Relating to wind turbine inspections and the creation of a legislative wind energy consulting committee

This bill relates to wind turbine inspections and the creation of a legislative wind energy consulting committee. The bill requires a wind turbine in the state to be inspected annually by standards identified by the Iowa utilities board (board). Inspections may be completed by a third party, but the owner or operator of the wind turbine is responsible for reporting that the inspection occurred in compliance with the standards identified by the board. An inspection shall take place within days of a lightning storm or high-wind event near the wind turbine. If a wind turbine is underperforming, an inspection is required to determine the cause of the degradation. The bill requires an owner or operator of the wind turbine to submit a report to the board each year containing assets, safety records, inspection records, and performance data for the wind turbine. The board shall review the report and may take action to ensure the safety of the wind turbine, including requiring corrective action and ceasing operation of the wind turbine. The bill requires the board to provide the public access to the annual reports subject to reasonable limitations on confidential business information. The bill creates a legislative wind energy consulting committee to oversee wind energy sustainability and financing. The committee shall submit a report including recommendations to the general assembly each year by November 1.