Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124

04/23/2024 10:15 AM House ENERGY

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 349 RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT LEASES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
*+ HB 328 COMMUNITY ENERGY FACILITIES; NET METERING TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ SB 152 COMMUNITY ENERGY FACILITIES; NET METERING TELECONFERENCED
<Pending Referral>
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ENERGY                                                                              
                         April 23, 2024                                                                                         
                           10:16 a.m.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative George Rauscher, Chair                                                                                           
Representative Tom McKay                                                                                                        
Representative Thomas Baker                                                                                                     
Representative Stanley Wright                                                                                                   
Representative Mike Prax                                                                                                        
Representative Calvin Schrage                                                                                                   
Representative Jennie Armstrong                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
HOUSE BILL NO. 328                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to community energy facilities."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 349                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to leases of public land for renewable energy                                                                  
projects; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 152(L&C)                                                                               
"An Act relating to community energy facilities."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - PENDING REFERRAL                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 328                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: COMMUNITY ENERGY FACILITIES; NET METERING                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TOMASZEWSKI                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
02/15/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/15/24       (H)       ENE, L&C                                                                                               
04/23/24       (H)       ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 349                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT LEASES                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) GROH                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
02/20/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/20/24       (H)       RES, ENE, FIN                                                                                          
03/08/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/08/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/08/24       (H)       MINUTE(RES)                                                                                            
03/11/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/11/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/11/24       (H)       MINUTE(RES)                                                                                            
03/22/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/22/24       (H)       <Bill Hearing Canceled>                                                                                
03/25/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/25/24       (H)       <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 03/27/24>                                                                 
03/27/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/27/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
04/01/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/01/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/01/24       (H)       MINUTE(RES)                                                                                            
04/05/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/05/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
04/08/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/08/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
04/09/24       (H)       ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124                                                                             
04/09/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/11/24       (H)       ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124                                                                             
04/11/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/15/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/15/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
04/16/24       (H)       ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124                                                                             
04/16/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/17/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/17/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 349(RES) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/17/24       (H)       MINUTE(RES)                                                                                            
04/18/24       (H)       RES RPT CS(RES) NEW TITLE 3DP 5NR 1AM                                                                  
04/18/24       (H)       DP: MEARS, ARMSTRONG, DIBERT                                                                           
04/18/24       (H)       NR: MCCABE, SADDLER, WRIGHT, BAKER,                                                                    
                         MCKAY                                                                                                  
04/18/24       (H)       AM: RAUSCHER                                                                                           
04/18/24       (H)       FIN REFERRAL REMOVED                                                                                   
04/18/24       (H)       ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124                                                                             
04/18/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/18/24       (H)       MINUTE(ENE)                                                                                            
04/23/24       (H)       ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DAVID GOFF, Staff                                                                                                               
Representative Mike Tomaszewski                                                                                                 
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  On behalf of Representative Tomaszewski,                                                                 
prime sponsor, presented HB 328.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MIKE JONES, representing self                                                                                                   
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 328.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DYANI CHAPMAN, State Director                                                                                                   
Alaska Environment                                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 328.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CLIFF GROH                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, answered committee                                                                     
questions on HB 349.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CAMERON EBERSOLD, Staff                                                                                                         
Representative Cliff Groh                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  On behalf of Representative Groh, prime                                                                  
sponsor, answered committee questions on HB 349.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:16:47 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
RAUSCHER called the House Special  Committee on Energy meeting to                                                               
order at  10:16 a.m.   Representatives Wright,  Armstrong, McKay,                                                               
Baker, Prax,  Schrage, and Rauscher  were present at the  call to                                                               
order.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
        HB 328-COMMUNITY ENERGY FACILITIES; NET METERING                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:18:00 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER announced that the first order of business would                                                                 
be HOUSE BILL NO. 328 "An Act relating to community energy                                                                      
facilities."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:19:22 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DAVID GOFF, Staff, Representative  Mike Tomaszewski, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  on  behalf  of  Representative  Tomaszewski,  prime                                                               
