S366 - Responsible Wind Energy Implementation

• Establishes comprehensive permitting and control requirements for industrial wind energy facilities (WEFs) in North Carolina, including mandatory setbacks of one mile or 10 times maximum turbine height from residential properties, and 30 miles from major military installations.

• Requires extensive studies and documentation from applicants including human health impacts, economic impacts, environmental assessments, property value guarantees, decommissioning plans, and incident response plans, all conducted by independent experts and paid for by the applicant.

• Imposes strict financial assurance requirements for decommissioning, including a minimum of $100,000 per turbine, and requires operators to maintain $10 million in commercial general liability insurance plus $50 million in umbrella coverage.

• Establishes denial criteria for permits including unacceptable noise levels exceeding 35 decibels, adverse military operations impacts, significant ecological damage, and net economic liability to host communities, with final permit decisions required within 90 days of completed application.

• Creates liability provisions making WEF owners strictly liable for damages caused by construction, operation, or decommissioning, requires indemnification of state and local governments, and mandates decommissioning within one year of six consecutive months without electricity generation.