CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 250(ENE) "An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund and recommendation program; and providing for an effective date." 2:04:51 PM Co-Chair Hoffman turned the meeting over to Co-Chair Stedman. Co-Chair Stedman relayed that CSHB 250(ENE) had not previously been heard by the committee. The intent was to introduce the legislation, hear public testimony, and set the bill aside for further review. CASEY SCHRODER-HOTCH, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL THOMAS, provided an overview of the legislation. She explained that the bill would reauthorize the Renewable Energy Grant Fund for an additional five years. The fund was established in 2008 and had funded around 200 projects statewide, with a focus on areas with the highest energy costs. She furthered that additional projects came forward on an annual basis; 21 projects were "on line" at the end of 2011. Estimates showed that by 2013 the fund would be responsible for displacing 6 million gallons of diesel fuel each year. She relayed that the fund included a continuation of the intent language expressed in the enabling legislation to fund the program at $50 million per year. Co-Chair Stedman noted the one fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development in the amount of $2,155,000 that had been included in the governor's FY 13 operating budget. 2:07:08 PM PAT LUBY, ADVOCACY DIRECTOR, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS (AARP), JUNEAU, testified in support of HB 250. He shared that all AARP members were energy consumers and customers; many Alaskans were having trouble paying their energy bills. He observed that the state had a history of developing successful renewable energy projects through the fund. He stressed that renewing the fund would provide Alaska and its citizens with more opportunities to experiment with renewable energy projects. He urged support for the legislation. Co-Chair Hoffman requested that Chris Rose, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, provide remarks on his participation in the program. CHRIS ROSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RENEWABLE ENERGY ALASKA PROJECT (REAP), detailed that REAP was a coalition of approximately 85 organizations in Alaska including utilities, businesses, conservation, consumer groups, Native organizations, and local, state and federal entities. The coalition supported the reauthorization and extension until at least 2018. He relayed that there had been a significant number of projects in the pipeline. He noted that of the 208 funded projects, approximately half were feasibility and reconnaissance projects, which meant that there were many projects that had not reached construction. The coalition believed that there would be a substantial number of construction projects in the upcoming four to five years. He shared that the fund would displace at least 6 million gallons of diesel fuel by the end of the next year and the number would continue to expand. HB 250 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.