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<title>April 2007: Recent State Initiatives Further The Development of Wind
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<p align="left"><strong><small><font face="Arial">About The Author:</font></small></strong></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial" style="font-size: 9pt">Robert A. Olson is a partner in the law firm of
Brown, Olson & Gould, P.C. which maintains a nationwide practice in energy law,
public utility law and related commercial transactions.</font></p>
<p><small><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 9pt">He can be reached at:</font><br>
<br>
<b><font color="#0000FF">Brown, Olson & Gould, PC</font></b><br>
2 Delta Drive<br>
Suite 301<br>
Concord, NH 03301<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><br>
(603) 225-9716<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]"></a></font></small></p>
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<p ALIGN="left"><b><u><br>
<br>
April</u></b><u><b> 2007</b></u><font size="6"><b><br>
</b></font></p><b>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font size="6">Recent State Initiatives
Further The Development of Wind Energy</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left">By Robert A.
Olson, Esq. and Becky Oleson<strong>-- Brown, Olson and Gould, P.C.<br>
</strong>
</b><font face="Arial" size="2"><i>(</i><em>originally published by PMA OnLine Magazine:
2008/01/19</em><i>)</i></font></p>
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<p align="left">While Maryland and Pennsylvania attempt to make development
of wind generation projects easier, Texas is trying to ensure that at least
some of its renewable energy comes from sources other than wind.</p>
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<p align="left"><b>Maryland Dispenses With Certificates of Public
Convenience and for Wind</b></p>
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<p align="left">On April 9, 2007, the Maryland General Assembly approved
Senate Bill 566, which allows wind-powered generating stations meeting
certain criteria to bypass the requirement for a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. In order to qualify, the facility must be 70
megawatts or less and land-based. The electricity must be sold on the
wholesale market pursuant to an interconnection, operation and maintenance
agreement with the local electric company. The Public Service Commission
must hold public hearings in each county and municipal corporation in which
any portion of the proposed wind project may be located. The Act does not
limit the regulatory authority of any State or local agency with respect to
siting of a wind generation facility - all relevant regulations and
ordinances still apply. </p>
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<p align="left">The Act streamlines the approval process for qualifying
wind-powered generating stations, helping Maryland achieve its Renewable
Portfolio Standard goals for Tier 1 renewable sources. The state’s Renewable
Portfolio Standard was enacted in 2004, and an annual requirement of 1.0%
for Tier 1 sources went into effect in 2006. The state has set a requirement
of 7.5% of its total electricity needs from Tier 1 sources by 2019. </p>
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<p align="left">Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley signed the Act into law
on April 24. The Act will become effective on July 1, 2007 and will remain
in effect for three years. It is set to expire on June 30, 2010.</p>
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<p align="left"><b>Pennsylvania Initiative Focuses on Review of Effect on
Wildlife</b></p>
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<p align="left">Pennsylvania’s Renewable Portfolio Standard was enacted in
2004, with compliance beginning in 2006. It requires that 18.5 % of
electricity sold to retail customers come from renewable sources by 2020.
Currently, Pennsylvania is home to at least seven wind-turbine sites, with
another 60 sites being investigated for possible construction of wind
turbines. Governor Edward G. Kendall convened The Pennsylvania Wind &
Wildlife Collaborative to assist in the development of wind energy in an
environmentally responsible manner. The Collaborative has facilitated
voluntary agreements with twelve private companies to avoid, minimize and
potentially mitigate any adverse impacts wind development may have on the
state’s wildlife resources. Under the agreements, wind developers must
notify the Game Commission at least 14 months in advance of construction to
ensure that the Game Commission has sufficient time to conduct a review of
the proposed development. The agreements establish site-specific procedures
to measure pre- and post-construction wildlife activities and seasonal
events, including site visitation and usage and migration. The agreements
are designed to lead to a better understanding of each proposed site’s
ecology, to promote teamwork between state agencies and developers, and to
help streamline the permitting of wind development in the state.</p>
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<p align="left"><b>Texas Legislature Asked to Clarify Its Mandate to Develop
Non-Wind Generation</b></p>
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<p align="left">The Texas legislature is considering a bill that will
clarify language in S.B. 20, its 2005 Renewable Portfolio Standard law. The
2005 Texas law established a “target” that at least 500 MW of renewable
generation come from non-wind renewable sources by 2015. H.B 1214 answers
the question of whether the 500 MW non-wind target in S.B. 20 was voluntary
or mandatory. H.B. 1214 clarifies that installation of at least 500 MW of
non-wind renewable generation by 2015 is mandatory. The Public Utilities
Commission must establish the minimum annual requirement for the
installation of non-wind generating capacity for each utility in the state,
including retail providers, municipally owned utilities, and electric
cooperatives. The bill was passed by the Texas House of Representatives on
April 17, 2007, and is now being considered by the Senate Business and
Commerce Committee. If passed, the bill will take effect on September 1,
2007.</p>
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<p align="left">As of December 31, 2006, Texas leads the U.S. in installed
wind capacity, with 2,768 MW. Additionally, two of the three largest wind
farms in the country are located in Texas. H.B. 1214 will support the
development of other renewable resources contained in its Renewable
Portfolio Standard, including solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave and
biomass. Texas adopted its Renewable Portfolio Standard in 1999. </p>
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<blockquote>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial">
<small>Robert A. Olson is a partner in the law firm of Brown, Olson &
Gould P.C.
which maintains a nationwide practice in energy law, public utility law and related
commercial transactions. He can be reached at:</small></font><p align="center">
<font face="Arial"><small><font color="#0000FF"><b>Brown, Olson & Gould, PC</b></font><br>
2 Delta Drive, Suite 301<br>
Concord, NH 03301 <br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> | (603) 225-9716<a href="mailto:[email protected]"></a></small></font>
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