_______________________________________________
HOUSE
BILL 2669
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 2002 Regular Session
State
of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 01/23/2002. Referred to Committee on Technology, Telecommunications
& Energy.
Including animal waste as a qualified alternative energy
resource.
AN
ACT Relating to use of animal waste as a qualified alternative energy resource;
and amending RCW 19.29A.090.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
19.29A.090 and 2001 c 214 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Beginning January 1, 2002, each electric utility must provide to its retail
electricity customers a voluntary option to purchase qualified alternative
energy resources in accordance with this section.
(2)
Each electric utility must include with its retail electric customer's regular
billing statements, at least quarterly, a voluntary option to purchase
qualified alternative energy resources. The option may allow customers to purchase
qualified alternative energy resources at fixed or variable rates and for fixed
or variable periods of time, including but not limited to monthly, quarterly,
or annual purchase agreements. A utility may provide qualified alternative
energy resource options through either: (a) Resources it owns or contracts
for; or (b) the purchase of credits issued by a clearinghouse or other system
by which the utility may secure, for trade or other consideration, verifiable
evidence that a second party has a qualified alternative energy resource and
that the second party agrees to transfer such evidence exclusively to the
benefit of the utility.
(3)
For the purposes of this section, a "qualified alternative energy
resource" means the electricity produced from generation facilities that
are fueled by: (a) Wind; (b) solar energy; (c) geothermal energy; (d) landfill
gas; (e) wave or tidal action; (f) gas produced during the treatment of
wastewater; (g) qualified hydropower; or (h) biomass energy based on animal
waste or solid organic fuels from wood, forest, or field residues, or
dedicated energy crops that do not include wood pieces that have been treated
with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper‑chrome‑arsenic.
(4)
For the purposes of this section, "qualified hydropower" means the
energy produced either: (a) As a result of modernizations or upgrades made
after June 1, 1998, to hydropower facilities operating on May 8, 2001, that
have been demonstrated to reduce the mortality of anadromous fish; or (b) by
run of the river or run of the canal hydropower facilities that are not
responsible for obstructing the passage of anadromous fish.
(5)
The rates, terms, conditions, and customer notification of each utility's
option or options offered in accordance with this section must be approved by
the governing body of the consumer-owned utility or by the commission for
investor-owned utilities. All costs and benefits associated with any option
offered by an electric utility under this section must be allocated to the
customers who voluntarily choose that option and may not be shifted to any
customers who have not chosen such option.
(6)
Each consumer-owned utility must report annually to the department and each
investor-owned utility must report annually to the commission beginning October
1, 2002, until October 1, 2012, describing the option or options it is offering
its customers under the requirements of this section, the rate of customer
participation, the amount of qualified alternative energy resources purchased
by customers, and the amount of utility investments in qualified alternative
energy resources. The department and the commission together shall report
annually to the legislature, beginning December 1, 2002, until December 1, 2012,
with the results of the utility reports.
Passed the House February 14, 2002.
Passed the Senate March 8, 2002.
Approved by the Governor
March 27, 2002.
Filed
in Office of Secretary of State March 27, 2002.
