Legislature(2017 - 2018)CAPITOL 17
04/06/2017 10:15 AM House ENERGY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR18 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 18-SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY TESTING
10:17:39 AM
CHAIR WOOL announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18, Urging the Alaska delegation in
Congress to implement a renewable energy testing program in the
state; supporting the development and testing of renewable
energy resources in the state; and encouraging entrepreneurs to
develop renewable energy projects in the state.
10:18:31 AM
JACOB TATUM, Staff, Representative Chris Tuck, Alaska State
Legislature, said that the proposed resolution would be "great
for Alaska." He stated that HJR 18 signified a unified voice
from the Alaska State Legislature to the Alaska Congressional
delegation. He paraphrased from the sponsor statement [Included
in members' packets] which read:
HJR 18 sends a very important message to the Alaskan
Congressional delegation that our great state wishes
to take its rightful place as a leader in the
development of emerging renewable energy and
encourages our representatives to advocate for our
wishes in Washington. Over the past decade, the
renewable energy sector has seen tremendous growth
while the cost of production has also dropped. This
has been made possible due to strides in research and
timely direction of resources and funds. Alaska is
uniquely qualified to contribute to the proliferation
of affordable and clean energy because our demanding
environment is an ideal testing ground for cutting
edge technology and our fiscal climate is ripe for
outside investment. The Alaska state motto is "North
to the Future"; which represents our tradition of
looking forward and as a land of promise. By sending
this message to our congressional delegation, we will
be living up to our reputation and favorably
positioning our state to enjoy the fruits of renewable
energy which include not only affordability but also a
much-needed boost to the Alaskan economy of today and
tomorrow. HJR 18 urges Congress to take action and
direct funds to our state in order to position Alaska
as a leader within the burgeoning renewable energy
industry while also helping Alaskan pocketbooks by
driving down energy costs and bringing new jobs to our
economy. HJR 18 serves as a continuing reminder to
Congress that encouraging renewable energy testing is
in Alaska's best interest and in the best interest of
the Nation. I humbly ask for your support.
10:20:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, Alaska State Legislature, reiterated
that the resolution stated that Alaska was the most suitable
region for the testing and development of renewable energy. He
added that the high cost of energy combined with all the
opportunities in the state made these technologies very feasible
and affordable. He stated that, "if it can be done right in
Alaska, it can be pretty much done right anywhere else in the
world."
10:21:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON stated that it was an interesting
resolution and she supported its general intent. She asked if
this was to create a new entity, in addition to the already
existing programs.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK explained that the proposed bill was asking
for the investment of outside money from sources such as the
Department of Energy. He reported that, although the state had
done a good job with its own investments, this was asking the
U.S. Congress for federal support in Alaska to help meet the
federal goals for renewable energy.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON asked if he was aware of the millions of
dollars from the Department of Defense which were already coming
into the state. She suggested to make the proposed resolution
more site specific, offering as an example a lab in Fairbanks
attached to the university research program. She declared that
there was a lot of Department of Energy and Department of
Defense funds already being spent throughout the state.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK replied that the resolution had been kept
broad, instead of specific, so that the U.S. Congress would
understand that Alaska "has what it needs to test a lot of these
opportunities." He asked where the resolution was restrictive.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON offered her belief that, although there
were some fantastic opportunities, there were some fantastic
resources already in place, and she was looking for more
sculpture of the resolution to strengthen it with what was
already happening in the state and the university. She offered
her help with this.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK explained that a resolution was a note of
agreement to the Alaska delegation. He stated the desire to
keep the resolution as broad and open as possible, to be used as
an education tool. He acknowledged that the resolution could
include information about Alaska energy.
10:26:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE stated that the Department of Energy did
not do much in Alaska, noting that its national budget for
tribal energy was only $60 million for the almost 500 tribes
with project needs of more than $670 million. He asked if the
intent of the proposed resolution was to attract outside money.
He offered examples of energy projects in his region that needed
funding.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK replied that the intent was to bring in
outside money, as the investment resources in Alaska were
limited. He reminded that the 2010 energy policy had a goal to
be 50 percent renewable by 2025. He expressed his desire that
the proposed resolution would draw attention to the uniqueness
and special needs of Alaska for other manufacturers and
organizations. He reported that Alaska had the highest cost of
power in the nation. He declared that Alaska could make these
new technologies economically feasible and allow them to be
refined to be applied elsewhere. He stated that he was unsure
where the Department of Defense had been working on renewable
energy in Alaska.
CHAIR WOOL offered his belief that Representative Johnston had
been referring to the new technology being tested and developed
by the Alaska Center for Energy and Power. He suggested a focus
on the successful programs.
