| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Technology, Energy & Communications Committee | |
HB 1035
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Addressing the purchase of anaerobic digestion power.
Sponsors: Representatives Morris, Hudgins, Eickmeyer, Linville and B. Sullivan.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/17/07
Staff: Scott Richards (786-7156).
Background:
Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion is the bacterial breakdown of organic materials in the absence of oxygen.
This biological process produces biogas, which is principally composed of methane and carbon
dioxide. Biogas is typically produced from feedstocks such as sewage sludge, livestock manure,
and wet organic materials. Anaerobic digesters are devices that use the natural process of
anaerobic digestion to treat waste, produce energy, or both.
Voluntary Green Power Program
All electric utilities in the state, other than small electric utilities, are required to offer their
customers the option to purchase electricity generated from qualified alternative energy
resources. A "qualified alternative energy resource" is electricity produced from wind; solar
energy; geothermal energy; landfill gas; wave or tidal action; gas produced during the treatment
of wastewater; qualified hydropower; or biomass energy based on animal waste or solid organic
fuels from wood, forest or field residues, or certain types of dedicated energy crops.
Utilities provide their customers with qualified alternative energy resources in one of two ways:
green power –the actual electricity produced by green power resources – or green tags. Green
tags, often called "renewable energy credits," are a type of currency used in the electricity
industry to represent the environmental and social benefits of clean electricity production. Green
tags are separated from the electricity produced and sold as a distinct product.
Summary of Bill:
A state agency that is served by either a private or public utility must purchase all available
anaerobic digestion power from the local electric utility when the producer of power sends a
written purchase request to the agency. Purchases by a state agency must not exceed the agency's
annual electricity consumption. A state agency shall pay for anaerobic digestion power at no less
than the retail price that the local electric utility charges that customer.
A state agencies is exempt from the purchase requirement if the local electric utility is exempt
from offering a qualified alternative energy resource as defined in RCW 19.29A.090.
To the extent that a local electric utility purchases power from an anaerobic digestion power
producer in its service territory, the utility must pay the producer an amount no less than the retail
price that the utility charges a state agency in this section, minus administrative costs that do not
exceed 5 percent of that amount.
Anaerobic digestion power means the electricity generated from an in-state facility that processes
manure or other organic substrates into biogas using microorganisms in a decomposition process
within a closed, oxygen-free container.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 15, 2007.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.