Vermont Public Utility Commission Issues Amendment to Certificate of Public Good for Bristol Solar, LLC's 2.2 MW Solar Electric Generation Facility

Strategic Insights -

The Vermont Public Utility Commission has issued an amendment to the Certificate of Public Good (CPG) for Bristol Solar, LLC's 2.2 MW photovoltaic electric generation facility in Bristol, Vermont. The amendment was entered on August 13, 2025, and makes significant changes to the original CPG issued on September 20, 2021. The updated CPG includes new conditions and requirements for the facility's decommissioning and site restoration, as well as updates to the financial security provisions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The amendment to the CPG includes new requirements for the facility's decommissioning and site restoration, including the removal of facilities once they are no longer in service and restoration of the site to its original condition to the greatest extent practicable.
  • The CPG Holder must establish a decommissioning fund and provide a standby letter of credit or other form of financial security, which must be adjusted for inflation every three years based on the net positive change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Northeast Urban Consumer Price Index.
  • The Commission reserves the right to draw on the facility's irrevocable standby letter of credit or other form of financial security to pay for decommissioning in the event that the CPG Holder has not begun decommissioning activities within 90 days of a Commission order directing decommissioning.
  • The CPG Holder must file a report with the Commission, the Department, and each party to this proceeding, describing any adjustments and changes to the decommissioning fund in the previous three-year period.
  • The facility's standby letter of credit or other form of financial security must be adjusted every three years to reflect changes to the decommissioning fund.
  • The Commission will terminate the facility's letter of credit or other form of financial security upon completion of all decommissioning and site restoration activities and determination that the decommissioning obligations have been satisfied.

Statistics:

  • The facility's decommissioning fund must be adjusted for inflation every three years based on the net positive change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Northeast Urban Consumer Price Index.
  • The facility's standby letter of credit or other form of financial security must be adjusted every three years to reflect changes to the decommissioning fund.
  • The Commission reserves the right to draw on the facility's irrevocable standby letter of credit or other form of financial security to pay for decommissioning in the event that the CPG Holder has not begun decommissioning activities within 90 days of a Commission order directing decommissioning.

Sources:

  • Vermont Public Utility Commission, Case No. 21-0974-PET, Amendment to Certificate of Public Good ("CPG") Issued Pursuant to 30 V.S.A. Section 248, entered on August 13, 2025.