Legislature(2011 - 2012)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/29/2012 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB25 | |
| HB250 | |
| SB182 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 250 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 182 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 250(ENE)
"An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund
and recommendation program; and providing for an
effective date."
2:04:51 PM
Co-Chair Hoffman turned the meeting over to Co-Chair
Stedman. Co-Chair Stedman relayed that CSHB 250(ENE) had
not previously been heard by the committee. The intent was
to introduce the legislation, hear public testimony, and
set the bill aside for further review.
CASEY SCHRODER-HOTCH, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL THOMAS,
provided an overview of the legislation. She explained that
the bill would reauthorize the Renewable Energy Grant Fund
for an additional five years. The fund was established in
2008 and had funded around 200 projects statewide, with a
focus on areas with the highest energy costs. She furthered
that additional projects came forward on an annual basis;
21 projects were "on line" at the end of 2011. Estimates
showed that by 2013 the fund would be responsible for
displacing 6 million gallons of diesel fuel each year. She
relayed that the fund included a continuation of the intent
language expressed in the enabling legislation to fund the
program at $50 million per year.
Co-Chair Stedman noted the one fiscal note from the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
in the amount of $2,155,000 that had been included in the
governor's FY 13 operating budget.
2:07:08 PM
PAT LUBY, ADVOCACY DIRECTOR, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
RETIRED PERSONS (AARP), JUNEAU, testified in support of HB
250. He shared that all AARP members were energy consumers
and customers; many Alaskans were having trouble paying
their energy bills. He observed that the state had a
history of developing successful renewable energy projects
through the fund. He stressed that renewing the fund would
provide Alaska and its citizens with more opportunities to
experiment with renewable energy projects. He urged support
for the legislation.
Co-Chair Hoffman requested that Chris Rose, Executive
Director of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, provide
remarks on his participation in the program.
CHRIS ROSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RENEWABLE ENERGY ALASKA
PROJECT (REAP), detailed that REAP was a coalition of
approximately 85 organizations in Alaska including
utilities, businesses, conservation, consumer groups,
Native organizations, and local, state and federal
entities. The coalition supported the reauthorization and
extension until at least 2018. He relayed that there had
been a significant number of projects in the pipeline. He
noted that of the 208 funded projects, approximately half
were feasibility and reconnaissance projects, which meant
that there were many projects that had not reached
construction. The coalition believed that there would be a
substantial number of construction projects in the upcoming
four to five years. He shared that the fund would displace
at least 6 million gallons of diesel fuel by the end of the
next year and the number would continue to expand.
HB 250 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.