19.3131.02000
Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3048
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Magrum, Fegley, Johnston, Karls, Satrom, Simons
1 A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying the feasibility
2 and desirability of establishing a wind reclamation fund.
3 WHEREAS, wind power is the fastest-growing source of electricity in the world and North
4 Dakota is a leading state within wind power generation, with 21.5 percent of all in-state
5 generated electricity in 2016 powered by wind; and
6 WHEREAS, wind energy can be a very environmentally, economically, and socially
7 sustainable source of energy when careful decommissioning planning is undertaken to ensure
8 the costs and benefits are shared equitably and there are no lasting impacts on the physical
9 and cultural landscape; and
10 WHEREAS, the type of land used for wind energy generation often is agriculture, grazing,
11 recreation, open space, scenic areas, wildlife habitat, and forest management and is typically
12 suitable to areas of grazing or agricultural uses; and
13 WHEREAS, the agricultural and grazing land uses are disturbed by the construction of a
14 wind turbine, and some intensive agriculture may be adversely impacted during operation; and
15 WHEREAS, without additional financial assurance requirements, property owners would be
16 burdened with the financial responsibility of restoring land to the original condition after the
17 decommissioning of a wind turbine; and
18 WHEREAS, establishing a wind reclamation fund would assist property owners with the
19 excess costs associated with removal of a wind turbine, foundation and road removal, site
20 remediation, abandonment, and repairing damage caused during decommissioning;
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
22 NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
23 That the Legislative Management shall consider studying the feasibility and desirability of
24 establishing a wind reclamation fund; and
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislative Management report its findings and
Page No. 1 19.3131.02000
 Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly
1 recommendations, together with any legislation required to implement the recommendations, to
2 the Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly.
Page No. 2 19.3131.02000