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markets and opportunities are available for the sale of wind energy | | in accordance with federal and state law. |
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| | | 2. Legal action. After consultation with the Attorney | | General, the commission may initiate regulatory and other legal | | action to protect access to markets by wind power facilities | | located in the State. |
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| | | Sec. 4. Wind power study. The Public Utilities Commission shall | | conduct a study of the viability of and potential for the | | development of wind power facilities in this State. In | | conducting the study, the commission shall examine at least the | | following: |
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| | | 1. The total realistic development potential and associated | | costs of wind power in the State; |
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| | | 2. Potential sites for wind power development, in order to | | identify such sites; |
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| | | 3. Available markets both in and out of this State for sales | | of potential power generated by wind power development in this | | State; |
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| | | 4. Transmission modifications that may be required to realize | | the potential for wind power development in this State and | | potential costs of and obstacles to such modifications; |
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| | | 5. The impact of potential wind power development on existing | | electric generation resources in this State and total system | | impacts, including those related to the integration of such | | development into existing generation and transmission systems; |
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| | | 6. Obstacles to wind power development in this State; |
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| | | 7. Methods of mitigating the cost to Maine ratepayers of | | renewable portfolio requirements; |
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| | | 8. In consultation with appropriate governmental agencies, | | financing or incentive mechanisms to support wind power | | development, including Pine Tree Development Zone incentives, | | financing through the Finance Authority of Maine, the possible | | use of the conservation program fund established in the Maine | | Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3211-A to provide | | capitalization resources to the Finance Authority of Maine and | | other state agencies that might provide financing; |
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| | | 9. The potential benefits and costs of siting wind power | | development on lands in this State owned by federally recognized |
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