3. The bill requires a person who applies for a certificate to construct a
high-voltage line to submit a detailed project plan to DNR. Under current law, the
type of plan that a person must submit to DNR for such a line is called an engineering
plan, instead of a project plan.
4. The bill requires a person who applies for a certificate of public convenience
and necessity for certain electric generating facilities or high-voltage transmission
lines to provide a brief description of the anticipated effects of the facility or line on
air and water quality, wetlands, solid waste disposal capacity, and other natural
resources. Current law limits the description to effects on air and water quality.
Generally, under current law, a person proposing to construct a utility facility
in a manner that requires the placement of a structure in navigable waters or that
involves the construction or maintenance of a dam is required to obtain one or more
permits from DNR. Current law requires DNR to hold a public hearing before
granting certain of these permits. Current law also prohibits a person from
discharging dredged or fill material into a nonfederal wetland unless the person is
issued a water quality certification by DNR.
Under current law, electric utilities that propose to construct an electric
generating facility or high-voltage transmission line adjacent to a waterway may
use an optional permit procedure to obtain certain DNR permits. Under that
optional procedure, if the utility must obtain more than one permit from DNR
relating to the placement of structures in navigable waters or the construction or
maintenance of a dam, the utility may, instead of submitting separate applications
for the permits, submit an engineering plan to DNR. If the utility submits an
engineering plan instead of separate applications for permits, DNR is required to
schedule the entire matter for a public hearing, rather than scheduling separate
hearings for each permit application. After the hearing, DNR must grant all of the
necessary permits if certain conditions are met.
This bill provides that a utility facility that is required to obtain a certificate of
public convenience and necessity from the PSC and that is also required to obtain one
or more permits from DNR for the placement of a structure in navigable waters, or

for the construction or maintenance of a dam, or to obtain a water quality
certification for discharging material in a nonfederal wetland, must use a procedure
that requires the utility facility to submit only one application for all of those permits.
Under that procedure, a person proposing to construct a utility facility must first
notify DNR of its intention to file an application. After DNR receives the notice, DNR
must confer with that person and, in cooperation with the PSC, make certain
assessments and analyses concerning the project. The bill provides that once the
application is completed, DNR may schedule the matter for a public hearing. The
hearing may not be conducted as a contested case hearing. In a contested case, all
parties must be given an opportunity for a hearing and must be given the opportunity
to present evidence.
Under the bill, DNR must grant the permits for the utility facility if DNR makes
certain findings, including that the proposal complies with certain environmental
statutes and that it does not unduly affect public rights and interests in navigable
waterways. The bill requires DNR to grant or deny the application within 30 days
of the date on which the PSC issues its decision on the utility's application for a
certificate of public convenience and necessity.
The bill also specifies that as a part of this permit procedure DNR must review
the proposed utility facility to assess whether the location, site, or route is capable
of satisfying conditions for obtaining the required permits from DNR and must
provide this information to the PSC. DNR must also participate in PSC
investigations or proceedings relating to the application for a certificate of public
convenience and necessity for the utility facility. The bill provides that if the PSC
issues the certificate for that utility facility, after considering DNR's participation in
the PSC's proceedings and after considering certain other factors, DNR may not
require the applicant to make any further analysis of utility facility alternatives,
except that DNR may identify adjustments that may be required to address
permitting issues within the location, site, or route for which the certificate is issued.
Under current law, for certain activities affecting navigable waters that are
undertaken by riparian owners, or for activities relating to the construction,
dredging, or enlarging of certain waterways, DNR may issue general permits
authorizing a class of activities. This bill requires DNR to issue a general permit for
the construction of those high-voltage transmission line projects to which the
expedited procedure created in this bill for obtaining a certificate from the PSC
applies.
Environmental impacts
Current law requires state agencies, including the PSC and DNR, to consider
the environmental impacts of proposed actions, including proposals to issue the
certificates, permits, and approvals described above. These requirements were
created by the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA). The PSC and DNR
have promulgated rules for complying with WEPA. Under these rules, the PSC or
DNR must prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for major actions that
significantly affect the quality of the human environment and an environmental
assessment (EA) for actions that have the potential to significantly affect the quality

of the human environment. Based on the results of an EA, the PSC or DNR may also
prepare an EIS.
