2020-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 1543
SB 161                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 161 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
            "An Act relating to geothermal resources; relating to                                                              
                the definition of 'geothermal resources'; and                                                                  
          providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Commerce, Community,                                                                    
          and Economic Development                                                                                              
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Natural Resources                                                                       
 Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Natural Resources                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill revising statutes related to the                                                         
State's geothermal resources.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
This bill removes obstacles for exploration and development of                                                                  
Alaska's geothermal resources. Current law provides companies only                                                              
two to three years to prove a commercial discovery, which then allows                                                           
the company to apply for a more long-term lease. The bill increases                                                             
the time available for exploration to five years to better account for the                                                      
time needed to complete an exploration program. The bill more clearly                                                           
defines what constitutes geothermal resources available for lease. It                                                           
reclassifies the current permit system as a license system similar to                                                           
that for oil and gas exploration. The bill’s proposed five-year                                                                 
exploration license term in the bill allows explorers more time to                                                              
conduct background research, acquire surface use permits, and                                                                   
perform the field work necessary to locate a resource and produce the                                                           
data necessary to convert a license to a lease.