Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Technology, Telecommunications & Energy Committee

HB 2669

Brief Description:  Including animal waste as a qualified alternative energy resource.

Sponsors:  Representatives Linville, Schoesler, Hunt, Chase and Wood.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Includes animal waste as a type of biomass energy, which qualifies as an alternative energy resource for producing electricity that utilities may offer to retail customers as a "green option."

Hearing Date:  2/5/02

Staff:  Pam Madson (786‑7166).

Background:

In 2001, the Legislature enacted a requirement that by January 1, 2002, all electric utilities (other than small electric utilities) must offer their retail consumers, at least quarterly, a voluntary choice to purchase electricity generated from alternative energy resources.  Alternative energy resources include wind, solar, geothermal, landfill gas, wave action, gases from wastewater treatment, and qualified hydro power.  In addition, biomass energy based on organic fuels from wood, forest, or field residue, or dedicated energy crops, that doesn=t include wood treated with chemical preservatives, are considered alternative energy resources.  Consumers who choose a "green option" may pay a premium rate to support the generation of electricity from these sources.

Biomass energy utilizes the energy components of (1) agricultural residues from crops such as sugarcane, corn fiber and rice straw, (2) wood waste such as sawdust or timber slash, (3) energy crops such as fast growing trees (poplars, willows) and grasses (switch grass, elephant grass), and (4) methane from landfills, waste water treatment, and manure lagoons on cattle and hog farms to generate electricity, heat or fuels.

Summary of Bill:

Animal waste is included as a source of biomass energy that qualifies as an alternative energy resource.  Utilities may offer their retail customers the option of purchasing electricity generated from a source using animal waste resources to satisfy the requirement that they offer retail customers an option (green option) to purchase electricity from an alternative energy resource.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.