HJR 23-HYDROELECTRIC POWER; RENEWABLE ENERGY  3:09:33 PM CO-CHAIR FOSTER announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23, Urging the United States Congress to classify hydroelectric power as a renewable and alternative energy source. CO-CHAIR FOSTER reminded the committee of the discussion during the House Special Committee on Energy meeting on 3/22/11, regarding a conceptual amendment offered by Representative Tuck. 3:10:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK moved to adopt Amendment 1, which read: Page 2, line 17, following "source": Insert ", as long as there is no other economic competition for the water resource," REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected for discussion purposes. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK urged the committee to forward a meaningful resolution to Congress. He said there is no reason that water and hydroelectric (hydro) are not a renewable energy resource, and pointed out that Alaska is unable to take full advantage of the tax credits that are available for renewable and alternative sources of energy. Representative Tuck recalled previous discussions on how to protect interests so that the resolution will pass, and opined that the addition of the aforementioned amendment will assuage the concerns of other states. 3:12:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN added that the amendment makes the language in the resolution compatible with the definition that the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is considering; in addition, it would support the Alaska Congressional delegation's efforts. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned the need to carve out a special exception because the resolution makes a clear statement. CO-CHAIR PRUITT expressed his concern that the amendment creates redundancy; for example, in order to receive a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) a hydro project must prove through the environmental impact statement that it has water rights, will not affect the economics of a water resource, and will not degrade a fishery. 3:14:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK assured the committee he was not trying to hold back the resolution, but to make the resolution more attractive for other states to support. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN expressed his support of the amendment. 3:15:15 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Petersen, Tuck, and Lynn voted in favor of Amendment 1. Representatives Saddler, Foster, and Pruitt voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 1 failed by a vote of 3-3. 3:16:13 PM CO-CHAIR PRUITT moved to report HJR 23, Version 27-LS0660\M, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, HJR 23 was reported from the House Special Committee on Energy.