HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5835

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz and Rasmussen)

Creating an energy information program for local school district use.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Horn, P. King, Jones, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Valle and Walker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION MARCH 29, 1989

BACKGROUND:

It has been several years since an energy supply crisis has impacted the Northwest region.  Electricity consumption has grown unexpectedly, as has consumption of motor fuels.

All energy sources have advantages and disadvantages, conditions which may not be fully realized by all energy consumers.

If continued economic growth requires the addition of new supplies of energy, the future supply decisions will affect citizens for several decades.  Under RCW 28A.05.010 local school districts are required to provide instruction in science with special reference to the environment.

SUMMARY:

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is directed to develop a voluntary energy information program for use in local school districts, using existing curriculum.  The program shall include the role of energy in the economy, descriptions of energy sources, the advantages and disadvantages to future supplies of energy and descriptions of ways to use energy more efficiently.  When implementing this program, SPI shall emphasize teacher training, dissemination of energy education curriculum, and using local energy experts in the classroom.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Max Benitz and Casey Cochrane, Westinghouse.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The Northwest has a history of an ample supply of energy including a surplus which we have sold to other utilities.  In February of this year we had used our surplus and were required to import power.  It has been many years since this state has experienced the impact of fuel or power shortage.  Many of our children are not aware of the impact of such a shortage and the need for conservation of energy.  We need to be sure that our children are aware of the sources of energy, the impact of energy on our economy and the importance and methods of conservation of energy.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.