SSB 5921 -
By Representative McCoy
ADOPTED AS AMENDED 04/16/2009
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that Washington is
recognized as a leader in sustainability and climate change and has the
foundation to become a leader in the clean energy technologies,
products, and services that will be required throughout the world to
provide reliable and reduced-emission energy. However, to become a
leader, Washington will need policies and strategies to develop new
clean energy technologies, attract federal and private investments,
attract and grow clean energy companies, and create green jobs.
The legislature further finds that positioning Washington to be
competitive for federal and private sector clean energy investments
will require collaboration between Washington's state agencies, clean
energy technology companies, research institutions, national
laboratory, and workforce development system to identify our strengths
and develop the requisite policies and strategies.
It is the intent of the legislature to create a clean energy
leadership initiative that will set the path to leverage Washington's
energy infrastructure and make Washington a hub for clean energy
technology and a leader in the creation of green jobs and the
development, deployment, and export of clean energy technologies and
services.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 (1) The office of the governor, in
collaboration with a statewide, public-private alliance, shall convene
a clean energy leadership council to prepare a strategy for growing the
clean energy technology sector in Washington state. The clean energy
leadership council shall be supported by public and private resources
including, to the extent available, the resources of the energy policy
division of the department of community, trade, and economic
development and Washington State University's energy program. The
governor, in consultation with the public-private alliance, shall
appoint and convene the council by July 31, 2009.
(2) The clean energy leadership council must develop strategies and
recommendations for growing Washington's clean energy sector. The
clean energy leadership council must consist of the following clean
energy leaders:
(a) Up to ten representatives of companies in the clean energy
sector;
(b) Representatives of two organizations providing support to clean
energy companies; and
(c) One representative from each of the following: A public
university; the Pacific Northwest national laboratory; a venture
capital firm making investments in clean energy companies; and a
professional services firm serving clean energy technology.
(3) The clean energy leadership council must also include the
following members:
(a) Four members of the legislature, with one member from each
caucus of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives and one member from each caucus of the senate
appointed by the president of the senate;
(b) The director of the department of community, trade, and
economic development or its successor agency;
(c) The governor's designee for energy and climate change
initiatives within state government; and
(d) One representative from the economic development commission.
(4) The clean energy leadership council must be cochaired by: (a)
A representative of the clean energy sector, selected by the members of
the clean energy leadership council; and (b) the director of the
department of community, trade, and economic development or its
successor agency.
(5) The clean energy leadership council must designate one of its
members as its representative on the evergreen jobs leadership team to
ensure that the efforts of the clean energy leadership council align
with the work of the evergreen jobs leadership team in coordinating the
state's effort to lead in the green economy.
(6) The clean energy leadership council may appoint such advisory
groups as it deems necessary to carry out its work.
(7) The clean energy leadership council shall:
(a) Conduct a strategic analysis to identify the clean energy
industry segments where Washington can either provide national
leadership or become one of the top ten states in that segment. The
council shall contract with national experts with detailed knowledge of
energy markets and other states' operations to conduct the strategic
analysis. The strategic analysis must:
(i) Identify where Washington has a competitive advantage or
emerging strength in research, development, or deployment of clean
energy solutions;
(ii) Evaluate Washington's competitiveness in its business
environment, including regulatory requirements, as it relates to
supporting clean energy projects and companies, compared to other
states and regions; and
(iii) Evaluate Washington's ability to provide national leadership
in reducing carbon emissions, developing and deploying utility-scale
clean energy applications, and creating exportable products and
applications;
(b) Develop a set of strategic recommendations, including
implementation steps and responsible parties for carrying them out.
The strategic recommendations must provide direction for positioning
each clean energy segment identified to provide national leadership and
must include a delineation of clear, specific outcomes for each segment
to achieve. The strategic recommendations must include recommendations
on:
(i) Consistent policy frameworks that provide stability to
encourage investment through a combination of incentives, regulation,
taxation, and use of government purchasing power to build viable
markets;
(ii) The steps necessary for increasing Washington's ability to
obtain available competitive federal funds;
(iii) The development of public-private partnerships that can help
each sector grow, including partnerships to facilitate development and
deployment of new technologies at scale;
(iv) Necessary investments in universities;
(v) Management, entrepreneurial, and emerging business needs;
(vi) Joint use facilities, demonstration facilities, and signature
research centers that are needed for leadership;
(vii) Market access requirements;
(viii) Infrastructure needs; and
(ix) Capital and financing requirements;
(c) Recommend an institutional mechanism to foster effective
implementation of its recommendations, including organizational
structure, staffing, and funding;
(d) Review investments made by the energy policy division of the
department of community, trade, and economic development, Washington
State University's energy program, utilities, and other entities to
identify ways to leverage, increase the effectiveness of, or redirect
those funds to increase the state's competitiveness in clean energy
technology; and
(e) Make recommendations on potential clean energy programs and
projects for possible federal funding through the state energy program,
consistent with federal requirements and guidelines.
(8)(a) By December 1, 2009, the clean energy leadership council
shall submit an interim clean energy strategy and initial
recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees of the
legislature.
(b) By December 1, 2010, the clean energy leadership council shall
complete and submit its final clean energy strategy and recommendations
to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 (1) The energy policy division of the
department of community, trade, and economic development, or its
successor agency, must consider the clean energy leadership strategy
developed under section 2 of this act when preparing its application
for federal state energy program funding and determining the type and
number of clean energy projects to fund.
(2) The energy policy division of the department of community,
trade, and economic development, or its successor agency, must consult
the clean energy leadership council prior to awarding federal energy
stimulus funding for clean energy projects.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 (1) The governor shall designate an existing
full-time equivalent position within state government as the single
point of accountability for all energy and climate change initiatives
within state agencies. All agencies, councils, or work groups with
energy or climate change initiatives must coordinate with the person in
this designated position.
(2) The person designated by the governor under subsection (1) of
this section shall chair the evergreen jobs leadership team established
in section 3, chapter . . . (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No.
2227), Laws of 2009.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 This act expires December 31, 2011.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6 This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Clarifies that the governor and a statewide public-
private alliance will appoint and convene a clean energy leadership
council to prepare a strategy for growing the clean energy technology
sector in Washington.
Requires the clean energy leadership council to submit an interim
clean energy strategy and initial recommendations to the governor and
legislature by 12/1/2009.
Requires the clean energy leadership council to submit the final
clean energy strategy and recommendations to the governor and
legislature by 12/1/2010.
Requires the department of community, trade, and economic
development to consider the clean energy leadership strategy when
preparing its application for federal state energy program funding and
determining the type and number of projects to fund.
Requires the department of community, trade, and economic
development to consult the clean energy leadership council prior to
awarding federal energy stimulus funding for clean energy projects.
Requires the governor to designate an existing full-time equivalent
position within state government as the single point of accountability
for all energy and climate change initiatives within state agencies.
State agencies, councils, or work groups must coordinate with this
person.
Adds legislators as members of the clean energy leadership council.
Specifies that the governor's designee for energy and climate
initiatives within state government will chair the evergreen jobs
leadership team established in E2SHB 2227. Specifies that the clean
energy leadership council will designate one of its members as its
representative on the evergreen jobs leadership team to ensure that the
efforts of the clean energy leadership council align with the work of
the evergreen jobs leadership team.