SENATE BILL NO. 140                                                                                                        
     "An Act relating to regulation and licensing of certain water-                                                             
     power development projects."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the third  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #1:  This amendment inserts  new language in Section  1 on                                                            
page 2, following line 11 to read as follows.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                     (G) the interests of Alaska residents and                                                                  
          landowners                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken moved for adoption.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green objected for an explanation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken  supported  the  intent  of the  bill.  However,  he                                                            
stated,  it "left out  a group of  people." He  pointed out  a five-                                                            
megawatt  power  plant is  one-forth  the size  of the  power  plant                                                            
located on  the banks of the Chena  River, which supplies  Fairbanks                                                            
with power. He surmised  therefore, that a five-megawatt power plant                                                            
is "not just a little paddle wheel in the stream."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken noted  the legislation  lists  several purposes  and                                                            
parties to  receive equal consideration  when approving these  power                                                            
plant projects.  He suggested the interests of Alaska  residents and                                                            
landowners should be included.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green removed her objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The amendment was ADOPTED without objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #2:  This amendment inserts "resident" before  "Alaska" on                                                            
page 2, line 9. The amended  language of Section 1(b)(2)(E) reads as                                                            
follows.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                     (E) the interests of resident Alaska Natives;                                                              
          and                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken moved for adoption.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green objected for an explanation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Wilken    explained   this    amendment   addresses    the                                                            
aforementioned  list of parties to  receive equal consideration.  He                                                            
noted this  amendment specifies  this provision  would not  apply to                                                            
the  "thirteenth  Native  Corporation,"  whose  shareholders  reside                                                            
outside the State.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green removed her objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Without objection the amendment was ADOPTED.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken offered  a motion  to report  CS SB  140 (FIN)  from                                                            
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  attached  fiscal                                                            
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green objected.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman asked the position of the "industry".                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green noted she had the same request.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE 4:40 PM / 4:43 PM                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green removed her objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken  WITHDREW   his  motion  to  report  the  bill  from                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Kelly ordered the bill HELD in Committee.