SF0011 • 2024

Eminent domain energy collector systems amendments.

AN ACT relating to eminent domain; removing the ability of entities who are not public utilities to use the right of condemnation for electric generation collector systems; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Agriculture Energy Land

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Agriculture
Last action: 2024-02-16
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide a bill summary text.

Changes to Eminent Domain for Energy Collectors

The bill removes the ability of non-public utility entities to use eminent domain rights for building electric generation collector systems.

What This Bill Does

Removes the right of non-public utilities to condemn land for electric generation collector systems.
Defines 'collector systems associated with commercial facilities generating electricity from wind' as infrastructure like conductors, towers, and substations used to deliver power from wind farms.
Limits the use of existing easements by commercial facilities unless specified in an agreement or already installed.

Who It Names or Affects

Entities that are not public utilities and want to build electric generation collector systems.
Landowners whose property may be affected by these changes in eminent domain rights.

Terms To Know

Eminent Domain: The power of the government or a private entity with special permission to take private property for public use, usually after paying fair compensation.
Collector Systems: Infrastructure used to collect and deliver electricity from wind farms to substations.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if an existing easement allows for additional collector systems.
It is unclear how this change will affect ongoing or future projects that rely on eminent domain rights.
The bill did not pass and therefore its provisions are not currently in effect.

Bill History

2024-02-16 Senate
S Did not Consider for Introduction
2024-01-24 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2023-12-04 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

24LSO-0123
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0123
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0011

Eminent domain energy collector systems amendments.

Sponsored by: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to eminent domain; removing the ability of entities who are not public utilities to use the right of condemnation for electric generation collector systems; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 1
‑
26
‑
815(d) is amended to read:

1
‑
26
‑
815.

Right of eminent domain granted; ways of necessity for authorized businesses; purposes; extent.

(d)

No person
qualified to exercise the condemnation authority granted by this section,
except a public utility that has been granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant to W.S. 37
‑
2
‑
205, shall exercise the
condemnation
authority
granted by this section
for the erection, placement or expansion of collector systems associated with commercial facilities generating electricity
.

from wind.

The prohibition imposed by this subsection shall be effective immediately and shall end June 30, 2015 or upon the effective date of legislation establishing additional conditions for the use of condemnation authority for the erection, placement or expansion of collector systems associated with commercial facilities generating electricity from wind, whichever occurs earlier.

As used in this subsection, "collector systems associated with commercial facilities generating electricity
"

from wind"
means the conductor infrastructure, including conductors, towers, substations, switchgear and other components necessary to deliver power from any commercial facility generating electricity
from wind
up to but not including electric substations or interconnections facilities associated with existing or proposed transmission lines that serve load or that export energy from Wyoming.

A commercial facility generating electricity shall not use an existing easement to place additional collector systems associated with a commercial facility generating electricity unless specified in an existing easement or the infrastructure is already existing.

Section 2.

This act applies to eminent domain actions initiated on or after the effective date of this act.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

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SF0011