sponsor, presented HB 328.  He  began the sponsor statement on HB
328,  [included  in  committee packet],  which  read  as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     This bill  will increase  options for  renewable energy                                                                    
     development,  allow Alaskan  ratepayers to  lower their                                                                    
     electric  costs,  and  offset   natural  gas  usage  by                                                                    
     establishing a  virtual net metering program  for small                                                                    
     scale    renewable   energy    generation.   Currently,                                                                    
     ratepayers  for  economically regulated  utilities  can                                                                    
     utilize  net  metering,  which  lowers  their  electric                                                                    
     bills based on the  amount of electricity they generate                                                                    
     from  generators like  solar panels  or wind  turbines.                                                                    
     Unfortunately,  many ratepayers  including renters  and                                                                    
     condo  owners are  not able  to take  advantage of  net                                                                    
     metering because  they do not have  space available on-                                                                    
     site.  HB 328  will allow  multiple ratepayers  to pool                                                                    
     their resources  to receive net metering  benefits from                                                                    
     a  single project.  HB 328  will allow  power generated                                                                    
     from  a  single  centralized  and  efficient  renewable                                                                    
     energy source  to be  purchased through  a subscription                                                                    
     for  multiple  utility   customers.  This  subscription                                                                    
     allows  homeowners  and  tenants  who  might  not  have                                                                    
     access to consistent solar  or renewable energy sources                                                                    
     to reap the benefits  of cost savings, reliability, and                                                                    
     other  benefits to  the community.  Twenty states  have                                                                    
     established  formal  community  energy  programs,  with                                                                    
     several  more that  operate at  the utility  regulation                                                                    
     level. This  new effort  could generate  7.3 GW  of new                                                                    
     solar  capacity nationwide  by 2030.  Utility customers                                                                    
     who  subscribe   to  community  energy   projects  save                                                                    
     between  5  and  15%  on  their  utility  bill  through                                                                    
     monthly  credits. Creating  a community  energy program                                                                    
     in Alaska will  allow the state to  capture millions of                                                                    
     dollars   in  investment   for  new   renewable  energy                                                                    
     projects. It will  lead to hundreds of new  jobs in the                                                                    
     energy  industry. The  announcement  of  $7 Billion  in                                                                    
     federal  funding for  residential  and community  solar                                                                    
     projects will  help pay for community  energy projects.                                                                    
     Several private  investors in community  solar projects                                                                    
     have already  reached out to express  interest. Through                                                                    
     this bill,  an 8  percent increase in  renewable energy                                                                    
     on  the Railbelt  could help  offset natural  gas usage                                                                    
     and address  the supply issues  for Cook  Inlet natural                                                                    
     gas. This  bill will only  apply to utilities  that are                                                                    
     economically regulated by  the Regulatory Commission of                                                                    
     Alaska,  who  will  be responsible  for  reviewing  and                                                                    
     approving  utilities'  community energy  programs.  The                                                                    
     RCA  will have  the authority  to modify  or waive  the                                                                    
     requirements  of  this  bill   to  meet  the  needs  of                                                                    
     specific utilities. SB 152  will help utility customers                                                                    
     save money,  attract millions  in investment,  and help                                                                    
     offset  natural gas  use in  Cook Inlet  while creating                                                                    
     good jobs for Alaskans.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:23:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOFF, at the request of Chair Rauscher, began the sectional                                                                 
analysis on HB 328, [included in the committee packet], which                                                                   
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section  1  adds  new statutory  sections  relating  to                                                                    
     community energy facilities:                                                                                               
     AS    42.05.725   is    a   conforming    section   for                                                                    
     applicability.                                                                                                             
     AS 42.05.727  requires utilities to submit  a community                                                                    
     energy plan to the  Regulatory Commission of Alaska for                                                                    
     approval  and to  make their  community energy  program                                                                    
     available to all  subscriber organizations that request                                                                    
     interconnection subject to a 50megawatt limit.                                                                             
     AS 42.05.729 establishes  bill procedures for community                                                                    
     energy subscribers.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection  (a) allows  utilities  to bill  subscribers                                                                    
     for all charges authorized by the utility's tariff.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection  (b)   prohibits  utilities   from  charging                                                                    
     subscribers additional  fees without approval  from the                                                                    
     commission.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection  (c)   allows  utilities  to   petition  the                                                                    
     commission to change their  rates designs for community                                                                    
     energy subscribers.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection  (d)   allows  electrical   cooperatives  to                                                                    
     invest in renewable energy  projects, with the approval                                                                    
     of their member owners.                                                                                                    
     AS   42.05.731  establishes   the   authority  of   the                                                                    
     commission to modify this  program and adopt additional                                                                    
