Section | Headnote |
---|---|
216F.01 | DEFINITIONS. |
216F.011 | SIZE DETERMINATION. |
216F.012 | SIZE ELECTION. |
216F.02 | EXEMPTIONS. |
216F.03 | SITING OF LWECS. |
216F.04 | SITE PERMIT. |
216F.05 | RULES. |
216F.06 | MODEL ORDINANCE. |
216F.07 | PREEMPTION. |
216F.08 | PERMIT AUTHORITY; ASSUMPTION BY COUNTIES. |
216F.081 | APPLICATION OF COUNTY STANDARDS. |
216F.09 | WECS AGGREGATION PROGRAM. |
As used in this chapter, the terms defined in section 216E.01 and this section have the meanings given them, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context or by this section.
"Large wind energy conversion system" or "LWECS" means any combination of WECS with a combined nameplate capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or more.
"Small wind energy conversion system" or "SWECS" means any combination of WECS with a combined nameplate capacity of less than 5,000 kilowatts.
"Wind energy conversion system" or "WECS" means any device such as a wind charger, windmill, or wind turbine and associated facilities that converts wind energy to electrical energy.
(a) The total size of a combination of wind energy conversion systems for the purpose of determining what jurisdiction has siting authority under this chapter must be determined according to this section. The nameplate capacity of one wind energy conversion system must be combined with the nameplate capacity of any other wind energy conversion system that:
(1) is located within five miles of the wind energy conversion system;
(2) is constructed within the same 12-month period as the wind energy conversion system; and
(3) exhibits characteristics of being a single development, including, but not limited to, ownership structure, an umbrella sales arrangement, shared interconnection, revenue sharing arrangements, and common debt or equity financing.
(b) The commissioner shall provide forms and assistance for project developers to make a request for a size determination. Upon written request of a project developer, the commissioner of commerce shall provide a written size determination within 30 days of receipt of the request and of any information requested by the commissioner. In the case of a dispute, the chair of the Public Utilities Commission shall make the final size determination.
(c) An application to a county for a permit under this chapter for a wind energy conversion system is not complete without a size determination made under this section.
(a) A wind energy conversion system of less than 25 megawatts of nameplate capacity as determined under section 216F.011 is a small wind energy conversion system if, by July 1, 2009, the owner so elects in writing and submits a completed application for zoning approval and the written election to the county or counties in which the project is proposed to be located. The owner must notify the Public Utilities Commission of the election at the time the owner submits the election to the county.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a wind energy conversion system with a nameplate capacity exceeding five megawatts that is proposed to be located wholly or partially within a wind access buffer adjacent to state lands that are part of the outdoor recreation system, as enumerated in section 86A.05, is a large wind energy conversion system. The Department of Natural Resources shall negotiate in good faith with a system owner regarding siting and may support the system owner in seeking a variance from the system setback requirements if it determines that a variance is in the public interest.
(c) The Public Utilities Commission shall issue an annual report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees with primary jurisdiction over energy policy and natural resource policy regarding any variances applied for and not granted for systems subject to paragraph (b).
(a) The requirements of chapter 216E do not apply to the siting of LWECS, except for sections 216E.01; 216E.03, subdivision 7; 216E.08; 216E.11; 216E.12; 216E.14; 216E.15; 216E.17; and 216E.18, subdivision 3, which do apply.
(b) Any person may construct an SWECS without complying with chapter 216E or this chapter.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a local governmental unit from establishing requirements for the siting and construction of SWECS.
The legislature declares it to be the policy of the state to site LWECS in an orderly manner compatible with environmental preservation, sustainable development, and the efficient use of resources.
(a) No person may construct an LWECS without a site permit issued by the Public Utilities Commission.
(b) Any person seeking to construct an LWECS shall submit an application to the commission for a site permit in accordance with this chapter and any rules adopted by the commission. The permitted site need not be contiguous land.
(c) The commission shall make a final decision on an application for a site permit for an LWECS within 180 days after acceptance of a complete application by the commission. The commission may extend this deadline for cause.
(d) The commission may place conditions in a permit and may deny, modify, suspend, or revoke a permit.
