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 | |
HCR 9-STATE ENERGY PRODUCTION WORKING GROUP
4:39:58 PM
CO-CHAIR PASKVAN announced the consideration of HCR 9.
REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT introduced HCR 9 on behalf of the
House Special Committee on Energy saying that the resolution
seeks to establish a working group within the Alaska State
Legislature to work with other producing states on matters of
energy production.
DIRK CRAFT, Staff to Representative Pruitt and the House Special
Committee on Energy, explained that the goal of the working
group is to develop a proposal for an inter-legislature
agreement to facilitate collaboration in efforts to influence
federal energy-related law and policy and to discourage delay or
cancelation of economically viable energy projects in Alaska and
other states. The intent is to discuss issues of mutual concern,
share information, and identify areas for possible
collaboration.
He directed attention to page 2, line 10, and noted the
resolution states that the working group shall consist of four
members, two of which will be appointed by the President of the
Senate and two appointed by the Speaker of the House. On page 2,
line 14, the resolution states that the working group can meet
during and between regular legislative sessions and members may
travel to meetings, subject to approval by the presiding officer
of each body. On page 2, line 20, the resolution states that the
working group will terminate on January [18], 2013. On page 2,
line 22, the resolution directs that the working group shall
issue a report by January 17, 2012, and allow for additional
reports as the group sees fit.
4:42:20 PM
MR. CRAFT explained that this working group will be a little
different than others but the resolution is modeled after
legislation in other states. He said the majority leader from
the Wyoming State Legislature brought it to the sponsor's
attention that these issues were discussed during the Western
States Energy and Environment Symposium that was held in Wyoming
in 2009. Feedback from that symposium indicated that consumer
states dominated that discussion and had different missions for
resource development and extraction than states that align with
Alaska. Hopefully, he said, this working group will be more
specific for developing one voice to lead the discussion on a
national scale.
SENATOR STEDMAN observed that this appears to potentially
duplicate a lot of Energy Council efforts. He explained that
Energy Council is a group of energy-producing states, provinces,
Venezuela, and potentially Mexico; he didn't recall that Wyoming
was a member. The group meets four times a year on energy issues
and to help with the federal energy policy. The upcoming meeting
will be in Anchorage and one meeting is held every year in
Washington D.C. during which time the Alaska State Legislature
virtually pauses. He reiterated his belief that this will be a
duplication of effort.
4:45:09 PM
SENATOR MCGUIRE suggested the sponsor take time to respond to
Senator Stedman to explain the need for the proposed working
group and how it differs from both the Energy Council and the
Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER). She said that when
she participated in the Wyoming project, her understanding was
that instead of the Venezuela model, the focus was on states and
how individual states could be a part of bringing energy
independence to the U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT said this group provides a unique
opportunity to focus solely on energy production within U.S.
states and what is being done at the federal level. By contrast,
the Energy Council consists of producing states within the U.S.
as well as provinces in Canada, the country of Venezuela, and
potentially Mexico. The proposed working group will limit the
discussion so that states can focus on specific issues with the
federal government. Wyoming and Utah have passed similar
resolutions and several other states are in the process of
proposing legislation.
4:48:39 PM
SENATOR STEDMAN clarified that Mexico isn't currently an Energy
Council member and Venezuela seldom attends the meetings. The
discussion from energy-producing states and provinces at Energy
Council relates to state and provincial issues and cross-border
relationships. He observed that some of the states that are
interested in the proposed working group are energy-consuming
states rather than energy-producing states, and stated his
belief that Alaska is better off working with producing states.
SENATOR STEDMAN pointed out that a lot of time is spent on
federal issues during Energy Council meetings. Federal agencies
are brought in at virtually every meeting and of course
provincial agencies are brought in when the meetings are in
Canada. This is appropriate because the oil and gas relationship
between the two countries runs very deep. Canada is probably the
U.S.'s largest trading partner in both gas and oil so it's not
possible to have a U.S. energy policy without working with
Canada and vice versa.
4:50:54 PM
CO-CHAIR PASKVAN asked what purpose the 2013 termination date
serves.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT replied the idea is to lay the foundation
for initial discussions with other states. The sunset limits the
state's involvement should the initial discussion prove to be
unsatisfactory. If the discussions are satisfactory the group
can decide if it wants to participate on a long-term basis.
SENATOR FRENCH noted that the enabling legislation from Utah
ensured that the group of four would have political diversity by
directing that no more than three of the four members shall be
from the same political party. He asked the sponsor if he would
entertain the idea of inserting a similar provision.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT replied he decided to leave the
appointments to the discretion of the leaders of the House and
Senate because he didn't want any hint that he was calling their
integrity into question.
4:53:39 PM
SENATOR FRENCH referred to the "whereas" clause on page 1, lines
13-16, and asked for an example in the energy arena of federal
law and federal law enforcement overreaching the federal
government's constitutional authority.
MR. CRAFT cited the Colville Bridge in Prudhoe Bay as a
potential example.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if he was suggesting that the federal
government doesn't have the constitutional authority to make a
decision about a bridge.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT responded the "wild lands" designation
that HJR 23 addresses is an example of the federal government
pushing the limit. That executive branch decision disregards the
legislative branch and is arguably unconstitutional.
SENATOR FRENCH pointed out that neither Wyoming nor Utah felt
the urge to claim that the federal government was acting
unconstitutionally when they passed their enabling legislation.
4:55:53 PM
SENATOR STEVENS highlighted that Alaska spends a lot of money to
belong to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL),
the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the Energy Council
when many states are cutting back and trying to decide which
organizations are most valuable. He asked if the proposed
working group would duplicate those efforts and potentially need
staff and perhaps see the need to impose membership dues.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT answered that is not his intent. There
will potentially be costs and some travel, but probably not for
staff. The costs wouldn't be anywhere near as much as for some
of the previously mentioned memberships.
4:57:48 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI questioned how the group would travel and
pay for costs in light of the fact that the House Finance
Committee zeroed out the initial $20,000 fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT said the House Finance Committee zeroed
the fiscal note after it determined that the costs and travel
fell within the cost of doing business day-to-day in the
Legislature.
CO-CHAIR PASKVAN announced he would hold HCR 9 in committee.