Relating to energy; modifying provisions relating to community based energy development projects, modifying the community based energy development tariff to reflect renewable energy technologies, restricting wind energy single ownership, modifying the definition of community based energy development (C-BED) project and the tariff rate, updating C-BED project priorities, placing negotiation conditions on utilities intending to own or contract with independent power producers without C-BED projects; authorizing municipal power agencies and cooperatives to offer members a certain community energy partnership opportunity; authorizing public utilities to construct, own and operate generation facilities to fulfill renewable energy objectives, requiring renewable energy plan filings with the public utilities commission (PUC) and requiring PUC approval; authorizing utilities to petition the PUC to approve rate schedules providing for automatic adjustment of certain cost recovery charges; requiring the PUC to establish a uniform policy to curtail payments for wind and solar energy; providing for a C-BED green pricing option, requiring utilities to offer customers a C-BED project using eligible energy technology, requiring the commissioner of commerce to design or contract for a C-BED logo and to ensure installation opportunities for dispersed generation, defining dispersed generation; moving the position of reliability administrator from the PUC to the department of commerce and transferring responsibilities to the department; providing for wind energy conversion systems size determination for purpose of jurisdictional siting authority; authorizing county boards to assume certain large wind energy conversion system (LWECS) permit applications processing; providing for wind easement termination under certain conditions; requiring renewable energy utilities to participate in conducting a two phase study of potential for dispersed generation projects, specifying study requirements, requiring technical review committee appointment; requiring biennial transmission reports to include dispersed generation projects facilitation in the service area; requiring the reliability administrator to conduct a study of need for and potential authority of a new state agency to plan, finance, construct, own and maintain electric transmission lines within and outside the state; requiring the reliability administrator to conduct a study identifying administrative procedures ensuring efficient and coordinated action for interconnecting dispersed generation projects to certain locations, requiring a report to the legislature by a certain date; repealing the sunset on renewable and high efficiency energy rate options
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