SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4690

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 11, 2025

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 4690.

      As amended, this bill would provide that if transmission and distribution wires are required to be connected to, or from, an energy generation facility located in the State to allow the facility to interconnect to an electric distribution or transmission system, such that the wires would cross preserved farmland, the owner of the facility may submit an application to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for approval of a proposed project to install the transmission and distribution wires.  The bill would establish an application process and require the submission of certain information related to the proposed project.  Under the bill, the SADC, in consultation with the County Agriculture Development Board or organization that retains the development rights pursuant to the easement in place on each parcel of preserved farmland impacted by the proposed project, as applicable, would be required to render a decision on an application submitted within 60 days.

      If the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) determines that a proposed project is necessary to serve the State’s energy needs, the bill would authorize BPU staff to file a letter with the SADC explaining the public need for the proposed project.  In addition, the BPU could submit a board order to the SADC, which designates the proposed project as eligible to receive State incentives.  The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the SADC, would be required to grant approval of the application within 30 days of receiving the BPU’s letter or board order.  However, if the Secretary of Agriculture finds that there will be a substantial disruption to preserved farmland resulting from the proposed project as described in the application, the secretary, in consultation with the SADC, would be required to require modifications to the proposed project as a condition of granting approval of the application to allow the proposed project to proceed without undue disruption to the preserved farmland.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments to the bill:

      (1) add definitions for the terms “board”, “secretary”, and “transmission and distribution wires;”

      (2) remove the bill’s existing provisions concerning requirements for the construction, installation, and operation of energy project transmission and distribution components, facilities, structures, equipment, and improvements on preserved farmland and the application and approval process for those projects;

      (3) provide that if transmission and distribution wires are required to be connected to, or from, an energy generation facility located in the State to allow the facility to interconnect to an electric distribution or transmission system, such that the wires would cross preserved farmland, the owner of the facility may submit an application to the SADC for approval of a proposed project to install the transmission and distribution wires and establish requirements for what information the application is required to contain;

      (4) provide that for applications submitted pursuant to the bill’s provisions, the SADC, in consultation with the County Agriculture Development Board or organization that retains the development rights pursuant to the easement in place on each parcel of preserved farmland impacted by the proposed project, would be required to render a decision on the application within 60 days;

      (5) provide that if the BPU determines that the proposed project is necessary to serve the State’s energy needs, the BPU may file a letter or a board order with the SADC explaining the public need for the project;

      (6) require the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the SADC, to grant approval of an application for a proposed project within 30 days of receiving a letter from the BPU;

      (7) provide that if the Secretary of Agriculture finds that there will be a substantial disruption to preserved farmland resulting from a proposed project, the secretary, in consultation with the SADC, would be required to require modifications to the proposed project as a condition of granting approval of an application for the proposed project to allow the proposed project to proceed with undue disruption to the preserved farmland; and

      (8) revise the bill’s title and synopsis.