The bill requires the PSC and DNR to coordinate their compliance with WEPA
when the PSC and DNR receive applications for certificates, permits, and approvals
that are required for the construction of electric generating facilities and
high-voltage transmission lines. The bill also requires such coordination when
public utilities that are not telecommunications utilities apply to the PSC for
certificates authorizing other types of construction projects. Such coordination is
also required when a natural gas utility applies to the PSC for a certificate
authorizing a project involving switching sources of natural gas supplies.
Under the bill, if the rules of either the PSC or DNR require the preparation of
an EIS for an application for a certificate, permit, or approval described above, the
PSC and DNR must cooperatively prepare an EIS. If neither agency's rules require
an EIS, but either agency's rules require an EA, the PSC and DNR must
cooperatively prepare an EA. The joint EIS or EA that is required under the bill must
include all of the information necessary for both the PSC and DNR to comply with
WEPA. In addition, the bill does not waive the duty of the PSC or DNR to comply
with WEPA, except that the PSC and DNR are only required to consider the project
that is the subject of the application and one alternative to the project, and that
alternative must be an alternative location, site, or route for the project that is
specified by the person applying for the certificate, permit, or approval. Under
current law, the PSC and DNR must consider more than one alternative under
WEPA. In addition, the bill does not waive any duty of the PSC or DNR to take any
other action required by law regarding the project.
The bill also specifies that the PSC is not required to prepare an EIS for
construction of a high-voltage line that does not require a certificate from the PSC.
As discussed above, this exemption is changed by the bill to apply to certain
construction activities related to high-voltage transmission lines that operate at 345
or less kilovolts. Although an EIS is not required, the bill requires the PSC to prepare
an EA for construction that is subject to the exemption, but only if the PSC's rules
require an EA for the construction.
State policy on siting of electric transmission facilities
Current law makes certain declarations of state energy policy, including goals
for conserving energy and meeting energy demands. This bill declares a new policy
regarding the siting of new electric transmission facilities, including high-voltage
transmission lines. The bill provides that, in the siting of such facilities, it is state
policy to utilize the following corridors in the following order of priority: 1) existing
utility corridors; 2) highway and railroad corridors; 3) recreational trails; and 4) new
corridors. The corridors must be utilized in such a manner to the greatest extent
feasible that is consistent with economic and engineering considerations and
protection of the environment. Also, recreational trails must be utilized to the extent
that facilities may be constructed below ground and do not significantly impact
environmentally sensitive areas.

The bill also directs the PSC, DNR, and Department of Transportation to
implement the policy described above in making all decisions, rules, and orders
regarding the siting of new electric transmission facilities.
Utility aid payment
Under current law, generally, each municipality and county in which a power
production plant is located annually receives utility aid payments based on the net
value of the production plant. Beginning with utility aid payments in 2005, each
municipality and county in which a production plant is located will receive a
payment based on the megawatt capacity of the production plant, if the plant began
operating after December 31, 2003. If a plant is located in more than one
municipality, the payment is divided among the municipalities in which the plant is
located based on the net value of that portion of the plant located in each
municipality. Under this bill, if a plant is located in more than one county, the
payment is divided among the counties in which the plant is located based on the net
value of that portion of the plant located in each county.
Under current law, for production plants that begin operating after December
31, 2003, each municipality and county in which such a production plant is located
may receive an additional utility aid payment based on the production plant's
megawatt capacity if the plant is built on the site of an existing or decommissioned
production plant or on brownfields or if the plant is a baseload electric generating
facility, derives energy from an alternative energy resource, or is a cogeneration
production plant. Under this bill, if such a production plant is located in more than
one municipality or county, the payment is divided among the municipalities or
counties in which the plant is located based on the net value of that portion of the
plant located in each municipality or county.
