Bill > SB283

This bill establishes new regulations for wind generation facilities in Montana, focusing on tower height and lighting requirements. The bill defines key terms such as "wind generation facility" (any combination of wind turbines with a nameplate capacity of 25 megawatts or more), "wind turbine tower" (the structural base of a wind turbine), and "turbine rotor hub" (the device holding the turbine's blades together). Starting January 1, 2026, wind turbine towers cannot exceed 350 feet in height, measured from the ground to the middle of the rotor hub, and this restriction does not apply to towers already constructed before that date. The bill also mandates that wind turbines can only be lit to meet minimal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, and any wind generation facilities with towers over 200 feet tall must install aircraft detection lighting systems, which use radar to activate lights only when aircraft are present. These new regulations are intended to be codified as part of Montana's existing energy infrastructure laws, with a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026, to give wind energy developers time to adapt to the new requirements.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3516