05/01/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

                  SB  69-GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES                                                                               
4:01:37 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP  announced the consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.                                                               
69  "An Act  relating to  geothermal resources;  relating to  the                                                               
definition  of  'geothermal  resources';  and  providing  for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:01:39 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP solicited a motion.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:01:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS)                                                                   
for SB 69, work order 33-GS1618\R, as the working document.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:01:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:02:01 PM                                                                                                                    
ANNE RITTGERS, Staff, Senator Bishop, Alaska State Legislature,                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska, presented the explanation of changes from                                                                       
Version A to R of SB 69:                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                     Explanation of Changes                                                                                   
             SENATE RESOURCES CS for Senate Bill 69                                                                             
               Version 33-GS1618/A to 33-GS1618/R                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
        • The Committee Substitute adopts the following                                                                         
          changes:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
        • Updated Title                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
        • Kept the following provisions from Version A:                                                                         
             • Conversion     of     existing     geothermal                                                                    
               prospecting permits to licenses and renaming                                                                     
               permits to licenses (Sections 1-4 and 7)                                                                         
             • Increasing the maximum acreage of licenses                                                                       
               and moves fees to be established in                                                                              
               regulation (Section 4)                                                                                           
             • Repealing a provision that would allow                                                                           
               renegotiation of rentals and royalties due                                                                       
               on a geothermal lease after 20 years                                                                             
               (Section 5)                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
        • Added   Section   6,   AS   38.05.965(6)   updated                                                                    
          definition of geothermal resources:                                                                                   
             • Lowered temperature from 120 degrees Celsius                                                                     
               to 80 degrees Celsius                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
        • Throughout the bill, technical/conforming changes                                                                     
          were made to align with the Manual of Legislative                                                                     
          Drafting                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
        • Updated effective date to July 1, 2024 in Ver. R                                                                      
          Section 10                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:03:30 PM                                                                                                                    
[CO-CHAIR GIESSEL removed her objection.]                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:03:31 PM                                                                                                                    
[CO-CHAIR BISHOP found no further objection and CSSB 69 was                                                                     
before the committee.]                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:03:32 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP solicited the will of the committee.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:03:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to report the committee substitute (CS)                                                                  
for SB 69, work order 33-GS1618\R, from committee with                                                                          
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:03:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and CSSB 69(RES) was reported                                                                
from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.