(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Arkansas's wind energy resources are an important asset for the:(A) Continued economic growth of Arkansas; and(B) Provision of clean and renewable power to the people of Arkansas and the nation as a whole;(2) Promotion of the development of wind energy resources is important to the economic growth of Arkansas;(3) The conversion of wind energy into power for utility-scale systems frequently requires large wind energy systems consisting of wind turbines, electrical substations, electrical lines, and other supporting systems;(4) The construction, location, and operation of wind energy facilities can have significant potential impacts on the health, safety, and welfare of the members of the communities in which the wind energy facilities are constructed;(5) It is essential to the public interest to minimize any adverse effect upon the environment and the quality of life of the people of Arkansas that wind energy facilities might cause;(6) The prudent development of wind energy resources requires addressing balancing the needs of wind energy facility developers with those of landowners that provide access to the wind energy resource, including assurances that:(A) Wind energy facilities will be properly constructed and decommissioned; and(B) The landowners will:(i) Have access to adequate information to verify the accuracy of any payments made by wind energy facilities; and(ii) Be adequately protected against hazards and accidents that may arise from the wind energy facilities;(7) A wind energy facility, if abandoned or not properly constructed and maintained, could pose a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state through mechanical failures, electrical hazards, or the release of hazardous substances;(8) In order to protect the public against health and safety hazards, standards for the safe decommissioning of wind energy facilities should be established, and assurance of adequate financial resources should be given so that a wind energy facility can be properly decommissioned at the end of the wind energy facility's useful life; and(9) A local legislative body should have an opportunity to adopt local legislation addressing the construction of wind energy facilities located in its jurisdiction if the local legislation is consistent with this subchapter and existing federal and state law and does not establish criteria for the issuance of a local permit that are less restrictive than stated under this subchapter.
(1) Arkansas's wind energy resources are an important asset for the:(A) Continued economic growth of Arkansas; and(B) Provision of clean and renewable power to the people of Arkansas and the nation as a whole;
(A) Continued economic growth of Arkansas; and
(B) Provision of clean and renewable power to the people of Arkansas and the nation as a whole;
(2) Promotion of the development of wind energy resources is important to the economic growth of Arkansas;
(3) The conversion of wind energy into power for utility-scale systems frequently requires large wind energy systems consisting of wind turbines, electrical substations, electrical lines, and other supporting systems;
(4) The construction, location, and operation of wind energy facilities can have significant potential impacts on the health, safety, and welfare of the members of the communities in which the wind energy facilities are constructed;
(5) It is essential to the public interest to minimize any adverse effect upon the environment and the quality of life of the people of Arkansas that wind energy facilities might cause;
(6) The prudent development of wind energy resources requires addressing balancing the needs of wind energy facility developers with those of landowners that provide access to the wind energy resource, including assurances that:(A) Wind energy facilities will be properly constructed and decommissioned; and(B) The landowners will:(i) Have access to adequate information to verify the accuracy of any payments made by wind energy facilities; and(ii) Be adequately protected against hazards and accidents that may arise from the wind energy facilities;
(A) Wind energy facilities will be properly constructed and decommissioned; and
(B) The landowners will:(i) Have access to adequate information to verify the accuracy of any payments made by wind energy facilities; and(ii) Be adequately protected against hazards and accidents that may arise from the wind energy facilities;
(i) Have access to adequate information to verify the accuracy of any payments made by wind energy facilities; and
(ii) Be adequately protected against hazards and accidents that may arise from the wind energy facilities;
(7) A wind energy facility, if abandoned or not properly constructed and maintained, could pose a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state through mechanical failures, electrical hazards, or the release of hazardous substances;
(8) In order to protect the public against health and safety hazards, standards for the safe decommissioning of wind energy facilities should be established, and assurance of adequate financial resources should be given so that a wind energy facility can be properly decommissioned at the end of the wind energy facility's useful life; and
(9) A local legislative body should have an opportunity to adopt local legislation addressing the construction of wind energy facilities located in its jurisdiction if the local legislation is consistent with this subchapter and existing federal and state law and does not establish criteria for the issuance of a local permit that are less restrictive than stated under this subchapter.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that this subchapter shall:(1) Establish the standards and criteria for permitting and regulating wind energy facilities; and(2) Promote, preserve, and protect the public peace, health, safety, and welfare through effective permitting and regulation of wind energy facilities.
(1) Establish the standards and criteria for permitting and regulating wind energy facilities; and
(2) Promote, preserve, and protect the public peace, health, safety, and welfare through effective permitting and regulation of wind energy facilities.