1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to energy; exempting wind energy conversion 
  1.3             systems siting from the power plant siting act; 
  1.4             authorizing rulemaking; proposing coding for new law 
  1.5             in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116C. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7               SITING OF WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS
  1.8      Section 1.  [116C.691] [DEFINITIONS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE.] As used in sections 116C.691 to 
  1.10  116C.697, the terms defined in section 116C.52 and this section 
  1.11  have the meanings given them, unless otherwise provided or 
  1.12  indicated by the context or by this section. 
  1.13     Subd. 2.  [LARGE WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM OR 
  1.14  LWECS.] "Large wind energy conversion system" or "LWECS" means 
  1.15  any combination of WECS with a combined nameplate capacity of 
  1.16  5,000 kilowatts or more. 
  1.17     Subd. 3.  [SMALL WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM OR 
  1.18  SWECS.] "Small wind energy conversion system" or "SWECS" means 
  1.19  any combination of WECS with a combined nameplate capacity of 
  1.20  less than 5,000 kilowatts. 
  1.21     Subd. 4.  [WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM OR WECS.] "Wind 
  1.22  energy conversion system" or "WECS" means any device such as a 
  1.23  wind charger, windmill, or wind turbine and associated 
  1.24  facilities that converts wind energy to electrical energy. 
  1.25     Sec. 2.  [116C.692] [EXEMPTIONS.] 
  2.1      (a) The requirements of sections 116C.51 to 116C.69 do not 
  2.2   apply to the siting of LWECS, except for sections 116C.52; 
  2.3   116C.57, subdivision 4; 116C.59; 116C.62; 116C.63; 116C.645; 
  2.4   116C.65; 116C.68; and 116C.69, subdivision 3, which do apply. 
  2.5      (b) Any person may construct an SWECS without complying 
  2.6   with sections 116C.51 to 116C.69 and 116C.691 to 116C.697. 
  2.7      (c) Nothing in sections 116C.691 to 116C.697 shall preclude 
  2.8   a local governmental unit from establishing requirements for the 
  2.9   siting and construction of SWECS. 
  2.10     Sec. 3.  [116C.693] [SITING OF LWECS.] 
  2.11     The legislature declares it to be the policy of the state 
  2.12  to site LWECS in an orderly manner compatible with environmental 
  2.13  preservation, sustainable development, and the efficient use of 
  2.14  resources. 
  2.15     Sec. 4.  [116C.694] [SITE PERMIT.] 
  2.16     (a) No person may construct an LWECS without a site permit 
  2.17  issued by the environmental quality board.  
  2.18     (b) Any person seeking to construct an LWECS shall submit 
  2.19  an application to the board for a site permit in accordance with 
  2.20  sections 116C.691 to 116C.697 and any rules adopted by the 
  2.21  board.  The permitted site need not be contiguous land.  
  2.22     (c) The board shall make a final decision on an application 
  2.23  for a site permit for an LWECS within 180 days after acceptance 
  2.24  of a complete application by the chair of the board.  The board 
  2.25  may extend this deadline for cause.  
  2.26     (d) The board may place conditions in a permit and may 
  2.27  deny, modify, suspend, or revoke a permit. 
  2.28     Sec. 5. [116C.695] [RULES.] 
  2.29     The board shall adopt rules governing the consideration of 
  2.30  an application for a site permit for an LWECS that address the 
  2.31  following:  
  2.32     (1) criteria that the board shall use to designate LWECS 
  2.33  sites, which must include the impact of LWECS on humans and the 
  2.34  environment; 
  2.35     (2) procedures that the board will follow in acting on an 
  2.36  application for a LWECS; 
  3.1      (3) procedures for notification to the public of the 
  3.2   application and for the conduct of a public information meeting 
  3.3   and a public hearing on the proposed LWECS; 
  3.4      (4) requirements for environmental review of the LWECS; 
  3.5      (5) conditions in the site permit for turbine type and 
  3.6   designs; site layout and construction; and operation and 
  3.7   maintenance of the LWECS, including the requirement to restore, 
  3.8   to the extent possible, the area affected by construction of the 
  3.9   LWECS to the natural conditions that existed immediately before 
  3.10  construction of the LWECS; 
  3.11     (6) revocation or suspension of a site permit when 
  3.12  violations of the permit or other requirements occur; and 
  3.13     (7) payment of fees for the necessary and reasonable costs 
  3.14  of the board in acting on a permit application and carrying out 
  3.15  the requirements of sections 116C.691 to 116C.697.  
  3.16     Sec. 6.  [116C.696] [MODEL ORDINANCE.] 
  3.17     The board may assist local governmental units in adopting 
  3.18  ordinances and other requirements to regulate the siting, 
  3.19  construction, and operation of SWECS, including the development 
  3.20  of a model ordinance. 
  3.21     Sec. 7.  [116C.697] [PREEMPTION.] 
  3.22     A permit under sections 116C.691 to 116C.697 is the only 
  3.23  site approval required for the location of an LWECS.  The site 
  3.24  permit supersedes and preempts all zoning, building, or land use 
  3.25  rules, regulations, or ordinances adopted by regional, county, 
  3.26  local, and special purpose governments.