (STEPs) for Solar Development to identify policies, legislative actions, and best practices, related to the procurement, siting, and permitting of ground-mounted solar systems in Connecticut.

STEPs has the following objectives:

• Ensure that new solar generation projects can be sited and built in a predictable, efficient, and transparent manner;
• Include consideration of local laws concerning zoning, the environment or public health and safety;·
• Avoid, or minimize and mitigate, to the maximum extent practicable, adverse impacts on the environment, agricultural, and natural resources;·
• Promote equity and environmental justice for these projects; and
• Ensure that state and/or ratepayer-supported procurements align with these objectives.

Guidance for Siting Solar in Connecticut:  

• The Guidance for Siting Solar on Brownfields document is available (updated June 2024).
• The Draft Guidance for Siting Solar on Agricultural Land document is available for review (updated January 2024).

Please provide feedback via email to DEEP.STEPS@ct.gov.

Community Renewable Energy Siting Tool (CREST) Collaborative Meetings:

• Slides from the October 2, 2024 CREST Collaborative Kickoff Meeting are available for review

STEPs/SCEF Stakeholder Engagement Meeting on Agrivoltaics:

• On August 16, 2023, CT DEEP held a virtual public information meeting on the new Draft Guidance for Siting Solar on Agricultural Land and potential agrivoltaics bid preferences in the upcoming Shared Clean Energy Facility Program procurement. The meeting slides and meeting recording with unofficial transcript are available for review.

2023 Energy Procurement and Siting Workshop:

• On March 29, 2023, CT DEEP held a virtual public informational meeting on siting and environmental best practices for the upcoming clean energy procurements. The Energy Procurement and Siting Workshop meeting slides are included as Attachment A in the Notice of Proceeding and Public Meeting, and the Meeting Recording and Unofficial Transcript are available for review. 

STEPs Scoping Meetings:

June 16, 2021 Scoping Meeting:

• Scoping Meeting Power Point Presentation
• June 16, 2021 Scoping Meeting Recording and Unofficial Transcript

July 19, 2021 Scoping Meeting:

• Scoping Meeting Notice for July 19, 2021
• Spanish Scoping Meeting Notice for July 19, 2021
• Scoping Meeting Presentation for July 19, 2021
• Spanish Scoping Meeting Presentation for July 19, 2021
• July 19 2021 Scoping Meeting Recording and Unofficial Transcript 

July 20, 2021 SCEF and STEPs Bid Preference Public Meeting:

• Scoping Meeting Presentation for July 20, 2021
• Spanish Scoping Meeting Presentation for July 20, 2021
• July 20, 2021 SCEF and STEPS Bid Preference Public Meeting Recording and Unofficial Transcript
• Download the Solar Siting and Permitting Engagement Notice
• Download the Scoping Meeting Reference Sheet 
• Download the STEPs Scoping Comments- Due July 26th, 2021 (zip file)
• Download the SCEF Bid Preference Comments - Due July 26th, 2021 (zip file) 

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Content last updated December 2024.