The commission shall adopt rules governing the consideration of an application for a site permit for an LWECS that address the following:
(1) criteria that the commission shall use to designate LWECS sites, which must include the impact of LWECS on humans and the environment;
(2) procedures that the commission will follow in acting on an application for an LWECS;
(3) procedures for notification to the public of the application and for the conduct of a public information meeting and a public hearing on the proposed LWECS;
(4) requirements for environmental review of the LWECS;
(5) conditions in the site permit for turbine type and designs; site layout and construction; and operation and maintenance of the LWECS, including the requirement to restore, to the extent possible, the area affected by construction of the LWECS to the natural conditions that existed immediately before construction of the LWECS;
(6) revocation or suspension of a site permit when violations of the permit or other requirements occur; and
(7) payment of fees for the necessary and reasonable costs of the commission in acting on a permit application and carrying out the requirements of this chapter.
The commission may assist local governmental units in adopting ordinances and other requirements to regulate the siting, construction, and operation of SWECS, including the development of a model ordinance.
A permit under this chapter is the only site approval required for the location of an LWECS. The site permit supersedes and preempts all zoning, building, or land use rules, regulations, or ordinances adopted by regional, county, local, and special purpose governments.
(a) A county board may, by resolution and upon written notice to the Public Utilities Commission, assume responsibility for processing applications for permits required under this chapter for LWECS with a combined nameplate capacity of less than 25,000 kilowatts. The responsibility for permit application processing, if assumed by a county, may be delegated by the county board to an appropriate county officer or employee. Processing by a county shall be done in accordance with procedures and processes established under chapter 394.
(b) A county board that exercises its option under paragraph (a) may issue, deny, modify, impose conditions upon, or revoke permits pursuant to this section. The action of the county board about a permit application is final, subject to appeal as provided in section 394.27.
(c) The commission shall, by order, establish general permit standards, including appropriate property line set-backs, governing site permits for LWECS under this section. The order must consider existing and historic commission standards for wind permits issued by the commission. The general permit standards shall apply to permits issued by counties and to permits issued by the commission for LWECS with a combined nameplate capacity of less than 25,000 kilowatts. The commission or a county may grant a variance from a general permit standard if the variance is found to be in the public interest.
(d) The commission and the commissioner of commerce shall provide technical assistance to a county with respect to the processing of LWECS site permit applications.
A county may adopt by ordinance standards for LWECS that are more stringent than standards in commission rules or in the commission's permit standards. The commission, in considering a permit application for LWECS in a county that has adopted more stringent standards, shall consider and apply those more stringent standards, unless the commission finds good cause not to apply the standards.
The entity selected to provide rural wind development assistance under Laws 2007, chapter 57, article 2, section 3, subdivision 6, shall also establish a wind energy conversion system (WECS) aggregation program. The purpose of the program is to create a clearinghouse to coordinate and arrange umbrella sales arrangements for groups of individuals, farmstead property owners, farmers' cooperative associations, community-based energy project developers, school districts, and other political subdivisions to aggregate small-volume purchases, as a group, in order to place large orders for wind energy conversion systems with WECS manufacturers.
The entity shall:
(1) provide application procedures for participation in the program;
(2) set minimum standards for wind energy conversion systems to be considered for purchase through the program, which may include price, quality and installation standards, timely delivery schedules and arrangements, performance and reliability ratings, and any other factors considered necessary or desirable for participants;
(3) set eligibility considerations and requirements for purchasers, including availability to the applicant of land authorized for installation and use of WECS, likelihood of a permit being approved by the commission or a county under this chapter, documentation of adequate financing, and other necessary or usual financial or business practices or requirements;
(4) provide a minimal framework for soliciting or contacting manufacturers on behalf of participants; and
(5) coordinate purchase agreements between the manufacturer and participants.
By February 1, 2009, and each year thereafter, the commissioner of commerce shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy policy on the activities and results of the program, including the number of participants and the number of purchases made.
Annual costs of the program, up to $100,000, must be assessed under section 216C.052, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), clause (1). The assessment is appropriated to the commissioner of commerce to be used by the director of the Office of Energy Security for a grant to the entity to carry out the purposes of this section.
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes