SB544,5,74 (e) A political subdivision may extend the time period in par. (d) if, within that
590-day period, the political subdivision authorizes the extension in writing. Any
6combination of the following extensions may be granted, except that the total amount
7of time for all extensions granted under this paragraph may not exceed 90 days:
SB544,5,98 1. An extension of up to 45 days if the political subdivision needs additional
9information to determine whether to approve or deny the application for approval.
SB544,5,1110 2. An extension of up to 90 days if the applicant makes a material modification
11to the application for approval.
SB544,5,1312 3. An extension of up to 90 days for other good cause specified in writing by the
13political subdivision.
SB544,5,1614 (f) A political subdivision may not deny or impose a restriction on an application
15for approval unless the political subdivision enacts an ordinance that is no more
16restrictive than the rules the commission promulgates under s. 196.378 (4g) (b).
SB544,5,1917 (g) A political subdivision that chooses to regulate wind energy systems shall
18enact an ordinance, subject to sub. (6) (b), that is consistent with the applicable
19standards established by the commission in rules promulgated under s. 196.378 (4g).
SB544, s. 6 20Section 6. 66.0401 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
SB544,5,2321 66.0401 (5) Public service commission review. (a) The decision of a political
22subdivision to approve, reject, or impose a restriction upon a large wind energy
23system may be appealed only as provided in this subsection.
SB544,6,524 (b) 1. Any aggrieved person seeking to appeal a decision of a political
25subdivision to approve, reject, or impose a restriction upon a large wind energy

1system may begin the political subdivision's administrative review process. If the
2person is still aggrieved after the administrative review is completed, the person may
3file an appeal with the commission. No appeal to the commission under this
4subdivision may be filed later than 30 days after the political subdivision has
5completed its administrative review process.
SB544,6,116 2. Rather than beginning an administrative review under subd. 1., an
7aggrieved person seeking to appeal a decision of a political subdivision to approve,
8reject, or impose a restriction upon a large wind energy system may file an appeal
9directly with the commission. No appeal to the commission under this subdivision
10may be filed later than 30 days after the decision of the political subdivision to
11approve, reject, or impose a restriction upon the large wind energy system.
SB544,6,1512 (c) Upon receiving an appeal under par. (b), the commission shall notify the
13political subdivision. The political subdivision shall provide a certified copy of the
14record upon which it based its decision, and of any other relevant governmental
15records the commission may request, within 30 days after receiving notice.
SB544,6,2416 (d) The commission may confine its review to the records it receives from the
17political subdivision or, if it finds that additional information would be relevant to
18its decision, expand the record it reviews. The commission shall issue a decision
19within 90 days after the date on which it receives all of the records it requests under
20par. (c), unless for good cause the commission extends this time period in writing.
21If the commission determines that the political subdivision's decision does not
22comply with the rules it promulgates under s. 196.378 (4g) or is otherwise
23unreasonable, the political subdivision's decision shall be superseded by the
24commission's decision and the commission may order an appropriate remedy.
SB544,7,4
1(e) Judicial review is not available until the commission issues its decision
2under par. (d). Judicial review shall be of the commission's decision, not of the
3political subdivision's decision. The commission's decision is subject to judicial
4review under ch. 227. Injunctive relief is available only as provided in s. 196.43.
SB544, s. 7 5Section 7. 66.0401 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
SB544,7,86 66.0401 (6) Applicability of a county ordinance. (a) 1. A county ordinance
7enacted under sub. (2) applies only to the towns in the county that have not enacted
8an ordinance under sub. (2).
SB544,7,129 2. If a town enacts an ordinance under sub. (2) after a county has enacted an
10ordinance under sub. (2), the county ordinance does not apply, and may not be
11enforced, in the town, except that if the town later repeals its ordinance, the county
12ordinance applies in that town.
SB544,7,1413 (b) 1. Subject to subd. 2., a county ordinance enacted under sub. (4) applies only
14in the unincorporated parts of the county.
SB544,7,1815 2. If a town enacts an ordinance under sub. (4), either before or after a county
16enacts an ordinance under sub. (4), the more restrictive terms of the 2 ordinances
17apply to the town, except that if the town later repeals its ordinance, the county
18ordinance applies in that town.
SB544, s. 8 19Section 8. 196.378 (4) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB544,7,2020 196.378 (4) (title) Renewable resource rules.
SB544, s. 9 21Section 9. 196.378 (4g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB544,7,2222 196.378 (4g) Wind siting rules. (a) In this subsection:
SB544,7,2323 1. "Application for approval" has the meaning given in s. 66.0401 (1e) (a).
SB544,7,2424 2. "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county.
SB544,7,2525 3. "Wind energy system" has the meaning given in s. 66.0403 (1) (m).
SB544,8,8
1(b) The commission shall promulgate rules that specify the restrictions a
2political subdivision may impose on the installation or use of a wind energy system.
3The subject matter of these rules may include visual appearance, lighting, electrical
4connections to the power grid, setback distances, maximum audible sound levels,
5proper means of measuring noise, interference with radio, telephone, or television
6signals, decommissioning, or matters consistent with the conditions specified in s.
766.0401 (1m) (a) to (c). A political subdivision may not place a restriction on the
8installation or use of a wind energy system that is more restrictive than these rules.
SB544,8,109 (c) In addition to the rules under par. (b), the commission shall promulgate
10rules that do all of the following:
SB544,8,1311 1. Specify the information and documentation to be provided in an application
12for approval to demonstrate that a proposed wind energy system complies with rules
13promulgated under par. (b)
SB544,8,1514 2. Specify the information and documentation to be included in a political
15subdivision's record of decision under s. 66.0401 (4) (b).
SB544,8,1716 3. Specify the procedure a political subdivision shall follow in reviewing an
17application for approval under s. 66.0401 (4).
SB544, s. 10 18Section 10. Initial applicability.
SB544,8,2219 (1) The public service commission review process for a political subdivision's
20decision under section 66.0401 (5) of the statutes first applies to a local decision that
21is issued after the public service commission's rules under section 196.378 (4g) of the
22statutes take effect.
SB544,8,2323 (End)
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