SB 183-EXTEND EMERGING ENERGY TECHNOLOGY FUND  1:39:06 PM VICE-CHAIR MICCICHE announced the consideration of SB 183."An Act extending the termination date of the emerging energy technology fund and grant program." This was the first hearing. JESSE LOGAN, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 183, introduced the legislation on behalf of the sponsor speaking to the following sponsor statement: [Original punctuation provided.] The Alaska Sustainable Energy Act of 2010 established the Emerging Energy Technology Fund (EETF). The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) administers the fund and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) performs data collection. Together with a matching grant from the Denali Commission, the fund made $8.9 million available to develop emerging energy technologies in Alaska. EETF grants are for demonstration projects of technologies that have a reasonable expectation of becoming commercially viable within five years. An EETF technology is one that promotes, enhances, or expands the diversity of available energy supply sources or means of transmission, increases energy efficiency, or reduces negative energy-related environmental effects. Energy technologies can include technologies related to renewable sources of energy, conservation of energy, enabling technologies, efficient and effective use of hydrocarbons and integrated systems. Projects from Round 1 saw an impressive diversity. Priority is given to Alaska businesses, utilities, non-profits, tribal or local governments or other organizations. Projects can either: · Test emerging energy technologies or methods of conserving energy · Improve an existing technology · Deploy an existing technology that has not previously been demonstrated in the state. The EETF is not an angel fund, but rather an opportunity for the state of Alaska to support projects that are near commercialization and that can help communities who are facing increasing energy costs. This is not a fund for projects that are in the research and development phase, but a program that creates synergy with the business community and the State of Alaska to create an environment for economic growth. It is for these reasons that I have introduced SB 183 with the sole intention of extending the program which still has considerable funding available under the original appropriation and the Denali Commission's generous match. 1:40:09 PM EMILY FORD, Public Outreach Liaison, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), Anchorage, Alaska, explained that the Emerging Energy Technology Fund provides an infusion of capital for projects that anticipate being commercially viable within five years. The EETF supports renewable projects, energy conservation, energy efficiency, hydrocarbons, and integrated systems. The enabling legislation was passed in 2010 with a January 1, 2015 sunset date, and SB 183 would extend the sunset to January 1, 2020. She noted that the packets contained summaries and funding amounts of the initial projects and the status of the next steps. SENATOR STEDMAN stated support for the legislation. 1:42:19 PM VICE-CHAIR MICCICHE found no questions or testimony and announced he would hold SB 183 in committee. Public testimony was open.