Sec. 1. 10 MRSA c. 110, sub-c. 12 is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 12

WIND ENERGY PROJECTS

§1100-Z.__Financing of wind energy projects and manufacturing

of wind energy equipment

If the authority and the Public Utilities Commission determine it is in the public interest, the authority and the commission shall develop a program to increase the capitalization of the authority for the purpose of assisting in the financing of wind energy projects and the commission may transfer up to $2,000,000 per year from the conservation program fund, as authorized by Title 35-A, section 3211-A, subsection 5-B to the authority for this purpose for up to 10 years from the effective date of this section.

Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §5250-Q is enacted to read:

§5250-Q.__Wind power generators

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the commissioner may certify a business that does not otherwise qualify as a qualified Pine Tree Development Zone business or that does not locate in a Pine Tree Development Zone as qualified to receive Pine Tree Development Zone benefits if the commissioner determines that such certification would support construction by that business of a wind-powered electric generation facility in this State.__The business must demonstrate to the commissioner that the construction of the facility would not be likely to occur absent the availability of the Pine Tree Development Zone benefits.

Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

8.__Credit trading.__The commission shall allow competitive electricity providers to satisfy the portfolio requirements of this Title through renewable energy credits if the commission determines that a reliable system of electricity attribute trading exists.

Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 624, §4, is amended to read:

5. Conservation program fund. The commission shall establish a conservation program fund to be used solely for