STEPs for Solar Development
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:
- Guidance for Siting Solar on Brownfields 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- The Draft Guidance for Siting Solar on Agricultural Land document is available for review (updated January 2024).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.
- The Department of Agriculture has agrivoltaics requirements, requirements for solar grazing, and agrivoltaics farm plan guidance on their Connecticut Siting Council Petitions page. For additional information regarding CSC petitions, please contact AGR.Solar@ct.gov. DOAG's Solar and Farming page has additional information, including an overview of agrivoltaics, farmer resources, and information on SCEF.
Community Renewable Energy Siting Tool (CREST):
- Please see the new CREST page for a link to the mapping tool, fact sheets, and additional information.
- What is CREST Factsheet
- Slides from the October 2, 2024 CREST Collaborative Kickoff Meeting are available for review.
Stakeholder Engagement
Public Act 26-127, Section 16 Study on Equitable Distribution of Solar Siting
Section 16(e) of Public Act 26-127 identifies seven (7) issues as the focus of a DEEP report to the General Assembly on the Equitable Distribution of Solar Siting. DEEP has created a PA 26-127 Section 16 Study Materials and Resources Webpage to share the draft report and resources identified by DEEP and consulting organizations.
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 information 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 also available for review.
STEPs Scoping Meetings:
- June 16, 2021 Scoping Meeting:
- July 19, 2021 Scoping Meeting:
- 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 September 2026.