Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Environment Committee

SSB 5400

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: Allowing utilities serving customers in Washington and in other states to use eligible renewable resources in their other states to comply with chapter 19.285 RCW, the energy independence act.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Honeyford, Ericksen and Hewitt).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Expands the geographic region that a qualifying utility serving customers in other states may obtain eligible renewable resources.

Hearing Date: 3/21/13

Staff: Scott Richards (786-7156).

Background:

Approved by voters in 2006, the Energy Independence Act (EIA), also known as Initiative 937, requires electric utilities with 25,000 or more customers to meet targets for energy conservation and for using eligible renewable resources. Utilities that must comply with the EIA are called qualifying utilities.

Eligible Renewable Resource Targets and Compliance Dates.

Each qualifying utility must use eligible renewable resources or acquire equivalent renewable energy credits (RECs), or a combination of both, to meet the following annual targets:

Eligible Renewable Resource.

The term eligible renewable resource means electricity generated from a resource such as wind, solar, geothermal energy, landfill and sewage gas, wave and tidal power, and certain biodiesel fuels. In addition, an eligible renewable resource must be generated in a facility that started operating after March 31, 1999, and the facility must either be located in the Pacific Northwest or the electricity from the facility must be delivered into the state on a real-time basis.

Incremental Hydroelectricity as an Eligible Renewable Resource.

Incremental electricity produced as a result of efficiency improvements to the following hydroelectric generation facilities may also count as an eligible renewable resource if the improvements do not result in new water diversions or impoundments, and the improvements are completed after March 31, 1999:

Renewable Energy Credit.

A REC is a tradable certificate of proof of at least one megawatt hour of an eligible renewable resource where the generation facility is not powered by fresh water. Under the EIA, a REC represents all the nonpower attributes associated with the power. The RECs can be bought and sold in the marketplace, and they may be used during the year they are acquired, the previous year, or the subsequent year.

Summary of Bill:

For a qualifying utility that serves customers in other states, the following is classified as an eligible renewable resource: electricity from a generation facility powered by a renewable resource other than freshwater that commences operation after March 31, 1999, where the facility is located within a state in which the qualifying utility serves retail electrical customers, and the qualifying utility owns the facility in whole or in part or has a long-term contract with the facility of at least 12 months or more.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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