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Read. Follow. Verify.Oregon HB 4076 streamlines land-use exceptions for renewable energy facilities using existing grid interconnections
Last action · April 6, 2026: Chapter 46, (2026 Laws): Effective date June 5, 2026.Sponsors: John Lively and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Oregon House Bill 4076 authorizes the Energy Facility Siting Council and local governments to grant land-use goal exceptions for renewable energy facilities if they use existing surplus grid interconnection capacity and require no more than two miles of new transmission lines. The measure takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die of the 2026 regular session.
The measure alters how state and county regulators evaluate land-use exemptions for solar and other renewable energy projects, affecting agricultural land protection rules and transmission line siting requirements for developers and rural landowners.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Energy facility developers
Developers benefit from streamlined land-use goal exception standards when utilizing existing surplus grid interconnections.
Local governments
Counties receive explicit authority to grant goal exceptions for agricultural land use under defined conditions and must provide application notices to specified agencies.
Rural landowners
Landowners near proposed renewable energy projects are subject to new county findings requirements regarding compatibility, mitigation, and agricultural practices.
Key Facts
- The Energy Facility Siting Council must find goal exception standards are met if a proposed energy facility delivers electricity using an existing facility's surplus interconnection and requires transmission lines of no more than two miles.
- "Surplus interconnection" is defined as capacity at an existing facility's point of interconnection under an interconnection agreement that is unused and does not exceed original interconnection capacity.
- Local governments may justify land-use goal exceptions for renewable energy facilities on agricultural lands if specific criteria regarding surplus interconnection, transmission line limits, and county findings are met.
- Counties requiring permit applications for renewable energy facilities must mandate applicant consultations with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife for habitat assessments and mitigation plans.
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- Applicants must demonstrate that facility construction and operation will not result in significant adverse impacts to historic, cultural, and archaeological resources.
- Applicants must provide financial assurances and decommissioning plans ensuring restoration of the site to a useful, nonhazardous condition.
- Local governments must provide notice of permit applications to specified state and federal agencies including the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions allow the Energy Facility Siting Council to grant a goal exception under HB 4076?
Can local governments approve land-use exceptions for renewable energy facilities on agricultural land?
What agencies must receive notice when a county receives a renewable energy facility permit application?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
20 actions- Apr 6, 2026HouseChapter 46, (2026 Laws): Effective date June 5, 2026.
- Mar 31, 2026HouseGovernor signed.
- Mar 6, 2026SenatePresident signed.
- Mar 5, 2026HouseSpeaker signed.
- Mar 4, 2026HouseHouse concurred in Senate amendments and repassed bill.
- Mar 4, 2026HousePotential conflict(s) of interest declared by Scharf.
Show 14 earlier actions
- Mar 3, 2026SenateThird reading. Carried by Smith DB. Passed.
- Mar 2, 2026SenateSecond reading.
- Feb 27, 2026SenateRecommendation: Do pass with amendments to the A-Eng. bill. (Printed B-Eng.)
- Feb 25, 2026SenatePublic Hearing and Work Session held.
- Feb 20, 2026SenateReferred to Energy and Environment.
- Feb 20, 2026SenateFirst reading. Referred to President's desk.
- Feb 20, 2026HouseThird reading. Carried by Gamba. Passed.
- Feb 19, 2026HouseRules suspended. Carried over to February 20, 2026 Calendar.
- Feb 18, 2026HouseRules suspended. Carried over to February 19, 2026 Calendar.
- Feb 17, 2026HouseSecond reading.
- Feb 16, 2026HouseRecommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.
- Feb 12, 2026HousePublic Hearing and Work Session held.
- Feb 2, 2026HouseReferred to Climate, Energy, and Environment.
- Feb 2, 2026HouseFirst reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Streamlined Siting via Existing Infrastructure
The legislation creates a direct statutory safe harbor allowing land-use goal exceptions for renewable energy projects that piggyback on existing grid interconnections with minimal new transmission lines.
Connected Entities
Sources
olis.oregonlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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