10:30:24 AM
SEAN SKALING, Assistant Executive Director, Energy Policy
Director, Alaska Energy Authority, stated that the Alaska Energy
Authority had submitted a letter of support [Included in
members' packets]. He said that the letter outlined a few facts
about renewable energy in Alaska, and he touted the support from
the Alaska State Legislature for investments in renewable energy
projects totaling more than $250 million, which were making a
real difference around the state. He said that several of the
projects did have a federal match. He pointed out that the
renewable energy market had increased due to these investments.
He said the emerging energy technology fund was another
investment made with federal match for new technologies. He
added that, although there were several tax incentives for
renewable energy, these were more difficult to use in Alaska.
10:33:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if a result of the resolution
would be to send this as a collective.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK explained that the entire resolution packet
would be sent, and he mentioned those to be included listed on
the final page of the resolution.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked about friendly language amendments
and he offered some wordsmith suggestions, noting that a vote
against a hydro project would be seen as a mixed message. He
mused about national projects and suggested that defense of the
listed projects would enhance the strength of the resolution.
He said that he would have them later.
MR. SKALING in response to Chair Wool, said that the emerging
energy technology fund was a one third federally matched fund.
10:37:14 AM
CADY LISTER, Chief Economist, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA),
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development,
explained that there were different matching funds in different
rounds of the programs, and that the most recent was a
Department of Energy grant.
CHAIR WOOL asked how the money in the fund was used.
MS. LISTER replied that there was an emerging energy technology
advisory committee which provided recommendations to the Alaska
Energy Authority for administering the funds. [indisc]
CHAIR WOOL reflected on the emerging energy technology fund,
which had been used for the combined heat and power plant at the
university in Fairbanks, a coal fired, co-generation plant which
was currently under construction.
MS. LISTER explained that the combined heat and power project
was testing at the Big Dipper, and that it would combine
electricity and heat. She said that this technology was widely
used in Europe, but had not been ever tested in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE asked about projections for the AEA
budget.
MS. LISTER said that she would follow up with that information.
She relayed that in the recent past it had been easier to
attract federal funding for emerging energy investments. She
did not know if this would continue under the new
administration.
10:41:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE asked if proposed HJR 18 would help with
securing funds.
MS. LISTER replied that it would not hurt, as it was clearly an
opportunity for implementing good renewable energy projects in
Alaska and helping to stabilize and lower energy costs in high
cost communities. [indisc] She declared support for the
proposed resolution.
CHAIR WOOL asked if the renewable energy fund ever had a
matching component from federal funds.
MS. LISTER replied that it had always been 100 percent state
funding.
10:43:37 AM
CHRIS ROSE, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Alaska Project
(REAP), explained that REAP was a coalition of more than 80
organizations and that REAP supported the resolution and its
intent. He stated that there was nothing like Alaska as a
testing area in the United States [indisc]. He said that
Alaska could not be a world leader unless the United States
continued to try to be a world leader helping build renewable
energy on a national basis [indisc]. He stated that renewable
energy could be a component of a future [indisc]. He offered
his belief that the proposed resolution sent a great message to
Congress that Alaska needed help and support.
10:50:34 AM
CHAIR WOOL reiterated that Alaska was a world leader in micro
grids.
10:51:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON asked how much Department of Defense
funding came to Alaska.
MR. ROSE replied that this had been about $350,000.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON asked about the intent of those funds
and whether the focus of the resolution should be directed to
individual senatorial expertise.
MR. ROSE said that for these projects to be successful, it was
necessary to maintain, upgrade, and optimize them. He said that
REAP had been looking for money to hire another position for
investigation of workforce development and vocational training
in the clean energy area (indisc). He pointed out the
importance of micro grids as a replacement energy for diesel
fuel in military areas. He stated that Alaska was an excellent
testing area for integration of these renewable projects.
10:56:20 AM
CHAIR WOOL mused about earlier testimony that Lockheed Martin
was working on energy projects relevant to Alaska, which
included small nuclear projects.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK referenced the first "Whereas" in the
proposed resolution and reported that this clause discussing
reduction of nonrenewable energy sources had been inserted due
to national security. He pointed out that the United States, as
of July 2015, had become the largest exporter of refined fuels
in the world. He reiterated that the proposed resolution
focused on renewable energy.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER, in response to Representative Tuck,
said that he would bring work-around suggestions to his office.
10:58:53 AM
CHAIR WOOL announced that HJR 18 would be held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR 18 - Legislation.PDF |
HENE 4/6/2017 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 18 |
| HJR 18 - REF Round X Status Report.pdf |
HENE 4/6/2017 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 18 |
| HJR 18 - RenewableEnergy-Atlas-of-Alaska-2016April (1).pdf |
HENE 4/6/2017 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 18 |
| HJR 18 -Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HENE 4/6/2017 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 18 |
| HJR18- Fiscal Note - LEG-SESS-04-05-17.pdf |
HENE 4/6/2017 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 18 |
| HJR 18 AEA Ltr of Support.pdf |
HENE 4/6/2017 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 18 |