BILL REQ. #:  S-1054.1 

Read first time 01/27/09.   Referred to Committee on Environment, Water & Energy.

     AN ACT Relating to investigating Washington's ocean renewable energy resources; creating new sections; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that Washington's ocean waters serve as a potential source for ocean renewable energy, including wave, tidal, and offshore wind energy, and rural economic development. There is compelling evidence that ocean renewable energy resources can provide a strategically significant and domestically produced power supply for the state. The legislature declares that the state has a significant interest in whether and how the renewable energy potential of its ocean waters, as well as those waters beyond three miles of its coastline, are developed. Therefore, the legislature intends to direct a review of the state's ocean renewable energy resources and development potential, and an analysis of the costs, benefits, and significant issues associated with its development, to help the state address current and future project proposals in an informed and coordinated manner.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The department of community, trade, and economic development's energy policy office shall:
     (a) Determine the potential size of the ocean renewable energy resource in the state and federal waters off Washington's coast based on existing technology or technology likely to be available within five years, including analysis of potential limiting factors such as transmission capacity and protection of traditional uses;
     (b) Determine the potential economic impact that ocean renewable energy development in the state and federal waters off Washington's coast could have, including analysis under a range of future energy scenarios, a range of potential project numbers and sizes, and short and long-term scenarios under which energy generation technologies and infrastructure are either imported into or manufactured in Washington;
     (c) In conjunction with the department of ecology and other appropriate organizations, analyze the potential environmental, navigation, and fisheries issues and conflicts raised by ocean renewable energy development in the state and federal waters off Washington's coast, including analysis of permitting and site selection processes, and make recommendations on steps the state can take to address such issues and conflicts; and
     (d) Identify the opportunities for and issues involved in initiating demonstration projects regarding ocean renewable energy generation and provide recommendations for developing demonstration projects from the most promising sources.
     (2) In carrying out this section, the department of community, trade, and economic development shall coordinate with appropriate public and private entities and individuals and may contract with persons not employed by the state.
     (3) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall provide a report including its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives by September 1, 2010.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, the term "ocean renewable energy" means wave, tidal, and offshore wind resources.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The sum of two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2011, from the energy freedom account to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act expires December 31, 2010.