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HR 2895 111th Congress House

Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act

Official title: To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to promote energy independence and self-sufficiency by providing for the use of net metering by cer… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to promote energy independence and self-sufficiency by providing for the use of net metering by certain small electric energy generation systems, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 16, 2009 See on congress.gov
Energy Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAlternative and renewable resourcesBuilding constructionDepartment of Energy
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentElectric power generation and transmissionEnergy researchExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)Government buildings, facilities, and propertyHousing and community development fundingHousing industry and standardsIntergovernmental relationsPublic contracts and procurementPublic utilities and utility ratesResearch and developmentResidential rehabilitation and home repairState and local government operations
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 17, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Jun 17, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
Jun 16, 2009
Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
Jun 16, 2009
Referred to House Financial Services
Jun 16, 2009
Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
Jun 16, 2009
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 16, 2009
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
Jun 16, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 17, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require each state regulatory authority with ratemaking authority, and each nonregulated electric utility, to conduct a hearing, and on the basis of such hearing, adopt a net metering standard.

Requires retail electric suppliers to make net metering available to retail customers on a first-come-first-served basis.

Prescribes implementation requirements regarding: (1) net energy measurement; (2) billing practices; (3) ownership of credits; (4) safety and performance standards; and (5) determination of compliance.

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to publish model interconnection standards for the physical connection between local distribution systems and qualified generation units and qualified electric generation units that do not exceed 5 megawatts of capacity. Requires states to adopt such model standards, subject to FERC approval.

Prohibits a state or nonregulated utility from adopting or enforcing any standard or requirement concerning net metering or interconnection that restricts access to the electric power transmission or local distribution system by qualified generators beyond those established under this Act.

Allows states to adopt or enforce additional incentives or requirements to encourage qualified generation and net metering, including any that afford: (1) greater access to the electric power transmission and local distribution systems by qualified generators; or (2) greater compensation or credit for electricity generated by qualified generators.

Authorizes a contract for renewable energy for public buildings and properties for a maximum period of 30 years.

Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to condition receipt of certain community development block grant (CDBG) funds upon grantee certification that the cost of any permit or license, for construction or installation of any solar energy system for any structure, complies with certain requirements.

Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to issue regulations to prohibit any restriction impairing the ability of the owner or lessee of a one-family residential structure to install or use a solar energy system upon such property.

Instructs the Secretary of Energy to establish a Center for Advanced Solar Research and Development.

Directs the Secretary to issue regulations also requiring that the application for approval of such a system: (1) be processed and approved in the same manner as an application for approval of an architectural modification to the property; and (2) not be willfully avoided or delayed.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2895: Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2895/
MLA
"H.R. 2895: Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2895/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2895, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2895/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2895: Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-2895/)
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