HJR 23-HYDROELECTRIC POWER; RENEWABLE ENERGY  4:27:48 PM CO-CHAIR PASKVAN announced the consideration of HJR 23. [HJR 23 am was before the committee]. 4:27:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT, sponsor of HJR 23, informed the committee that HJR 23 urges Congress to classify hydroelectric (hydro) power as a renewable [and alternative energy source]. Hydro power is the largest source of renewable energy in both Alaska and the U.S., and has long been a vital aspect of the energy solution. He advised that the U.S. has used targeted tax incentives to spur investment and innovation in the energy sector, both for fossil and renewable resources. In fact, investment and production tax credits for renewable energy have been highly successful. The concern is that hydro power receives only one-half the tax credits available to other renewable energy sources. Equalizing the tax credits will give Alaskans the opportunity to replace a large portion of the non-renewable power generation in the state. For the most part, this tends to be diesel. REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT told the committee that Alaska has about 50 hydropower projects, ranging in size from 126 megawatts to 7 kilowatts. They provide approximately 24 percent of Alaska's electric power. He pointed out that 32 projects in Southeast are either under construction or on the drawing board and more than 200 locations statewide have been identified as potential hydropower sites. He summarized that HJR 23 asks Congress to incentivize the further production of hydroelectric power through both federal programs and tax incentives. He noted that the resolution dovetails with Senator Lisa Murkowski's recently introduced federal legislation on the topic. 4:31:48 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if this is the same resolution that Representative Thomas introduced a couple of years ago. REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT replied it is modeled on previous legislation. SENATOR STEDMAN asked if anyone paid attention to the previous resolution. REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT said Congress didn't take action, but then Senator Lisa Murkowski hadn't introduced legislation either. This is an effort to show support for her and the legislation she recently introduced. 4:33:17 PM HAP SYMMONDS, Chair, Board of Directors, Cordova Electric Cooperative, Inc., stated support for HJR 23. Responding to Senator Stedman's question, he explained that HJR 23 was amended on the House floor to ask Congress to classify Alaska hydroelectric power as renewable, whereas the resolution that Representative Thomas introduced asked for all hydroelectric power to be classified as renewable. HJR 23 specifically targets Alaska hydropower. He further explained that Senator Lisa Murkowski had three bills before the Senate right now; SB 629 gives grants for environmental analysis and mitigation, SB 630 makes grant money available for building new hydro projects, and SB 631 ensures that generation of hydroelectric power is treated as a renewable resource for purposes of any federal program or standard. He urged the committee to send HJR 23 to Congress without delay. SENATOR MCGUIRE said she's always wondered if resolutions go into the circular file and she recalled that U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke to that question more than once when they served together in the other body. In light of this, she urged Representative Pruitt to make the resolution as effective as possible, including testifying in person during hearings in Washington D.C. She referred to page 1, line 15, of the resolution and asked if he had considered inserting the renewable energy goal the state set for itself as matter of policy. Developing the hydroelectric potential in the state is a critical part of attaining that goal. She offered to help develop the language. REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT said he was open to any suggestions that would decrease the likelihood of the resolution being put in the circular file. 4:39:08 PM CO-CHAIR PASKVAN closed public testimony and told Representative Pruitt he looked forward to working on the resolution with him. He announced he would hold HJR 23 in committee.