Fees for certain high-voltage transmission lines

(1) In this section: (a) “Commission” means the public service commission. (b) “High-voltage transmission line” means a high-voltage transmission line, as defined in s. 196.491 (1) (f), that is designed for operation at a nominal voltage of 345 kilovolts or more. (2) The department shall promulgate rules that require a person who is issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) for a high-voltage transmission line to pay the department the following fees: (a) An annual impact fee in an amount equal to 0.3 percent of the cost of the high-voltage transmission line, as determined by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm). (b) A one-time environmental impact fee in an amount equal to 5 percent of the cost of the high-voltage transmission line, as determined by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm). (3) (a) The department shall distribute the fees that are paid by a person under the rules promulgated under sub. (2) (a) to each town, village and city that is identified by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) in proportion to the amount of investment that is allocated by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) to each such town, village and city. (b) The fee that is paid by a person under the rules promulgated under sub. (2) (b) shall be distributed as follows: 1. The department shall pay 50 percent of the fee to each county that is identified by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) in proportion to the amount of investment that is allocated by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) to each such county. 2. The department shall pay 50 percent of the fee to each town, village and city that is identified by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) in proportion to the amount of investment that is allocated by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) to each such town, village and city. (4) A county, town, village, or city that receives a distribution under sub. (3) (b) may use the distribution only for park, conservancy, wetland or other similar environmental programs, unless the commission approves a different use under this subsection. A county, town, village, or city that receives a distribution may request in writing at any time that the commission approve a different use. The commission shall make a decision no later than 14 days after receiving such a request. The commission shall approve a request if it finds that the request is in the public interest.