SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general law or regulation to the contrary, before issuing a license under chapter 91 of the general laws for any liquefied natural gas terminal or ancillary facility thereto, the department of environmental protection must determine that such facilities serve a proper public purpose and that the public benefits of licensing such facilities exceed the detriments, taking into account factors that include, but are not limited to, navigational safety; potential impacts to commercial and recreational navigation, the benthic and aquatic environment, fisheries and shellfishing; proximity to residences, elderly housing complexes, schools, hospitals, health care facilities and other population and demographic characteristics; emergency response capabilities; and the extent to which a proposed technology has been used successfully in other similar projects or applications.  This act shall apply to all liquefied natural gas terminals or ancillary facilities thereto that have not received a chapter 91 license prior to the effective date of this act.