Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), and subject to IC 36-7-4-1109 and section 9 of this chapter, the standards set forth in sections 10 through 20 of this chapter, or standards less restrictive than the standards set forth in sections 10 through 20 of this chapter, apply to a project owner that, after June 30, 2022, files an initial application for a project to install or locate one (1) or more CSE systems in a unit that qualifies as a solar energy ready community under subsection (d).

     (b) Subject to a unit’s planning and zoning powers under IC 36-7, this chapter does not apply to a property owner who seeks to install a solar energy device (as defined in IC 32-23-4-3) on the property owner’s premises for the purpose of generating electricity to meet or offset all or part of the need for electricity on the premises, whether through distributed generation, participation in a net metering program offered by an electricity supplier (as defined in IC 8-1-40-4), or otherwise.

     (c) Unless a standard set forth in sections 10 through 20 of this chapter is already agreed to before July 1, 2022, by the parties involved, the standard does not:

(1) apply to any proposal, request, or application that:

(A) concerns the permitting, construction, installation, siting, modification, operation, or decommissioning of one (1) or more CSE systems in a unit;

(B) is submitted by a project owner to a unit before July 1, 2022; and

(C) is pending approval or has been approved as of July 1, 2022;

as set forth in IC 36-7-4-1109;

(2) affect the:

(A) permitting;

(B) construction;

(C) installation;

(D) siting;

(E) modification;

(F) operation; or

(G) decommissioning;

of one (1) or more CSE systems in a unit that before July 1, 2022, has approved such permitting, construction, installation, siting, modification, operation, or decommissioning; or

(3) affect any:

(A) economic development agreement; or

(B) other agreement;

entered into before July 1, 2022, with respect to the permitting, construction, installation, siting, modification, operation, or decommissioning of one (1) or more CSE systems in one (1) or more units.

     (d) As used in this section, “solar energy ready community” means a unit that has voluntarily adopted:

(1) the standards set forth in sections 10 through 20 of this chapter; or

(2) standards less restrictive than the standards set forth in sections 10 through 20 of this chapter.

As added by P.L.90-2022, SEC.2.