     requirements by regulation.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection  (a)  allows  the  commission  to  waive  or                                                                    
     modify the requirements of this bill.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection   (b)  allows   the   commission  to   adopt                                                                    
     regulations  governing   safety,  power   quality,  and                                                                    
     interconnection   standards    for   community   energy                                                                    
     projects.                                                                                                                  
     AS  42.05.733 establishes  community energy  facilities                                                                    
     and outlines  the parameters  for how  these facilities                                                                    
     can operate.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection  (a)  sets  criteria   for  who  may  own  a                                                                    
     community energy facility.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection(b)   sets  procedures   for  enrolling   and                                                                    
     billing subscribers.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection (c) sets criteria for  what must be included                                                                    
     in a utilities community energy plan.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection (d)  requires the commission to  ensure that                                                                    
     community  energy plans  that are  targeted to  low- to                                                                    
     moderate  income  households  are  crafted  to  achieve                                                                    
     tangible cost savings.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection   (e)   provides   that  a   subscriber   or                                                                    
     subscription   organization   is  not   considered   an                                                                    
     electric utility.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection  (f)  establishes   criteria  for  community                                                                    
     energy facilities to be eligible.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection (g) establishes  requirements for subscriber                                                                    
     organizations.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Subsection   (h)   defines   "low-to   moderate-income"                                                                    
     household.                                                                                                                 
     AS 42.05.735 provides definitions  of terms used in the                                                                    
     bill.                                                                                                                      
     Section 2 requires the commission to adopt regulations                                                                     
      necessary to implement this bill within one year of                                                                       
     its effective date.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:26:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOFF  moved to the  associated PowerPoint presentation  on HB
328 [hardcopy  included in  committee packet].   He  defined what                                                               
community  energy is  and explained  that it  is popular  and the                                                               
fastest  growing  sector in  the  renewable  energy sector.    He                                                               
explained how the current net  metering program works, and how HB
328 would target users without net metering access.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:28:29 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER asked  for the source of the claims  made on slide                                                               
4 and asked for a qualification of the numbers on the slide.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GOFF  responded  that  each   utility  is  only  allowed  50                                                               
Megawatts of energy from community solar.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER asked if Alaska  has an expectation of the numbers                                                               
used in the formula.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GOFF responded  that  he  doesn't think  there  is a  number                                                               
secured yet  because the  bill sponsor  is waiting  for utilities                                                               
companies to  figure out their  expectations/limits in  regard to                                                               
community energy.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:30:27 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GOFF  resumed his  presentation  and  moved  to slide  7  to                                                               
explain how  HB 328 would  expand options  for net metering.   He                                                               
explained  how the  Regulatory Commission  of  Alaska would  have                                                               
oversight of  a community  energy program and  said that  the RCA                                                               
may waive any  requirement or law established by HB  328 in order                                                               
to regulate community energy.   He explained the process in order                                                               
of start  to finish  of establishing  a community  energy project                                                               
and explained the  benefits of community energy.   In response to                                                               
Chair Rauscher,  he gave a breakdown  on net metering and  how it                                                               
is performed from ratepayer to utility company.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:35:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOFF continued  his presentation on the latter  half of slide                                                               
10, which detailed the benefits of using community energy.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:37:08 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT  asked  whether   there  is  a  continuous                                                               
benefit with a proposed tax credit or a one-time benefit.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GOFF  answered  that  it  is  a  one-time  credit,  and  the                                                               
percentage of the cost credited varies year by year.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:38:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ARMSTRONG  asked  whether   a  new  $125  million                                                               
federal grant has been taken into account with regard to HB 349.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOFF  answered that  he himself has  not yet  considered that                                                               
grant.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:38:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOFF continued  his presentation on slide  11, which detailed                                                               
how HB 328  and community energy projects can  lower energy bills                                                               
in Alaska.   He explained  how HB 328  would create more  jobs in                                                               
investment,  and that  a renewable  energy sector  has more  jobs                                                               
than  fossil fuels.   He  said it  would offset  natural gas  and                                                               
improve grid resiliency  and reliability by creating  a system of                                                               
redundancies.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:42:53 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  asked whether the regulations  would dictate                                                               
how the  utilities would pay  their avoided cost or  whether that                                                               
would be negotiated for each project.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOFF  answered that if someone  is using the energy  in a net                                                               
metering scenario, the person is  credited the price per Kilowatt                                                               
(Kw) because  they are not  using the energy  to begin with.   He                                                               
