Skip to content

Bills · 2013-2014 Regular Session

SB 71

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: limiting the regulation of wind energy systems by local governments. (FE)

Energy conservation Environmental protection Municipality Municipality — Finance Ordinance Public service commission

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law limits the authority of a city, village, town, or county (political

subdivision) to regulate solar and wind energy systems. For both types of systems,

current law prohibits a political subdivision from imposing a restriction on the

installation or use of the system unless the restriction satisfies one of the following

three conditions: 1) it serves to preserve or protect the public health or safety; 2) it

does not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease the

system's efficiency; or 3) it allows for an alternative system of comparable cost and

efficiency. However, for wind energy systems, current law imposes an additional

limitation on a political subdivision's authority by prohibiting a restriction that is

more restrictive than rules promulgated by the Public Service Commission (PSC)

under current law. This bill allows a political subdivision to impose a restriction on

a wind energy system that is more restrictive than the PSC rules, but only if the

restriction satisfies one of the foregoing three conditions. The bill does not affect a

political subdivision's authority regarding solar energy systems.

What it would cost

Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs

Sponsors

Introduced by: Ellis (R) , Grothman (R) , Lasee (R) , Leibham (R) , Moulton (R)

11 cosponsors

Bernier (R) , Bies (R) , Endsley (R) , Jacque (R) , Kestell (R) , Klenke (R) , Knudson (R) , LeMahieu (R) , Murtha (R) , Spiros (R) , Thiesfeldt (R)

Full history

  1. Mar 8, 2013 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Lasee, Ellis, Leibham, Grothman and Moulton; cosponsored by Representatives Jacque, Murtha, Bies, Endsley, Kestell, Klenke, Knudson, LeMahieu, Spiros and Thiesfeldt

  2. Mar 8, 2013 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications

  3. Mar 11, 2013 · Senate

    Representative Bernier added as a cosponsor

  4. Mar 13, 2013 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Mar 20, 2013 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Apr 8, 2014 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1