Under current law, a county or municipality that receives a utility aid payment
based on a cogeneration production plant located in the county or municipality may
not receive a payment based on a production plant that derives energy from an
alternative energy resource and that is located in the county or municipality. Under
this bill, a county or municipality that receives a utility aid payment based on a
cogeneration production plant located in the county or municipality may also receive
a payment based on a production plant that derives energy from an alternative
energy resource, if the production plant that derives energy from an alternative
energy resource is not the cogeneration production plant.
Under this bill, generally, an electric public utility may not recover in rates the
cost of any payments paid to a local unit of government to mitigate the impact of an
electric generating facility on the local unit of government, unless the agreement
providing for the payments is received by the PSC before June 10, 2003, and the PSC
finds the agreement to be reasonable.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB300, s. 1
1Section 1. 1.12 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,7,72 1.12 (6) Siting of electric transmission facilities. In the siting of new electric
3transmission facilities, including high-voltage transmission lines, as defined in s.
4196.491 (1) (f), it is the policy of this state that, to the greatest extent feasible that
5is consistent with economic and engineering considerations and protection of the
6environment, the following corridors should be utilized in the following order of
7priority:
SB300,7,88 (a) Existing utility corridors.
SB300,7,99 (b) Highway and railroad corridors.
SB300,7,1210 (c) Recreational trails, to the extent that the facilities may be constructed below
11ground and that the facilities do not significantly impact environmentally sensitive
12areas.
SB300,7,1313 (d) New corridors.
SB300, s. 2 14Section 2. 15.795 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,7,2215 15.795 (1) Office of the commissioner of railroads. There is created an office
16of the commissioner of railroads which is attached to the public service commission
17under s. 15.03, provided that s. 85.02 (1) does not apply to the office of the
18commissioner of railroads. The commissioner of railroads shall have expertise in
19railroad issues and may not have a financial interest in a railroad, as defined in s.
20195.02 (1). The commissioner may not serve on or under any committee of a political
21party. The commissioner shall hold office until a successor is appointed and
22qualified.
SB300, s. 3 23Section 3. 16.969 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,8,624 16.969 (4) A county, town, village, or city that receives a distribution under sub.
25(3) (b) may use the distribution only for park, conservancy, wetland or other similar

1environmental programs, unless the commission approves a different use under this
2subsection. A county, town, village, or city that receives a distribution may request
3in writing at any time that the commission approve a different use. The commission
4shall make a decision no later than 14 days after receiving such a request. The
5commission shall approve a request if it finds that the request is in the public
6interest
.
SB300, s. 4 7Section 4. 23.09 (22m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,8,128 23.09 (22m) Siting of electric transmission facilities. To the greatest extent
9feasible that is consistent with economic and engineering considerations and the
10protection of the environment, the department shall implement the policy specified
11in s. 1.12 (6) in making all decisions, orders, and rules regarding the siting of new
12electric transmission facilities.
SB300, s. 5 13Section 5. 30.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,8,1614 30.02 (1) In Except as provided in s. 30.025, in any proceeding under this
15chapter where public notice is required, the department shall follow the procedures
16in subs. (3) and (4).
SB300, s. 6 17Section 6. 30.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,8,2118 30.02 (2) In Except as provided in s. 30.025, in any proceeding under this
19chapter where public notice is not required, the department shall follow the
20procedures in subs. (3) and (4) if it determines that substantial interests of any party
21may be adversely affected by the proceeding.
SB300, s. 7 22Section 7. 30.025 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,8,24 2330.025 (title) Optional permit Permit procedure for certain electric
24generating facilities and high-voltage transmission lines
utility facilities.
SB300, s. 8
1Section 8. 30.025 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 30.025 (1s) (a) and
2amended to read:
SB300,9,153 30.025 (1s) (a) Any electric utility, as defined in s. 196.491 (1) (d), person
4proposing to construct a utility facility, as defined in s. 196.491 (1) (e), which facility
5is to be located adjacent to a waterway in such a manner as to require one or more
6permits to be issued under this chapter and ch. 31 may
to which this section applies
7shall
, in lieu of separate application for permits under those chapters, submit an
8engineering plan
one application for permits together with any additional
9information required by the department. Such plan The application shall be filed
10with the department within 20 days after at the same time that an application for
11a certificate of public convenience and necessity is filed with the public service
12commission under s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3) and shall include the detailed information
13that the department requires to determine whether an application is complete and
14to carry out its obligations under sub. (4)
. The department may require
15supplemental information to be furnished thereafter.
