Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following:
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, creating consistency in the application and permitting process for wind energy developments before the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection will improve the application process; and
Whereas, in order to move quickly and fairly in processing wind energy development applications, the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission needs the authority to charge applicants fees for necessary consulting expertise, studies or materials; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,’
Amend the bill in section 2 in paragraph C in the last blocked paragraph in the 2nd line (page 2, line 8 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " subsection 11," the following: ' that is not a grid-scale wind energy development,'
Amend the bill in section 2 in paragraph C in the last blocked paragraph in the 3rd line (page 2, line 9 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " is located in" and inserting the following: ' that is proposed for location within'
Amend the bill by inserting after section 3 the following:
‘Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
CONSERVATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Land Use Regulation Commission 0236
Initiative: Provides funding associated with application processing of wind energy development projects.
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
|
All Other
|
$20,000 |
$40,000 |
|
 |
|
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL |
$20,000 |
$40,000 |
’
Amend the bill by inserting at the end before the summary the following:
‘Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
SUMMARY
This amendment adds an emergency preamble, an emergency clause and an appropriations and allocations section to the bill. The amendment also clarifies the provision of the bill regarding the consideration by the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission of the effects of a wind energy development on scenic character and existing uses relating to scenic character for a wind energy development with a generating capacity of 100 kilowatts or greater but less than grid-scale.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)