BILL REQ. #:  S-0161.1 

Read first time 01/15/09.   Referred to Committee on Environment, Water & Energy.

     AN ACT Relating to assessing the state's geothermal resources for electrical power production; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that the Pacific Northwest has unique geological features that include significant geothermal resources, and that other states and provinces in this region are actively exploring and developing these resources for energy production purposes. The legislature further finds that existing data and analyses of these resources is now largely outdated and that advances in technology, increased energy prices, and increased interest in low-carbon energy sources has increased interest by electric utilities and independent power producers in the state's geothermal resources.
     (2) The legislature therefore intends to authorize a comprehensive review of the state's geothermal resources and make recommendations regarding policy measures to facilitate environmentally responsible development of these resources for electric generation and concentrated heating purposes.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The geothermal resource assessment committee is created.
     (2) The committee is composed of the following members:
     (a) The commissioner of public lands, or the commissioner's designee;
     (b) The energy policy division of the department of community, trade, and economic development;
     (c) The chair of the energy facility site evaluation council;
     (d) The state geologist within the department of natural resources;
     (e) The chair of the utilities and transportation commission;
     (f) Representatives of publicly owned and privately owned utilities;
     (g) Representatives of independent power producers;
     (h) Representatives of geologists from academic, research, and private sectors;
     (i) Representatives of other interested sectors, including agriculture, forestry, and environmental;
     (j) Representatives of tribal governments with significant geothermal resource interests; and
     (k) Representatives of federal agencies with regulatory or land management responsibilities relating to the development of geothermal interests.
     (3) The commissioner of public lands, or the commissioner's designee, shall chair the committee. The commissioner of public lands shall select the committee members described in subsection (2)(f) through (k) of this section.
     (4) The department of natural resources shall provide necessary staff and administrative support to the committee.
     (5) The committee shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of the geothermal resources in the state and their potential for environmentally responsible development for power production purposes. The assessment must include at least the following:
     (a) A characterization of the geothermal resources in the state and the potential for development for electrical generation and concentrated heating purposes based upon currently employed and projected technologies;
     (b) The economic implications of this development potential, including community economic development, job creation, and state and local revenue benefits, including an assessment for each county in the state;
     (c) A review of current lease payments on federal lands in the state for geothermal leasing, described by county;
     (d) A review of state lands with geothermal development potential;
     (e) A review of the effect of the state's water resource laws and policies on the development of geothermal resources; and
     (f) Recommendations for legislative and administrative actions based upon this assessment to encourage environmentally responsible geothermal resource development in the state.
     (6) The committee shall provide the assessment and recommendations to the energy and fiscal committees of the senate and house of representatives by December 1, 2009.