SB300, s. 9 16Section 9. 30.025 (1b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,9,1717 30.025 (1b) Definitions. In this section:
SB300,9,1818 (a) "Commission" means the public service commission.
SB300,9,2219 (b) "Permit" means a permit or approval required under this chapter or ch. 31,
20a storm water discharge permit required under s. 283.33 (1) (a), or a water quality
21certification required under s. 281.36 or under rules promulgated under subch. II of
22ch. 281 to implement 33 USC 1341 (a).
SB300,9,2423 (c) "Utility facility" includes a project, as defined in s. 196.49 (3) (a), and a
24facility, as defined in s. 196.491 (1) (e).
SB300, s. 10 25Section 10. 30.025 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,10,2
130.025 (1e) Applicability. This section applies to a proposal to construct a
2utility facility if all of the following conditions exist:
SB300,10,53 (a) The person proposing to construct the utility facility is required to obtain
4a certificate issued by the commission under s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3) before beginning
5construction.
SB300,10,66 (b) The utility facility is required to obtain one or more permits.
SB300, s. 11 7Section 11. 30.025 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,10,148 30.025 (1m) Preapplication process. Before filing an application under this
9section, a person proposing to construct a utility facility shall notify the department
10of the intention to file an application. After receiving such notice, the department
11shall confer with the person, in cooperation with the commission, to make a
12preliminary assessment of the project's scope, to make an analysis of alternatives,
13to identify potential interested persons, and to ensure that the person making the
14proposal is aware of all of the following:
SB300,10,1515 (a) The permits that the person may be required to obtain.
SB300,10,1616 (b) The information that the person will be required to provide.
SB300,10,1917 (c) The timing of information submissions that the person will be required to
18provide in order to enable the department to participate in commission review
19procedures and to process the application in a timely manner.
SB300, s. 12 20Section 12. 30.025 (1s) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,10,2121 30.025 (1s) (title) Application for permits.
SB300, s. 13 22Section 13. 30.025 (1s) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,11,223 30.025 (1s) (b) A person who applies to the commission for a certificate under
24s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3) is eligible to apply under par. (a) for any permit that the utility

1facility may require under this chapter or ch. 31, and to receive such permit
2regardless of whether that person is a riparian owner.
SB300, s. 14 3Section 14. 30.025 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,11,134 30.025 (2) Hearing. Once electric utilities have met the applicant meets the
5requirements of sub. (1) (1s) (a), the department shall may schedule the matter for
6a public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant and shall be
7published as a class 1 notice under ch. 985. The department may give such further
8notice as it deems proper, and shall give notice to persons requesting same. One copy
9of the application shall be available for public inspection at the office of the
10department, at least one copy in the district office of the department and at least one
11copy at the main public library of the area affected. Notwithstanding s. 227.42, the
12hearing shall be an informational hearing and may not be treated as a contested case
13hearing nor converted to a contested case hearing.
SB300, s. 15 14Section 15. 30.025 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,11,1915 30.025 (2g) Participation in commission proceedings. (a) The department
16shall review every proposed utility facility subject to this section, including each
17location, site, or route proposed for the utility facility, to assess whether each
18proposed location, site, or route can comply with the requirements of the required
19permits, and shall provide that information to the commission.
SB300,11,2420 (b) The department shall participate in commission investigations or
21proceedings under s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3) with regard to any proposed utility facility
22that is subject to this section. In order to ensure that the commission's decision is
23consistent with the department's responsibilities, the department shall provide the
24commission with information that is relevant to only the following:
SB300,11,2525 1. Environmental issues that concern the proposed utility facility.
SB300,12,2
12. Public rights in navigable waters that may be affected by the proposed utility
2facility.
SB300,12,43 3. Location, site, or route issues concerning the proposed utility facility,
4including alternative locations, sites, or routes.
