Bill > H2919

This bill, titled the "Wind Energy Relief Act," establishes two new funds to address negative impacts from wind energy projects: the Wind Energy Relief Fund and the Wind Turbine Decommissioning or Relocation Fund. The Wind Energy Relief Fund will be financed by an annual transfer of $15,000,000 from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund (which collects revenue from a mandatory charge on electricity consumers) and will be administered by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance to compensate citizens, businesses, and municipalities for detrimental health effects, property loss, or other adverse impacts caused by wind turbines developed with assistance from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC). The Wind Turbine Decommissioning or Relocation Fund will also receive funds from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund and will be used to compensate municipalities for the costs of decommissioning or relocating wind turbines that were approved based on false or misleading information. Importantly, these relief and decommissioning funds must be fully funded before the CEC can use its trust fund for other renewable energy initiatives. The bill also outlines procedures for applying for compensation, including timelines for approval or denial and appeal processes to the Department of Public Utilities or the Energy Facilities Siting Board, and specifies that compensation can include relocation assistance.