04/01/2014 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 297(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act  recognizing   the  Alaska   Housing  Finance                                                                    
     Corporation as  the authorizing agency to  approve home                                                                    
     energy rating systems for the  state; and providing for                                                                    
     an effective date."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:52:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LANCE  PRUITT, introduced  HB 297.  He stated                                                                    
that the  Alaska Finance Housing Corporation  (AHFC) was the                                                                    
state's  home energy  rating system  authorizing agency  for                                                                    
the purpose of  approving home energy rating  systems in the                                                                    
state.  He  relayed that  the  bill  sought to  protect  the                                                                    
state's  investment via  AHFC in  developing its  own rating                                                                    
system, AkWarm.  He shared that  the AkWarm system  had been                                                                    
in use  since 1996,  and was  designed specifically  for the                                                                    
unique  climate and  environment of  Alaska. The  bill would                                                                    
highlight that AHFC was the  authorizing agency in charge of                                                                    
approving Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:54:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Dunleavy inquired  whether  and authorizing  agency                                                                    
was currently recognized.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Pruitt said no.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer  noted the  zero  fiscal  note. He  inquired                                                                    
whether there  were federal funds  available to  assist this                                                                    
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DIRK  CRAFT, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE LANCE  PRUITT, responded                                                                    
that the  intent of  the bill was  to protect  any potential                                                                    
federal funds.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:56:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT  BREAN,  DIRECTOR,  RESEARCH AND  RURAL  DEVELOPMENT,                                                                    
ALASKA HOUSING  FINANCE CORPORATION  (AHFC), added  that the                                                                    
corporation did  not receive additional  federal funds  as a                                                                    
result  of  exercising  the program,  but  by  formula  AHFC                                                                    
received approximately 300 thousand  dollars from the United                                                                    
States  Department of  Energy.  The corporation  anticipated                                                                    
that to use  any federal funds on an analysis  of any rating                                                                    
systems introduced that might benefit the state.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:57:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  wondered whether  AHFC would  interface with                                                                    
the  Cold  Climate  Research  Housing  in  Fairbanks  as  it                                                                    
developed the regulations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Brean  replied that it  was possible. He said  that AHFC                                                                    
had extended a great deal  of time and energy developing the                                                                    
current software rating system.  He relayed that the current                                                                    
system had weather  regimes and weather systems  built in as                                                                    
well as  construction techniques in the  state. He concluded                                                                    
that  AHFC  planned on  working  closely  with Cold  Climate                                                                    
Housing on the project.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:59:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB  297(FIN) was  HEARD and  HELD in  committee for  further                                                                    
consideration.