HB 2183

Brief Description: Maintaining a robust, clean, and job rich energy policy in the state of Washington that builds upon the goals created by the energy independence act.

Sponsors: Representatives Morris, Ormsby, Fey and Hudgins.

Hearing Date: 1/14/14

Staff: Scott Richards (786-7156).

Background:

Joint Committee on Energy Supply and Energy Conservation:

The Joint Committee on Energy Supply and Energy Conservation (Joint Committee) is a legislative committee of eight members that is required to meet at the following times: (1) annually; (2) at the call of the chair of the Joint Committee to receive information on the status of the state's or the region's energy supply; (3) during a condition of energy supply alert or energy emergency; and (4) upon the call of the chair when the Governor acts to terminate an energy supply alert or energy emergency.

Any member of the House of Representatives or Senate is eligible to be appointed to the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee shall consist of four Senators and four Representatives who are selected biennially by the respective bodies of the Legislature. The Joint Committee is responsible for electing a chair and a vice chair. The chair is a member of the House of Representatives in even-numbered years and a member of the Senate in odd-numbered years.

Summary of Bill:

By December 31, 2014, the Joint Committee on Energy Supply and Energy Conservation (Joint Committee) must make recommendations to the energy committees of the Legislature on policies that would establish new renewable energy and energy efficiency goals for utilities.

The Joint Committee must consider how its recommendations will achieve the following objectives:

• Encourage renewable energy resources;

• Promote the greatest efficiency in using existing resources, especially compared with states that Washington competes with economically;

• Enable technologies that make existing practices and processes more efficient;

• Reduce the overall amount of pollution generated in the production and consumption of energy;

• Reduce the amount of wealth Washington exports to neighboring jurisdictions for energy procurement;

• Keep rates as low as practical in a policy environment where there are often competing goals;

• Create regulatory certainty in advance of typical energy planning and procurement cycles; and

• Maximize the creation of jobs in Washington.

The Joint Committee may also identify and recommend policies that eliminate barriers to achieving goals identified in their recommendations, including, but not limited to, permitting timelines, financing, and technology availability.

In order to facilitate the development of recommendations, the Joint Committee shall hold a minimum of four meetings:

• At the first meeting, the Joint Committee must provide an opportunity for the public to present on what goals the Joint Committee should consider when making its recommendation to the Legislature;

• At the second meeting, the Joint Committee will summarize and report on areas of consensus and division among stakeholders;

• At third meeting, the Joint Committee will take public testimony on a draft set of recommendations; and

• At the fourth meeting, the Joint Committee must vote on final recommendations to the 2015 Legislature for new energy performance standards after 2020.

High Efficiency Cogeneration and Thermal Heating Efficiency.

In order to assist the Joint Committee in its deliberations of new energy performance standards, the Washington State University Energy Program is directed to conduct a resource assessment on the amount of new energy resources that could be made available with a high efficiency cogeneration policy or a thermal heating efficiency policy.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested January 9, 2014

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.