Legislature(2011 - 2012)BUTROVICH 205
04/13/2011 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB185 | |
| HJR21 | |
| HJR23 | |
| HCR9 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 185 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 23 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HCR 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 23-HYDROELECTRIC POWER; RENEWABLE ENERGY
4:27:48 PM
CO-CHAIR PASKVAN announced the consideration of HJR 23. [HJR 23
am was before the committee].
4:27:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT, sponsor of HJR 23, informed the
committee that HJR 23 urges Congress to classify hydroelectric
(hydro) power as a renewable [and alternative energy source].
Hydro power is the largest source of renewable energy in both
Alaska and the U.S., and has long been a vital aspect of the
energy solution. He advised that the U.S. has used targeted tax
incentives to spur investment and innovation in the energy
sector, both for fossil and renewable resources. In fact,
investment and production tax credits for renewable energy have
been highly successful.
The concern is that hydro power receives only one-half the tax
credits available to other renewable energy sources. Equalizing
the tax credits will give Alaskans the opportunity to replace a
large portion of the non-renewable power generation in the
state. For the most part, this tends to be diesel.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT told the committee that Alaska has about
50 hydropower projects, ranging in size from 126 megawatts to 7
kilowatts. They provide approximately 24 percent of Alaska's
electric power. He pointed out that 32 projects in Southeast are
either under construction or on the drawing board and more than
200 locations statewide have been identified as potential
hydropower sites.
He summarized that HJR 23 asks Congress to incentivize the
further production of hydroelectric power through both federal
programs and tax incentives. He noted that the resolution
dovetails with Senator Lisa Murkowski's recently introduced
federal legislation on the topic.
4:31:48 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if this is the same resolution that
Representative Thomas introduced a couple of years ago.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT replied it is modeled on previous
legislation.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked if anyone paid attention to the previous
resolution.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT said Congress didn't take action, but then
Senator Lisa Murkowski hadn't introduced legislation either.
This is an effort to show support for her and the legislation
she recently introduced.
4:33:17 PM
HAP SYMMONDS, Chair, Board of Directors, Cordova Electric
Cooperative, Inc., stated support for HJR 23. Responding to
Senator Stedman's question, he explained that HJR 23 was amended
on the House floor to ask Congress to classify Alaska
hydroelectric power as renewable, whereas the resolution that
Representative Thomas introduced asked for all hydroelectric
power to be classified as renewable. HJR 23 specifically targets
Alaska hydropower. He further explained that Senator Lisa
Murkowski had three bills before the Senate right now; SB 629
gives grants for environmental analysis and mitigation, SB 630
makes grant money available for building new hydro projects, and
SB 631 ensures that generation of hydroelectric power is treated
as a renewable resource for purposes of any federal program or
standard. He urged the committee to send HJR 23 to Congress
without delay.
SENATOR MCGUIRE said she's always wondered if resolutions go
into the circular file and she recalled that U.S. Senator Lisa
Murkowski spoke to that question more than once when they served
together in the other body. In light of this, she urged
Representative Pruitt to make the resolution as effective as
possible, including testifying in person during hearings in
Washington D.C.
She referred to page 1, line 15, of the resolution and asked if
he had considered inserting the renewable energy goal the state
set for itself as matter of policy. Developing the hydroelectric
potential in the state is a critical part of attaining that
goal. She offered to help develop the language.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT said he was open to any suggestions that
would decrease the likelihood of the resolution being put in the
circular file.
4:39:08 PM
CO-CHAIR PASKVAN closed public testimony and told Representative
Pruitt he looked forward to working on the resolution with him.
He announced he would hold HJR 23 in committee.