added that whatever  excess energy they would  produce would come                                                               
at a much lower cost at the end of the month.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked  whether Mr. Goff had  checked with the                                                               
utilities about his previous answer.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. GOFF  responded that he  currently has  a solar array  at his                                                               
house, so that is how he knows.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  said  that  on a  large  scale,  renewables                                                               
aren't  reliable,   and  he  expressed   a  concern   that  using                                                               
renewables could increase costs to ratepayers.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GOFF said  that  HB 328  would limit  the  amount that  each                                                               
utility company  would be  able to  go into  a certain  sector of                                                               
energy generation,  so there would  still be redundancies  in the                                                               
energy grid.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:48:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER opened public testimony on HB 328.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:49:04 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MIKE  JONES, representing  self,  testified in  opposition to  HB
328.  He  said that this bill would penalize  people who use more                                                               
traditional utilities options.   He criticized the reliability of                                                               
renewable energy  and said  that the net  metering clause  of the                                                               
bill  is  flawed.   He  gave  a  series  of perceived  flaws  and                                                               
encouraged committee members to vote no on HB 328.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:51:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DYANI CHAPMAN,  State Director, Alaska Environment,  testified in                                                               
support of  HB 328.  She  said this bill would  allow individuals                                                               
who  can't afford  energy on  their  own to  obtain reliable  and                                                               
affordable energy.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:52:44 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  RAUSCHER, after  ascertaining there  was no  one else  who                                                               
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 328.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:53:02 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 10:53 a.m. to 10:56 a.m.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:56:28 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER announced that HB 328 was held over.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
             HB 349-RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT LEASES                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:56:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER announced  that the final order  of business would                                                               
be HOUSE BILL  NO. 349 "An Act relating to  leases of public land                                                               
for  renewable energy  projects; and  providing for  an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  RAUSCHER  opened  public  testimony  on  HB  349.    After                                                               
ascertaining there  was no one  who wished to testify,  he closed                                                               
public testimony.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:58:03 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX gave  his understanding  that  the lease  as                                                               
defined in HB 349 must provide for recreational activities.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:58:23 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CLIFF GROH,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor, directed the question to Cameron Ebersold.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:58:30 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CAMERON EBERSOLD, Staff, Representative  Cliff Groh, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  on behalf  of Representative  Groh, prime  sponsor,                                                               
answered  committee   questions  on  HB   349.    He   said  that                                                               
Representative  Prax' observation  is correct  that HB  349 would                                                               
preserve access for other kinds of public uses.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether the  threat of vandalism to the                                                               
renewable energy  infrastructure had  been taken to  account when                                                               
funding a project.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:59:30 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. EBERSOLD  asked for clarification  because HB 349  relates to                                                               
licensing of  the state  land, determining  the feasibility  of a                                                               
project, and establishing lease terms.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  cited  a  windmill  project  in  Fairbanks,                                                               
Alaska,  that he  believed was  under threat  from vandalism  and                                                               
asked  how HB  349 would  protect the  renewable energy  projects                                                               
from vandalism.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
11:00:52 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GROH answered  that he  has never  worked with  a                                                               
lease  contract   for  renewable   energy,  but  he   thinks  the                                                               
individual  contracts to  develop the  project would  address the                                                               
threat of vandalism, not the bill.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  asked for  confirmation that  the protection                                                               
would be addressed in the lease.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GROH said  he thinks so but  directed the question                                                               
to Mr. Ebersold for additional clarification.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.   EBERSOLD   cited   an  experience   from   his   childhood,                                                               
highlighting that there  is nothing that would  stop someone from                                                               
shooting or damaging the turbine.  He  said it would be up to the                                                               
company to  protect its property,  not the Department  of Natural                                                               
Resources (DNR).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
11:03:03 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SCHRAGE  commented  that  the  wind  turbines  on                                                               
Kodiak are fenced  off from access and added  that Alaskans would                                                               
rather shoot road signs versus energy infrastructure.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
11:04:10 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  RAUSCHER said  people shoot  the pipeline,  so people  can                                                               
shoot  a wind  turbine.   He  said people  are going  to do  what                                                               
they're going to do.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
11:05:18 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER announced that HB 349 was held over.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
11:05:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Special Committee on Energy meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m.                                                                 

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB328 sponser statement.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 328
HB0328A.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 328
HB 328 Sectional Analysis.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 328
CSHB 349(RES) 33-LS1325R.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 349
HB349.HRES CS Version R Sectional Analysis.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 349
HB349.Sponsor Statement.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 349
CSHB349.HRES.D.sectional.history.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 349
HB 328 Pre4sentation.pdf HENE 4/23/2024 10:15:00 AM
HB 328