August 21, 2007, Introduced by Rep. Opsommer and referred to the Committee on Energy and Technology.
A bill to amend 1996 PA 376, entitled
"Michigan renaissance zone act,"
by amending section 3 (MCL 125.2683), as amended by 2006 PA 304,
and by adding section 8g.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Agricultural processing facility" means 1 or more
facilities or operations that transform, package, sort, or grade
livestock or livestock products, agricultural commodities, or
plants or plant products, excluding forest products, into goods
that are used for intermediate or final consumption including goods
for nonfood use, and surrounding property.
(b) "Board" means the state administrative board created in
1921 PA 2, MCL 17.1 to 17.3.
(c) "Development plan" means a written plan that addresses the
criteria in section 7 and includes all of the following:
(i) A map of the proposed renaissance zone that indicates the
geographic boundaries, the total area, and the present use and
conditions generally of the land and structures within those
boundaries.
(ii) Evidence of community support and commitment from
residential and business interests.
(iii) A description of the methods proposed to increase economic
opportunity and expansion, facilitate infrastructure improvement,
and identify job training opportunities.
(iv) Current social, economic, and demographic characteristics
of the proposed renaissance zone and anticipated improvements in
education, health, human services, public safety, and employment if
the renaissance zone is created.
(v) Any other information required by the board.
(d) "Elected county executive" means the elected county
executive in a county organized under 1966 PA 293, MCL 45.501 to
45.521, or 1973 PA 139, MCL 45.551 to 45.573.
(e) "Forest products processing facility" means 1 or more
facilities or operations that transform, package, sort, recycle, or
grade forest or paper products into goods that are used for
intermediate or final use or consumption or for the creation of
biomass or alternative fuels through the utilization of forest
products or forest residue, and surrounding property. Forest
products processing facility does not include an existing facility
or operation that is located in this state that relocates to a
renaissance zone for a forest products processing facility. Forest
products processing facility does not include a facility or
operation that engages primarily in retail sales.
(f) "Integrated coal gasification facility" means a facility
that produces synthesis gas from low or negative-value carbon-based
feedstocks, including, but not limited to, coal and petroleum coke.
(g) (f)
"Local governmental unit"
means a county, city,
village, or township.
(h) (g)
"Person" means an
individual, partnership,
corporation, association, limited liability company, governmental
entity, or other legal entity.
(i) (h)
"Qualified local governmental
unit" means either of
the following:
(i) A county.
(ii) A city, village, or township that contains an eligible
distressed area as defined in section 11 of the state housing
development authority act of 1966, 1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1411.
(j) (i)
"Recovery zone" means a
tool and die renaissance
recovery zone created in section 8d.
(k) (j)
"Renaissance zone" means
a geographic area designated
under this act.
(l) (k)
"Renewable energy
facility" means a system that creates
energy from a process using residues from agricultural products,
forest products, paper products industries, and food production and
processing; trees and grasses grown specifically to be used as
energy crops; and gaseous fuels produced from solid biomass, animal
wastes, or landfills.
(m) (l) "Residential
rental property" means that term as
defined in section 7ff of the general property tax act, 1893 PA
206, MCL 211.7ff.
(n) (m)
"Review board" means the
renaissance zone review board
created in section 5.
(o) (n)
"Rural area" means an
area that lies outside of the
boundaries of an urban area.
(p) (o)
"Urban area" means an
urbanized area as determined by
the economics and statistics administration, United States bureau
of the census according to the 1990 census.
Sec. 8g. (1) The board, upon recommendation of the board of
the Michigan strategic fund defined in section 4 of the Michigan
strategic fund act, 1984 PA 270, MCL 125.2004, may designate not
more than 3 additional renaissance zones for integrated coal
gasification facilities within this state in 1 or more cities,
villages, or townships if that city, village, or township or
combination of cities, villages, or townships consents to the
creation of a renaissance zone for an integrated coal gasification
facility within their boundaries.
(2) Each renaissance zone designated for an integrated coal
gasification facility under this section shall be 1 continuous
distinct geographic area.
(3) The board may revoke the designation of all or a portion
of a renaissance zone for an integrated coal gasification facility
if the board determines that the integrated coal gasification
facility does 1 or more of the following in a renaissance zone
designated under this section:
(a) Fails to commence operation.
(b) Ceases operation.
(c) Fails to commence construction or renovation within 1 year
from the date the renaissance zone for the integrated coal
gasification facility is designated.
(4) When designating a renaissance zone for an integrated coal
gasification facility, the board shall consider all of the
following:
(a) The economic impact on local suppliers who supply raw
materials, goods, and services to the integrated coal gasification
facility.
(b) The creation of jobs relative to the employment base of
the community rather than the static number of jobs created.
(c) The viability of the project.
(d) The economic and environmental impact on the community in
which the integrated coal gasification facility is located and the
economic and environmental impact on this state.
(5) Beginning on the effective date of the amendatory act that
added this subsection, the board shall require a development
agreement between the Michigan strategic fund and the integrated
coal gasification facility.
(6) As used in this section, "development agreement" means a
written agreement between the Michigan strategic fund and the
integrated coal gasification facility that includes, but is not
limited to, all of the following:
(a) A requirement that the integrated coal gasification
facility comply with all state and local laws.
(b) A requirement that the integrated coal gasification
facility report annually to the Michigan strategic fund on all of
the following:
(i) The amount of capital investment made at the facility.
(ii) The number of individuals employed at the facility at the
beginning and end of the reporting period as well as the number of
individuals transferred to the facility from another facility owned
by the integrated coal gasification facility.
(iii) The percentage of raw materials purchased in this state.
(c) Any other conditions or requirements reasonably required
by the Michigan strategic fund.