"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds a growing interest in small scale renewable energy systems for the provision of electricity to homes and farms.
     (2) While many local governments are interested in helping homeowners and farmers achieve energy self-sufficiency, the legislature finds that most local governments have little or no experience in siting and permitting these small scale renewable energy systems.
     (3) The legislature finds that some small scale renewable energy systems may not be appropriate for certain locations and may at times face opposition from neighbors and the community.
     (4) Therefore, the legislature finds a need for cities and counties to have technical assistance, model ordinances, and development regulations to assist them with the siting and permitting of small scale renewable energy systems.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department, in consultation with the Washington State University extension energy program and statewide county and city organizations, must recommend a range of model ordinances, all of which are to assist cities and counties in siting and permitting small scale renewable energy systems. The recommendations must take into consideration the size of an energy system, its generating capacity, and its appropriateness for small urban, large urban, suburban, and rural communities.
     (2) Counties or cities without ordinances to site small scale renewable energy systems, must adopt the ordinances based upon recommendations developed by the department. However, any recommended ordinance may be tailored to meet local circumstances as long as the generating capacity threshold is met. An ordinance adopted under this subsection may be done concurrently with the scheduled updates provided in RCW 36.70A.130.
     (a) A county is not required to adopt ordinances under this section for any facilities with a generating capacity greater than three and one-half kilowatts within residential areas.
     (b) A county is required to adopt ordinances under this section for wind facilities with a generating capacity greater than three and one-half kilowatts and not more than five megawatts on agricultural and forest lands.
     (c) A city is not required to adopt ordinances under this section for any facilities with a generating capacity greater than three and one-half kilowatts.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "small scale renewable energy systems" means: (a) A wind facility with a generating capacity of not more than five megawatts; and (b) any facility that meets the definition of a "net metering system" under RCW 80.60.010, except facilities that use biomass as a fuel.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   By December 31, 2012, the department of commerce must do the following with its recommendations developed under section 2 of this act: (1) Report the recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature; and (2) make the recommendations available for counties, cities, and statewide city and county organizations."