SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6826

BYSenators Benitz, Williams and Bluechel

Requiring a report to the legislature on the need for a state energy plan.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Benitz, Chairman; Bluechel, Vice Chairman; Metcalf, Owen, Patrick, Sutherland, Williams.

Senate Staff:David Monthie (786-7198)

                February 1, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Regional power planning for the Northwest is entering a critical period.  The Bonneville Power Administration is currently developing its resource program for 1992-93, which will focus on demands for electrical energy and the methods for meeting the demand for the next ten years.  The Northwest Power Planning Council is preparing its 1990 Power Plan, which will focus on a schedule for acquiring the specific resources identified in the region's resource stack that will be necessary to meet the forecasted load demand, in a fashion compatible with environmental constraints.  Both regional planning efforts are significant in that the region's electrical supply is effectively in a balanced situation with projected demand for the next five to ten years--a situation that could change dramatically with the loss of any major source of supply or with higher than predicted demand growth.

The Washington State Energy Office is required by law to prepare contingency plans for energy emergencies, maintain state energy data, coordinate federal energy programs, develop energy policy recommendations for the Governor and the Legislature, and provide a biennial report on energy supply and demand.  There is no requirement that WSEO, or any other state agency, develop a comprehensive state energy plan to address energy policy and planning opportunities on a statewide level.  It is the opinion of some people in the energy field that such a plan may be desirable to pursue at this time, in conjunction with the regional planning efforts underway, particularly in the absence of any national energy plan.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Energy Office is required, by January 1, 1991, to report to the Legislature on the need for and desirability of the development of a state energy plan.

Appropriation:  $10,000

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested January 26, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified:   Amy Bell, WSEO (pro)