§1732. Lease authority and royalties

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law except Subsection B of this Section, the State Mineral and Energy Board in conjunction with the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, shall have the authority to lease for the exploration, development, or production of energy from wind any lands belonging to the state or the title to which is held by the state, including water bottoms, vacant state lands, and lands adjudicated to the state at tax sale, except lands that form any portion of state highway right-of-way. The leases shall be granted through a public bid process which shall be promulgated by the adoption of rules and regulations by the State Mineral and Energy Board. All bonuses, rentals, royalties, payments, or other sums due the state as the lessor under the terms of leases granted under the provisions of this Subsection for the exploration, development, and production of energy from wind shall be paid to the office of mineral resources. Revenues received from these leases by the office of mineral resources shall be remitted to the state treasurer who, after compliance with Article VII, Section 9 of the state constitution, shall credit an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the revenues to the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Fund and an amount equal to the seventy-five percent to the state general fund. The funds generated under leases granted under the provisions of this Section shall not be included in calculations for the Budget Stabilization Fund.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Mineral and Energy Board, with the approval of the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, shall have the authority to lease for the exploration, development, or production of energy from wind, any properties under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission or the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, including but not limited to wildlife management areas and refuges. The leases shall be granted through a public bid process which shall be promulgated by the adoption of rules and regulations by the State Mineral and Energy Board. All bonuses, rentals, royalties, payments or other sums payable to the state as the lessor under the terms of leases granted under the provisions of this Subsection for the exploration, development, and production of energy from wind shall be deposited in the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund.

C. Any lease granted under the provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to the same decommissioning rules and regulations as oil and gas and sulphur facilities under the provisions of Subpart Q of Part 250 of Chapter II of Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (30CFR 250.1700 et seq.).

Acts 2005, No. 481, §1, eff. July 12, 2005; Acts 2009, No. 196, §6, eff. July 1, 2009.