Section 40A:66-4 - "Municipal shared services energy authority."a. Any combination of three or more municipalities that, on the effective date of P.L. 2015, c. 129(C.40A:66-1 et al.), operate retail electric distribution systems pursuant to R.S. 40:62-12 et seq. may, by adoption of parallel ordinances approving an inter-municipal agreement, establish a separate legal entity to be known as the "municipal shared services energy authority" to be used by its members to effect joint development of electric energy resources or production, distribution, and transmission of electric power and energy, including the utilization of renewable capacity and energy, in whole or in part, for the benefit of its members. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, following approval by the Local Finance Board pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the final adoption by the municipalities of the parallel ordinances, and due execution by the municipalities, the inter-municipal agreement shall have a term as provided by the inter-municipal agreement. The member municipalities that enter into the inter-municipal agreement may thereafter amend the inter-municipal agreement as provided in subsection e. of this section. Only one municipal shared services energy authority may be established pursuant to P.L. 2015, c. 129(C.40A:66-1 et al.).
b. Upon the introduction of the parallel ordinances by each municipality seeking to create the authority, but before final adoption of the ordinances, copies of the ordinances, together with the proposed inter-municipal agreement, shall be submitted to the Local Finance Board for approval. If, upon submission of a complete application for approval of the proposed inter-municipal agreement, the Local Finance Board does not approve the agreement, it shall specify the reason or reasons therefor, and shall file its statement with the clerk of each member municipality. If the Local Finance Board does not act upon the application for approval of the proposed inter-municipal agreement within 60 days after receipt of the submission of a complete application, then the ordinances and proposed inter-municipal agreement shall be deemed approved and the municipalities may proceed to adopt the proposed ordinances.c. Once the authority has been legally established pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 2015, c. 129(C.40A:66-1 et al.), only those municipalities that operate a retail electric distribution system pursuant to R.S. 40:62-12 et seq. on the effective date of P.L. 2015, c. 129(C.40A:66-1 et al.) may join the authority as provided in this subsection. (1) A municipality requesting to become a member of the authority shall negotiate an amended inter-municipal agreement on terms and conditions acceptable to the members. Once an amended inter-municipal agreement has been agreed to, it shall be submitted for approval to the board of commissioners of the authority. Adoption of an amended inter-municipal agreement shall require the approval by a two-thirds majority vote of the full membership of the board of commissioners, approval by the Local Finance Board of the proposed amended agreement, and final adoption by each member municipality of an ordinance approving the proposed agreement, as provided in subsection e. of this section.(2) The municipality requesting to become a member of the authority shall introduce an ordinance approving the amended inter-municipal agreement as approved by the board of commissioners of the authority. Upon the introduction of the ordinance, but before final adoption of the ordinance, copies of the ordinance, together with the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement, shall be submitted to the Local Finance Board for approval. If, upon submission of a complete application for approval of the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement, the Local Finance Board does not approve the agreement, it shall specify the reason or reasons, therefor, and shall file its statement with the clerk of each member municipality. If the Local Finance Board does not disapprove the application for approval of the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement within 60 days after receipt of a complete application, then the ordinance and proposed amended inter-municipal agreement shall be deemed approved and the municipality may proceed to adopt the proposed ordinance.d. Once the authority has been established, it may add a rural electric cooperative that exists on the effective date of P.L. 2015, c. 129(C.40A:66-1 et al.) as a member as provided in this subsection. (1) A rural electric cooperative requesting to become a member of the authority and the board of commissioners of the authority shall negotiate an amended inter-municipal agreement on terms and conditions acceptable to the parties. Once an amended inter-municipal agreement has been agreed to, it shall be submitted for approval by the board of commissioners. Adoption of an amended inter-municipal agreement shall require approval by a two-thirds majority vote of the full membership of the board of commissioners and approval by ordinance of each member municipality as provided in subsection e. of this section.(2) The authority shall submit the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement for approval to the Local Finance Board. If, upon submission of a complete application for approval of the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement, the Local Finance Board does not approve the agreement, it shall specify the reason or reasons, therefor, and shall file its statement with the clerk of each member municipality. If the Local Finance Board does not act upon the application for approval of the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement within 60 days after receipt of a complete application, then the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement shall be deemed approved.e. Upon approval by the board of commissioners of an amended inter-municipal agreement, each member municipality shall introduce an ordinance approving the amended inter-municipal agreement. Before final adoption of the ordinances, copies of the ordinances, together with the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement, shall be submitted to the Local Finance Board for approval. If, upon submission of a complete application for approval of the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement, the Local Finance Board does not approve the agreement, it shall specify the reason or reasons, therefor, and shall file its statement with the clerk of each member municipality. If the Local Finance Board does not act upon the application for approval of the proposed amended inter-municipal agreement within 60 days after receipt of the submission of a complete application, then the ordinances and proposed amended inter-municipal agreement shall be deemed approved and the municipalities may proceed to adopt the proposed ordinances.Added by L. 2015, c. 129,s. 4, eff. 11/9/2015.