H.B. No. 118 Summary

• Requires wind farm and economically significant solar facility applicants to provide 30 days' advance notice to township boards, including facility location, size, number of turbines/panels, height specifications, leaseholder information, and proposed locations.

• Establishes township referendum procedures allowing qualified electors to petition for votes on wind farm and solar facility certificates, with referendums initiated by township board resolution or when board members have financial conflicts of interest.

• Modifies wind turbine setback requirements for economically significant wind farms to the greater of: 1.1 times total turbine height plus minimum 1,125 feet, or manufacturer-recommended safety distances measured from adjacent property lines.

• Requires applicants to submit information to township boards identical to information in their power siting board or building authority applications; non-identical information prevents permit or certificate approval.

• Applies new requirements to pending applications for utility facility certificates before the power siting board and economically significant solar facility permits before state or county building authorities as of the act's effective date.