HB 1491

Electric utilities; construction of certain electrical transmission lines; siting requirements. Requires the State Corporation Commission, in order to approve the construction of an electrical transmission line of 138 kilovolts or more, to determine that the corridor or route chosen for the line will avoid, to the greatest extent practicable, adverse impacts on the health and safety of persons in the area and will provide the highest possible level of protection of the environment of the area concerned. The bill prohibits the approval of the construction of such a line if (i) any portion of the line is located within 500 feet of a public or private school, residential property, daycare, park, playground, recreational area, or place of worship unless no other feasible alternative to such location exists or (ii) construction of such line would materially conflict with designated open space, environmental protection, or residential land use areas prescribed in the local comprehensive plan of an affected county or municipality.