A. The commission shall deposit all assessments collected pursuant to this section, other than funds deposited in the administration fund, into the program fund.

B. Any interest earned on funds in the program fund must be credited to the program fund.

C. Funds not spent in any fiscal year remain in the program fund to be used for conservation programs and wind energy projects as specified in subsection 5-B.

D. The commission may apply for and receive grants from state, federal and private sources for deposit in the program fund and also may deposit in the program fund any grants or other funds received by or from any entity with which the commission has an agreement or contract pursuant to this section if the commission determines that receipt of those funds would be consistent with the purposes of this section. If the commission receives any funds pursuant to this paragraph, it shall establish a separate account within the program fund to receive the funds and shall keep those funds and any interest earned on those funds segregated from other funds in the program fund.

Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§5-B is enacted to read:

5-B.__Support for wind energy projects.__Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the commission may provide up to $2,000,000 per year to the Finance Authority of Maine for use pursuant to Title 10, section 1100-Z.

Sec. 6. 35-A MRSA §3402, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 665, §3, is amended to read:

§3402. Legislative findings

The Legislature finds that it is in the public interest to explore opportunities for and encourage the development, where appropriate, of wind energy production in the State in a manner that is consistent with high environmental standards and that achieves reliable, cost-effective, sustainable energy production on those sites in the State that will attract investment and permit the development of viable wind energy projects. The Legislature finds that the development of the wind energy potential in the State needs to be integrated into the existing energy supply and transmission systems in a way that achieves system reliability, total capital cost-effectiveness and optimum