AN
ACT Relating to the Washington climate and rural energy development center;
adding new sections to chapter 28B.30 RCW; creating a new section; and
providing an effective date.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature makes the following findings:
(1)
A vast and growing body of research and information about changes to our
global, national, and regional climates is being produced by a variety of
sources.
(2)
Much of this research and information holds important value in helping
scientists, citizens, businesses, and public policymakers understand how
Washington may be affected by these changes.
(3)
It is in the public interest to support efforts to promote discussion and
understanding of the potential effects of climate change on Washington's water
supply, agriculture, natural resources, coastal infrastructure, public health,
and economy, and to encourage the formulation of sound recommendations for
avoiding, mitigating, and responding to those effects.
(4)
The state should support the establishment of a central clearinghouse to serve
as an impartial, unbiased source of credible and reliable information about
climate change for the public.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. The
definitions in this section apply throughout sections 3 through 5 of this act
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1)
"Center" means the Washington climate and rural energy development
center.
(2)
"Clean energy activities" means: (a) Activities related to renewable
resources including electricity generation facilities fueled by water, wind,
solar energy, geothermal energy, landfill gas, or bioenergy; (b) programs and
industries promoting research, development, or commercialization of fuel cells
and qualified alternative energy resources as defined in RCW 19.29A.090; (c)
energy efficiency measures or technologies; and (d) technologies designed to
significantly reduce the use of or emissions from motor vehicle fuels.
(3)
"Climate change" means a change of climate attributed directly or
indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global
atmosphere.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. The
legislature authorizes the establishment of the Washington climate and rural
energy development center in the Washington State University energy program to
serve as a central, nonregulatory clearinghouse of credible and reliable
information addressing various aspects of climate change and clean energy
activities.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. The
center shall be funded through grants, and voluntary monetary and in-kind
contributions.
*NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5.
(1) The duties of the center may include, but
are not limited to:
(a)
Collecting and sharing scientific and technological data related to climate
change;
(b)
Collecting and sharing information which could be used on a voluntary basis to
respond to potential climate change impacts should they occur;
(c)
Collecting and sharing information about clean energy activities in the rural
areas of the state, including information about state resources available for
developing such clean energy opportunities;
(d)
Advising relevant sectors of prospective commercial opportunities;
(e)
Studying and advising the legislature on the potential: (i) Impacts of climate
change in the state; and (ii) effects of early action by the state, before
action by the federal government or other state governments, on the state's
competitive position with respect to other states;
(f)
Accomplishing any other duty assigned to it by the legislature for which
adequate funding is provided; and
(g)
Providing a biennial report to the governor and the appropriate legislative
committees by December 31st regarding its operations.
(2)
The center shall, within available funds, also:
(a)
Identify key sectors within the state likely to be affected adversely by
climate change;
(b)
Examine and report the feasibility of a carbon storage program for the state
by:
(i)
Evaluating other states' and nations' attempts to establish carbon credit
programs, carbon storage programs, carbon storage requirements worldwide, and
methods and scientific programs that are used to implement carbon storage
programs;
(ii)
Analyzing other programs in the state of Washington, including the conservation
reserve enhancement program, that could facilitate a carbon storage program and
a stable carbon storage market;
(iii)
Analyzing methods to encourage and increase appropriate carbon storage
activities; and
(iv)
Developing and preparing appropriate legislative responses and recommendations;
and
(c)
Publicize mitigation projects and efforts to address climate change that
include evaluations of whether those efforts were deemed to be successful.
(3)
The following agencies and programs will work with the center to assist with
the duties under this section: The department of community, trade, and
economic development, the department of ecology, the department of
transportation, the department of health, the department of fish and wildlife,
the department of agriculture, the department of natural resources, and the
Washington State University energy program.
(4)
The legislature may appoint one member from each legislative caucus to serve on
a legislative oversight committee for the center.
(5)
The center shall establish task forces and technical advisory committees,
balanced in representation and composed of state and local agencies and
interested elected leaders, businesses, labor groups, timber industry groups,
agricultural groups, nonprofit organizations, university and college programs,
and citizens as necessary to assist in the duties in this section.
*Sec. 5 was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. This
act takes effect July 1, 2002.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 7.
Sections 2 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 28B.30 RCW.
Note: Governor's
explanation of partial veto is as follows:
"I am returning
herewith, without my approval as to section 5, Engrossed Substitute House Bill
No. 2326 entitled:
"AN
ACT Relating to the Washington climate and rural energy development
center;"
This bill establishes the
Washington Climate and Rural Energy Development Center in the Washington State
University energy program. It designates that center as a clearinghouse of
credible and reliable information regarding climate change and clean energy
activities. Global warming and climate change are issues of profound
importance, and I support this bill.
However, section 5 of the
bill is unduly prescriptive and would have inhibited academic freedom. The
Center will be funded entirely by project grants and voluntary contributions.
Accordingly, it is appropriate to provide the Center with flexibility in the
kinds of grants it receives and activities it pursues.
Section 5 also would have
mandated that certain state agencies provide assistance to the Center for its
activities. However, the bill does not assign specific or measurable tasks to
the agencies or provide funding for that assignment.
For these reasons, I have
vetoed section 5 of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2326.
With
the exception of section 5, Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2326 is
approved."
