02/15/2023 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

                SB  33-RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:31:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR  BISHOP  announced   the consideration   of  SENATE  BILL NO.                                                          
33  "An  Act  relating   to  the  renewable   energy  grant  fund  and                                                          
recommendation program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
He noted  that  this was  the  second hearing.  The  intention  was  to                                                         
hear public testimony and look to the will of the committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:31:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on SB 33.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:32:00 PM                                                                                                                    
DOUG  WOODBY,   350  Juneau,  Climate   Action  for   Alaska,  Juneau,                                                          
Alaska,  stated  support  for  SB 33.  He  emphasized  the  importance                                                          
of  extending  the  Renewable   Energy  Grant  Fund  for  at least   10                                                         
years  and  appropriating   at  least  $50  million   annually.  Rural                                                          
communities   in particular   will  benefit.  The  bill  is  important                                                          
for  the  rapid  transition  to  renewable  energy  that's  needed   to                                                         
have sustainable communities in Alaska.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:32:58 PM                                                                                                                    
MATTHEW   JACKSON,   Climate   Program   Manager,   Southeast   Alaska                                                          
Conservation    Council   (SEAAC),   Sitka,   Alaska,   testified    in                                                         
support  of SB  33. He  stated  that he  also works  closely  with the                                                          
Alaska  Climate  Alliance and  recently  submitted  a petition  to the                                                          
committee  with  230 signatures   from people  statewide  who  support                                                          
the   Renewable   Energy   Grant   Fund.   He  echoed   Mr.   Woodby's                                                          
sentiments   that  this  fund  has  been  wildly  successful.   It has                                                          
funded  more  than 100  projects  that  are  operational  and  44 more                                                          
under  development.   It  keeps  communities   from  burning  multiple                                                          
millions  of  gallons  of  diesel  every  year.  This  saves  multiple                                                          
millions  of dollars  and  keeps millions  of tons  of carbon  dioxide                                                          
from  being released  into  the  air. He  urged the  committee  to not                                                          
only  pass SB 33,  but also  to fund  it with  $50 million  during the                                                          
budget  process  this year.  The Renewable  Energy  Grant  Fund is the                                                          
most   effective   means   of  helping   communities   transition    to                                                         
renewable energy.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:35:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR  BISHOP  closed  public  testimony  on  SB  33, and  reviewed                                                          
the fiscal note.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
         Department: Department of Commerce, Community and                                                                      
     Economic Development                                                                                                       
     Appropriation: Alaska Energy Authority                                                                                     
      Allocation: Statewide Project Development, Alternative                                                                    
     Energy and Efficiency                                                                                                      
     OMB Component Number: 2888                                                                                                 
        Fund Source (Operating Only): 1210 Renewable Energy                                                                     
     (DGF) - $1.4 million/year through FY29.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
         SB33 extends the effective date of the Renewable                                                                       
       Energy Grant Fund and recommendation program to June                                                                     
     30, 2033.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  BISHOP  found no  questions  or comments  and solicited  the                                                          
will of the committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:36:22 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR  GIESSEL  moved  to report  SB  33, work  order  33-LS0235\A,                                                          
from   committee  with   individual   recommendations    and  attached                                                          
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  BISHOP  found  no  objection  and SB  33  was reported  from                                                          
the Senate Resources Standing Committee.