House Bill 484: Wind Energy Facility Permitting

• Establishes a mandatory state permitting program for wind energy facilities with a rated capacity of one megawatt or more, requiring Department approval before construction, operation, or expansion.

• Requires a two-stage pre-application process: a preapplication site evaluation meeting (held 120-180 days before filing) and a scoping meeting (held 30-60 days before filing) to assess military and environmental impacts.

• Applicants must submit a $3,500 application fee and detailed documentation including turbine specifications, noise and shadow flicker studies, military impact assessments, FAA Form 7460-1 submissions, and a decommissioning plan with cost estimates.

• Permits may be denied if the facility would significantly impact military operations, endanger wildlife or natural resources, obstruct navigation, violate zoning requirements, or violate the Mountain Ridge Protection Act.

• Establishes financial assurance requirements for decommissioning and reclamation; permits become effective only after receiving FAA's "Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation"; violations subject to civil penalties up to $10,000 per day.