Wind Energy Siting Reform Pending Before Massachusetts Legislature

The Massachusetts Legislature is considering significant legislation that would affect how wind power projects are sited in that state.  The proposed law would preempt local land use review and approval processes by the municipalities in which wind power projects are proposed, substituting a state board consisting of gubernatorial appointees that would develop and apply its own review standards. 

Here is the Senate version, which has been approved, and the proposed House legislation.  (These links will download PDF versions of the bills.)  The legislation is pending before the House’s Ways and Means Committee.