AB 197

Under current law, for power production plants that begin operation as a new

or repowered production plant after December 31, 2003, each county and

municipality in which such a plant is located receives a utility aid payment based on

the plant's megawatt capacity. The total amount of the payment for each production

plant is calculated by multiplying the plant's megawatt capacity by $2,000. If the

production plant is located in a city or village, the city or village receives a payment

equal to two-thirds of the total amount of the payment and the county in which the

plant is located receives a payment equal to one-third of the total amount of the

payment. If the production plant is located in a town, the town receives a payment

equal to one-third of the total amount and the county in which the plant is located

receives a payment equal to two-thirds of the total amount.

Under this bill, if a production plant that generates electricity from wind power

is located in a town, the town receives a payment equal to 50 percent of the total

amount of the utility aid payment for that plant, based on its megawatt capacity, and

the county in which the plant is located receives a payment equal to 50 percent of the

total amount of that utility aid payment.