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25LSO-0431
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0431
Introduced
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0089
Wind turbine blades-onsite disposal required.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Riggins, Bear, Campbell, K, Guggenmos and Strock
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to industrial development and siting; requiring decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers to be disposed of on the site of the wind turbines; prohibiting the disposal of wind turbine blades and towers in municipal solid waste facilities; specifying exceptions; making conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking; specifying applicability; and providing for effective dates.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 18
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5
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503(a)(vi), 18
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5
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504 by creating a new subsection (f), 35
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11
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402(a) by creating a new paragraph (xvi), 35
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12
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109(a) by creating a new paragraph (xxiii) and 35
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12
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113 by creating a new subsection (k) are amended to read:
18
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5
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503.
Application.
(a)
To obtain the permit required by W.S. 18
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5
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502, the owner or developer of a facility shall submit an application to the board of county commissioners.
The application shall:
(vi)
Provide a waste management plan that includes an inventory of estimated solid wastes and a proposed disposal program for the construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of the proposed facility
. For wind energy facilities under this article, the application shall provide a disposal plan for the onsite disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers in accordance with W.S. 35
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11
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402(a)(xvi) and 35
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12
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113(k)
;
18
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5
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504.
Minimum standards; incorporation into other processes.
(f)
Wind energy facilities subject to this article shall dispose of all decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers from the facility in accordance with W.S. 35
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11
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402(a)(xvi) and 35
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12
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113(k).
35
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11
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402.
Establishment of standards.
(a)
The council shall, upon recommendation by the advisory board through the administrator and the director, establish rules and regulations pursuant to the following reclamation standards for the affected areas, including but not limited to:
(xvi)
Rules and regulations for the disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers on the site specified in the permit for the wind energy facility under W.S. 18
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5
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504 and 35
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113. Rules promulgated under this paragraph shall:
(A)
Require the disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers on the site where the wind turbines operated;
(B)
Provide minimum depth requirements and account for any aquifers as defined in W.S. 35
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11
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103(h)(i);
(C)
Require the removal of all mechanical, electrical and other materials from the decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers allowing only the base material of the blades and towers to be buried;
(D)
Provide for the incorporation or amendment of any rules pertaining to solid and hazardous waste necessary to allow for the disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers;
(E)
Prohibit the disposal of wind turbine blades and towers in solid waste disposal facilities in accordance with W.S. 35
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12
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113(k);
(F)
Provide exceptions to the requirement for onsite disposal in accordance with W.S. 35
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12
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113(k);
(G)
Not be any more stringent than rules governing the disposal of wind turbine blades and towers in municipal solid waste facilities or surface coal mining sites.
35
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12
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109.
Application for permit; form; fee; financial accounting.
(a)
An application for a permit shall be filed with the division, in a form as prescribed by council rules and regulations, and shall contain the following information:
(xxiii)
For proposed facilities meeting the requirements of W.S. 35
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102(a)(vii)(E) or (F), a disposal plan for the onsite disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers in accordance with W.S. 35
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11
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402(a)(xvi) and 35
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12
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113(k).
35
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12
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113.
Decision of council; findings necessary for permit conditions imposed; service of decision on parties; waste management surcharge.
(k)
For facilities meeting the definition of W.S. 35
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102(a)(vii)(E) or (F), the council shall, in its decision granting a permit, require the operator of the facility to dispose of wind turbine blades and towers on the site where the facility is authorized to be located under the permit. No decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers for facilities permitted under this act or under W.S. 18
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504 shall be disposed of in solid waste disposal facilities. Disposal of wind turbine blades and towers shall be in accordance with W.S. 35
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402(a)(xvi) and all rules promulgated under that paragraph. This subsection shall not apply to:
(i)
The onsite recycling of wind turbine blades and towers;
(ii)
The removal or disposal of mechanical, electrical and other materials from decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers;
(iii)
The disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers at surface coal mining sites in accordance with W.S. 35
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11
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402(a)(xiii).
Section 2
.
(a)
Subject to subsection (b) of this section, this act shall apply to all wind energy facilities for which a permit is issued under W.S. 35
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113 or 18
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504 on and after July 1, 2025.
(b)
Nothing in this act shall be construed to amend, alter or impair any contract, lease or other agreement entered into before July 1, 2025.
Section 3.
(a)
The environmental quality council, upon recommendation by the department of environmental quality, shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.
(b)
The industrial siting council shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.
Section 4
.
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(b)
Sections 3 and 4 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
(END)
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HB0089