HJR 10-SUPPORTING ROAD BELT ELECTRICAL LINE  3:30:23 PM CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of House Joint Resolution 10 (HJR 10). 3:30:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAVE TALERICO, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HJR 10, explained that the resolution supports the development of a road belt electrical transmission line and urges the members of the Alaska delegation to pursue the development of the electrical transmission line for the state. He detailed that Alaska has a rail belt intertie which runs from Homer to Fairbanks and down to Delta Junction. For years the road belt electrical transmission line has been studied to complete what is called a bus loop that would go up the Glenn Highway and the Richardson Highway and complete a looped electrical system that would provide contiguous power and the ability to have redundancy along the road system. He said one of the reasons for interest in having the Alaska congressional delegation support the road belt electrical transmission line is due to the state's developments with the U.S. Department of Defense at Eielson Air Force Base, Clear Air Force Station Base, and Fort Greely Army Base. The main theme behind HRJ 10 is to support the national defense system by making sure power is available. He explained that as projects proceed at military bases in Alaska, the state's economic base and population base are also expanded. Along the road belt corridor there are 17 smaller communities that will benefit from lower cost energy. Economic development will be improved for communities, mines, and agriculture. He said the first phase of the project will start with a study. Concerns regarding an underground alternative for overhead lines in certain areas will be addressed. 3:31:35 PM SENATOR HOFFMAN joined the committee meeting. 3:34:10 PM CHAIR BISHOP noted that the committee received a comprehensive overview of the road belt electrical transmission line on March 14, 2019. He said Representative Talerico reemphasized the importance and need in support of the resolution to the congressional delegation. 3:34:37 PM CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony. 3:34:52 PM CRYSTAL ENKVIST, Executive Director, Alaska Power Association, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HJR 10. She said the association supports the deployment of electric transmission infrastructure that brings reliable electricity to Alaskans and stimulates economic development. Should the transmission project receive the necessary funding support from the federal government, the reliability of Alaska's electric system would increase. More renewable energy will be allowed, power reliability to military installations will increase, an alternate power route for the Anchorage-Fairbanks intertie will be provided, and economic development opportunities in the Greater Cooper Valley Region will be enabled. 3:37:08 PM CHAIR BISHOP closed public testimony. 3:37:29 PM SENATOR BIRCH moved to report [CSHJR 10(RES)], version 31- LS0596\S, from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. 3:37:43 PM CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and CSHJR 10(RES) moved from Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.