Amendment ASA1-AB256

AB256-ASA1,9,24 2. If a town enacts an ordinance under sub. (4), either before or after a county enacts an ordinance under sub. (4), the more restrictive terms of the 2 ordinances apply to the town, except that if the town later repeals its ordinance, the county ordinance applies in that town.

AB256-ASA1, s. 9 Section 9. 66.0403 (1) (m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB256-ASA1,9,26 66.0403 (1) (m) "Wind energy system" means equipment and associated facilities that converts convert and then stores store or transfers transfer energy from the wind into usable forms of energy.

AB256-ASA1, s. 10 Section 10. 196.378 (4) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB256-ASA1,10,5 196.378 (4) (title) Renewable resource rules.

AB256-ASA1, s. 11 Section 11. 196.378 (4g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB256-ASA1,10,7 196.378 (4g) Wind siting rules. (a) In this subsection:

AB256-ASA1,10,8 1. "Application for approval" has the meaning given in s. 66.0401 (1e) (a).

AB256-ASA1,10,9 2. "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county.

AB256-ASA1,10,10 3. "Wind energy system" has the meaning given in s. 66.0403 (1) (m).

AB256-ASA1,10,19 (b) The commission shall promulgate rules that specify the restrictions a political subdivision may impose on the installation or use of a wind energy system consistent with the conditions specified in s. 66.0401 (1m) (a) to (c). The subject matter of these rules may include visual appearance, lighting, electrical connections to the power grid, setback distances, maximum audible sound levels, shadow flicker, proper means of measuring noise, interference with radio, telephone, or television signals, decommissioning, or other matters. A political subdivision may not place a restriction on the installation or use of a wind energy system that is more restrictive than these rules.

AB256-ASA1,10,21 (c) In addition to the rules under par. (b), the commission shall promulgate rules that do all of the following:

AB256-ASA1,10,24 1. Specify the information and documentation to be provided in an application for approval to demonstrate that a proposed wind energy system complies with rules promulgated under par. (b)

AB256-ASA1,11,2 2. Specify the information and documentation to be included in a political subdivision's record of decision under s. 66.0401 (4) (b).

AB256-ASA1,11,4 3. Specify the procedure a political subdivision shall follow in reviewing an application for approval under s. 66.0401 (4).

AB256-ASA1,11,6 4. Specify the requirements and procedures for a political subdivision to enforce the restrictions allowed under par. (b).

AB256-ASA1, s. 12 Section 12. 196.491 (3) (dg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB256-ASA1,11,12 196.491 (3) (dg) In making a determination under par. (d) that applies to a large electric generating facility, if the large electric generating facility is a wind energy system, as defined in s. 66.0403 (1) (m), the commission shall consider whether installation or use of the facility is consistent with the standards specified in the rules promulgated by the commission under s. 196.378 (4g) (b).

AB256-ASA1, s. 13 Section 13. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB256-ASA1,11,14 (1) Advisory committee; public hearings.

AB256-ASA1,11,15 (a) In this subsection:

AB256-ASA1,11,16 1. "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county.

AB256-ASA1,11,18 2. "Wind energy system" has the meaning given in section 66.0403 (1) (m) of the statutes, as affected by this act.

AB256-ASA1,12,3 (b) Before the public service commission may promulgate the rules required under section 196.378 (4g) of the statutes, as created by this act, the commission shall establish an advisory committee under section 227.13 of the statutes, composed of a member of the University of Wisconsin faculty who offers expertise in the issues to be addressed by the advisory committee and representatives of wind energy system developers, political subdivisions, energy groups, environmental groups, realtors, landowners who live adjacent to or in the vicinity of wind energy systems and who have not received compensation by or on behalf of owners of, operators of, or developers of wind energy systems, and the public, to advise the commission on the rules.

AB256-ASA1,12,9 (c) The public service commission shall hold at least 2 public hearings prior to promulgating the rules required under section 196.378 (4g) of the statutes, as created by this act. The public service commission shall hold at least one of the hearings in Monroe County and at least one of the hearings in an area outside of Dane County and Monroe County in which developers have proposed wind energy systems.

AB256-ASA1,13,2 (2) Department of natural resources study. The department of natural resources shall conduct a study to determine whether the department's statutory authority is sufficient to adequately protect wildlife and the environment from any adverse effect from the siting, construction, or operation of wind energy systems. In conducting the study, the department shall consider the authority of other state agencies and political subdivisions to regulate the environmental impact of wind energy systems, including the authority of the public service commission under section 196.491 (3) (d) 3. and 4. of the statutes and of political subdivisions under section 66.0401 (1m) and (4) (g) of the statutes, as affected by this act. On or before the first day of the 13th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection, the department shall submit a report containing the results of the study to the legislature in the manner provided under section 13.172 (2) of the statutes. If the department's study concludes that the department's statutory authority is not sufficient to adequately protect wildlife and the environment from any adverse effect from the siting, construction, or operation of wind energy systems, the report shall include recommendations to the legislature for a bill that provides the department with such authority.

AB256-ASA1, s. 14 Section 14. Initial applicability.

AB256-ASA1,13,8 (1) The public service commission review process for a political subdivision's decision or enforcement action under section 66.0401 (5) of the statutes, as created by this act, first applies to a local decision or action that is issued or initiated after the public service commission's rules under section 196.378 (4g) of the statutes, as created by this act, take effect.

AB256-ASA1,13,12 (2) The treatment of section 196.491 (3) (dg) of the statutes, as created by this act, first applies to applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity that are received after the public service commission's rules under section 196.378 (4g) of the statutes, as created by this act, take effect.

AB256-ASA1,13,13 (End)