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short-term and long-term benefits to Maine people. The Legislature | | finds it is in the public interest to encourage the construction | | and operation of wind energy generating facilities that produce 300 | | megawatts by 2010 and the development of wind energy research and | | generation equipment manufacturing facilities in the State.__The | | Legislature finds that enhancement of the transmission of | | electricity to southern Maine markets from northern and eastern | | Maine is essential to the efficient development of the State's wind | | energy resources and to the efficient connection of Aroostook | | County and Washington County with the electric grid of the rest of | | the United States. |
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| | | Sec. 7. 35-A MRSA §3404 is enacted to read: |
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| | | §3404.__Determination of public policy |
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| | | It is the policy of the State that its political subdivisions, | | agencies and public officials take every reasonable action to | | encourage and expedite the attraction of wind-energy-related | | development; the permitting and financing of wind energy | | projects; and the siting, permitting, financing and construction | | of wind energy research and manufacturing facilities. |
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| | | Sec. 8. 38 MRSA §341-D, sub-§1-C is enacted to read: |
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| | | 1-C.__Streamlined permitting for certain projects.__In order | | to ensure an adequate, secure and reliable supply of electricity | | for residents of the State, to encourage economic development | | opportunities in this State, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions | | from the State's electricity supply portfolio and to maintain and | | increase the use of a renewable, efficient and indigenous | | resource, the board shall: |
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| | | A.__Adopt rules that streamline the process for the review | | and permitting of any wind-powered electric generation | | facility of not more than 100 megawatts.__The streamlined | | process must involve any reviews required to be conducted or | | permits or licenses required to be issued for such a project | | by the board or the department.__Notwithstanding any other | | provision of this Title, the rules may shorten or otherwise | | streamline the process but may not result in a weakening of | | any substantive standard or requirement.__Rules adopted | | pursuant to this paragraph are major substantive rules as | | defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; |
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| | | B.__Adopt rules that deal on a general basis with the evaluation | | of issues that arise in the permitting of wind energy facilities, | | including turbine and blade safety, effect on birds and other | | wildlife, public safety, aesthetic effects and other pertinent | | issues.__These rules must be |
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