The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act promoting the timely and orderly review of petitions to construct energy facilities. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 69J¼ of
Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end of the
first paragraph, the following new paragraph:—
At least 60 days prior to the filing of any application with the siting board,
the applicant shall consult with the municipality in which the facility may be
located concerning the proposed and alternative sites of the generation
facility. Such consultation with the municipality shall include, but not be
limited to good faith efforts to meet with the chief elected official of the
municipality. At the time of consultation, the applicant shall provide the
chief elected official with any technical reports concerning the site selection
process and environmental effects of the proposed generation facility. The
municipality may conduct public hearings and meetings as it deems necessary for
it to advise the applicant of its recommendations concerning the proposed
generation facility. Within 60 days of the initial consultation, the
municipality shall issue its recommendations to the applicant. No later than 15
days after submitting the application to the board, the applicant shall provide
to the board all materials provided to the municipality and a summary of the
consultations with the municipality including all recommendations issued by the
municipality. The board would apply appropriate board and agency standards in a
consistent manner, consider any local recommendations and rule and issue or
deny local permits within 60 days. Any appeal to a board decision would be
referred to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.