CSSB 150(RES): "An Act establishing an emerging energy technology fund."
00 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 150(RES) 01 "An Act establishing an emerging energy technology fund." 02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 * Section 1. AS 42.45 is amended by adding a new section to read: 04 Article 7A. Emerging Energy Technology. 05 Sec. 42.45.375. Emerging energy technology fund. (a) The emerging energy 06 technology fund is established. The fund consists of 07 (1) money appropriated to the fund by the legislature to provide grants 08 and loans for energy projects; and 09 (2) gifts, bequests, contributions from other sources, and federal 10 money appropriated to the fund. 11 (b) The fund is not a dedicated fund. 12 (c) The fund shall be administered by the interdisciplinary research unit of the 13 arm of the College of Engineering and Mines of the University of Alaska known as the 14 Alaska Center for Energy and Power, whose mission is to research energy sources and 15 the way in which energy fits into the state's economic development, but the Alaska
01 Center for Energy and Power may contract for the investment of money appropriated 02 to the fund but not disbursed for a grant or loan. The Alaska Center for Energy and 03 Power, in consultation with the advisory committee established under (f) of this 04 section, may make grants or loans from the fund to eligible applicants for 05 (1) research, development, or demonstration projects designed to 06 (A) test new energy technologies or methods of conserving 07 energy; or 08 (B) improve an existing energy technology; and 09 (2) applied research projects that employ energy technology with a 10 reasonable expectation that the technology will be commercially viable in not more 11 than five years. 12 (d) In making grants and loans under this section, the Alaska Center for 13 Energy and Power, in consultation with the advisory committee established under (f) 14 of this section, shall give priority to 15 (1) Alaska residents, associations, organizations, or institutions; 16 (2) projects that demonstrate partnership with the University of Alaska 17 or another Alaska postsecondary institution; and 18 (3) projects supported by matching funds or in-kind partnerships. 19 (e) If the University of Alaska alters the status of the Alaska Center for Energy 20 and Power, the president of the University of Alaska shall promptly notify the revisor 21 of statutes and the presiding officer of each house of the state legislature of that 22 change. 23 (f) An advisory committee is established and consists of five members. Each 24 member of the committee shall have a degree in science or engineering and at least 25 two years of experience working in the state. Members of the committee shall be 26 appointed by the governor to staggered three-year terms. The committee consists of 27 one representative of each of the following groups: 28 (1) a business or organization engaged in the renewable energy sector; 29 (2) a business or organization engaged in the fossil fuel energy sector; 30 (3) the Alaska Power Association or an Alaska electric utility; 31 (4) the Denali Commission established under P.L. 105-277 and
01 mentioned in a note at 42 U.S.C. 3121; 02 (5) a department or agency of the state. 03 (g) A member of the advisory committee appointed under (f) of this section 04 serves without compensation but is entitled to per diem and travel expenses as 05 provided in AS 39.20.180. 06 (h) In this section, 07 (1) "eligible applicant" means 08 (A) an electric utility holding a certificate of public 09 convenience and necessity under AS 42.05; 10 (B) an independent power producer; 11 (C) a local government, quasi-governmental entity, or other 12 governmental entity, including a tribal council or housing authority; 13 (D) a business holding an Alaska business license; or 14 (E) a nonprofit organization. 15 (2) "energy technology" means technology that promotes, enhances, or 16 expands the diversity of available energy supply sources or means of transmission, 17 increases energy efficiency, or reduces negative energy-related environmental effects; 18 "energy technology" includes technology related to renewable sources of energy, 19 conservation of energy, enabling technologies, efficient and effective use of 20 hydrocarbons, and integrated energy systems; 21 (3) "fund" means the emerging energy technology fund.