ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ENERGY  April 18, 2023 1:20 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative George Rauscher, Chair Representative Tom McKay Representative Stanley Wright Representative Mike Prax Representative Calvin Schrage Representative Ashley Carrick MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Josiah Patkotak COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 154 "An Act relating to subsidiary corporations of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation; and establishing the Alaska energy independence fund." - MOVED CSHB 154(ENE) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 154 SHORT TITLE: AK HOUSING FINANCE CORP: SUSTAIN ENERGY SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR 04/05/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/05/23 (H) ENE, FIN 04/13/23 (H) ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124 04/13/23 (H) Heard & Held 04/13/23 (H) MINUTE(ENE) 04/18/23 (H) ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER CHRIS ROSE, Director Renewable Alaska Energy Project Sutton, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided public testimony in support of HB 154. ANNA YANCY, representing self Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided public testimony in opposition to HB 154. ACTION NARRATIVE 11:20:02 AM CHAIR GEORGE RAUSCHER called the House Special Committee on Energy meeting to order at 11:20 a.m. Representatives Prax and Rauscher were present at the call to order. Representatives Wright, Schrage, Carrick, and McKay arrived as the meeting was in progress. [Before the committee, adopted as a working document on 4/13/2023, was the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 154, labeled, 33-GH1074\B, Dunmire, 4/11/23, ("Version B").] HB 154-AK HOUSING FINANCE CORP: SUSTAIN ENERGY  11:21:27 AM CHAIR RAUSCHER announced that the only order of business would be HB 154, "An Act relating to subsidiary corporations of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation; and establishing the Alaska energy independence fund." 11:21:38 AM The committee took an at-ease from 11:21 a.m. to 11:26 a.m. 11:27:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK moved Amendment 1, to HB 154, Version B, labeled, 33-GH1074\B.1, Dunmire, 4/12/23, which read as follows: Page 1, line 2: Delete "and" Following "fund": Insert "; and providing for an effective  date" Page 5, following line 11: Insert a new bill section to read: "*Sec.6. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)." CHAIR RAUSCHER objected for the purpose of discussion. 11:27:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK explained that the amendment would change the effective date to be immediate. 11:28:20 AM CHAIR RAUSCHER removed his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 11:28:29 AM The committee took an at-ease from 11:28 a.m. to 11:29 a.m. 11:29:25 AM CHAIR RAUSCHER opened public testimony on HB 154. 11:30:05 AM CHRIS ROSE, Director, Renewable Alaska Energy Project, stated that the Renewable Alaska Energy Project (REAP) supports the proposed legislation. He expressed the belief that it would open new opportunities to use renewable energy; therefore, Alaskans would save money on energy. He said that HB 154 would improve energy efficiency in buildings. He explained that natural gas is decreasing in supply, and alternative energy sources would allow natural gas to be saved for heating. 11:32:25 AM ANNA YANCY, representing self, testified in opposition to HB 154. She argued that the proposed legislation would allow funding to nonprofit and quasi-public entities. She argued that this language should be removed from the bill. 11:34:47 AM CHAIR RAUSCHER, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony. 11:35:34 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY moved to report HB 154, Version B, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 11:36:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected. He commented that the bill would cause Alaska to become more dependent on federal funding. He then removed his objection. There being no further objection, CSHB 154(ENE) was moved from the House Special Committee on Energy. 11:37:09 AM The committee took an at-ease from 11:37 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. 11:40:11 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Energy meeting was adjourned at 11:40 p.m.