SB300, s. 16 5Section 16. 30.025 (2s) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,12,86 30.025 (2s) Consideration of alternatives. (a) The department shall treat the
7commission's decision under s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3) as concluding that there is no
8practicable alternative for the utility facility if all of the following apply:
SB300,12,109 1. The department has participated in the commission's investigations or
10proceedings under sub. (2g).
SB300,12,1311 2. The commission's decision under s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3) is consistent with
12the department's assessment and information under sub. (2g) considering those
13factors required to be considered by the commission under s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3).
SB300,12,2014 (b) If par. (a) applies, the department may not require the applicant for the
15proposed utility facility to undertake further analysis of any utility facility
16alternatives, including an analysis of alternative methods of meeting the need for the
17project or alternative locations, sites, or routes in order to satisfy the criteria under
18sub. (3). The department may identify adjustments that may be required to address
19permitting issues within the location, site, or route approved by the commission
20under s. 196.49 or 196.491 (3).
SB300, s. 17 21Section 17. 30.025 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,12,2322 30.025 (3) Permit issuance. (intro.) The department shall grant the necessary
23permits if, after hearing, it finds that the applicant has shown that the proposal:
SB300, s. 18 24Section 18. 30.025 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,13,5
130.025 (3m) Environmental assessments for certain projects. The
2department is not required to prepare an environmental impact statement under s.
31.11 (2) (c) for the construction of a project that is specified in s. 196.491 (4) (c) 1. and
4for which one or more permits are required, but shall prepare an environmental
5assessment regarding the construction.
SB300, s. 19 6Section 19. 30.025 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,13,127 30.025 (4) Permit conditions. The permit may be issued upon stated
8conditions deemed necessary to assure compliance with the criteria designated
9under sub. (3). The department shall grant or deny the application within the time
10limit applicable under s. 196.491 (3) (a) 3. b.
for a permit for the utility facility within
1130 days of the date on which the commission issues its decision under s. 196.49 or
12196.491 (3).
SB300, s. 20 13Section 20. 30.206 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,13,1614 30.206 (1m) The department shall issue a general permit under this section
15for the construction of projects for which the commission is considered to have issued
16a certificate of public convenience and necessity under s. 196.491 (3b).
SB300, s. 21 17Section 21. 66.0119 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB300,13,2518 66.0119 (1) (a) "Inspection purposes" include includes such purposes as
19building, housing, electrical, plumbing, heating, gas, fire, health, safety,
20environmental pollution, water quality, waterways, use of water, food, zoning,
21property assessment, meter and obtaining data required to be submitted in an initial
22site report or feasibility report under subch. III of ch. 289 or s. 291.23, 291.25, 291.29
23or 291.31 or an environmental impact statement related to one of those reports.
24"Inspection purposes" also includes purposes for obtaining information specified in
25s. 196.02 (5m) by or on behalf of the public service commission.
SB300, s. 22
1Section 22. 79.04 (6) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
SB300,14,72 79.04 (6) (c) 3. For the purpose of determining the amount of the payment
3under par. (b), if a production plant is located in more than one county, the payment
4amount under par. (b) shall be divided among the counties in which the plant is
5located based on the net book value of that portion of the plant located in each county
6as of December 31, 2004, or as of the date on which the plant is operational,
7whichever is later.
SB300, s. 23 8Section 23. 79.04 (7) (c) 1m. of the statutes, as created by 2003 Wisconsin Act
931
, is amended to read:
SB300,14,1910 79.04 (7) (c) 1m. Beginning with payments in 2005, if a cogeneration production
11plant, as described in sub. (6) (a), is built and completed after December 31, 2003, and
12has a name-plate capacity of at least one megawatt, each municipality and county
13in which such a cogeneration production plant is located shall receive annually from
14the public utility account a payment in an amount that is equal to the number of
15megawatts that represents the cogeneration production plant's name-plate capacity,
16multiplied by $1,000. Any municipality or county that receives a payment under this
17subdivision in any year may not receive a payment under subd. 1. in that year, if the
18payment under subd. 1. is based on the same production plant as the payment under
19this subdivision
.
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