READ FIRST TIME 03/01/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to statewide energy efficiency; amending RCW 44.39.010 and 44.39.070; adding a new section to chapter 44.39 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.19 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 44.39.010 and 2001 c 214 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is hereby created the joint committee on energy supply ((of the legislature of the state of Washington)) and energy conservation.

Sec. 2   RCW 44.39.070 and 2002 c 192 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The committee shall meet and function at the following times: (a) At least once per year or at anytime upon the call of the chair to receive information related to the state or regional energy supply situation; (b) during a condition of energy supply alert or energy emergency; and (c) upon the call of the chair, in response to gubernatorial action to terminate such a condition. Upon the declaration by the governor of a condition of energy supply alert or energy emergency, the committee ((on energy supply)) shall meet to receive any plans proposed by the governor for programs, controls, standards, and priorities for the production, allocation, and consumption of energy during any current or anticipated condition of energy supply alert or energy emergency, any proposed plans for the suspension or modification of existing rules of the Washington Administrative Code, and any other relevant matters the governor deems desirable. The committee shall review such plans and matters and shall transmit its recommendations to the governor for review. The committee may review any voluntary programs or local or regional programs for the production, allocation, or consumption of energy which have been submitted to the committee.
     (2) The committee shall receive any request from the governor for the approval of a declaration of a condition of energy emergency as provided in RCW 43.21G.040 as now or hereafter amended and shall either approve or disapprove such request.
     (3) During a condition of energy supply alert, the committee shall: (a) Receive any request from the governor for an extension of the condition of energy supply alert for an additional period of time not to exceed ninety consecutive days and the findings upon which such request is based; (b) receive any request from the governor for subsequent extensions of the condition of energy supply alert for an additional period of time not to exceed one hundred twenty consecutive days and the findings upon which such a request is based; and (c) either approve or disapprove the requested extensions. When approving a request, the committee may specify a longer period than requested, up to ninety days for initial extensions and one hundred twenty days for additional extensions.
     (4) During a condition of energy emergency the committee shall: (a) Receive any request from the governor for an extension of the condition of energy emergency for an additional period of time not to exceed forty-five consecutive days and the finding upon which any such request is based; (b) receive any request from the governor for subsequent extensions of the condition of energy emergency for an additional period of time not to exceed sixty consecutive days and the findings upon which such a request is based; and (c) either approve or disapprove the requested extensions. When approving a request, the committee may specify a longer period than requested, up to forty-five days for initial extensions and sixty days for additional extensions.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   It is the intent of the legislature to utilize lessons learned from efforts to conserve energy usage in single state buildings or complexes and extend conservation measures across all levels of government. Implementing conservation measures across all levels of government will create actual energy conservation savings, maintenance and cost savings to state and local governments, and savings to the state economy, which depends on affordable, realizable electricity to retain jobs. The legislature intends that conservation measures be identified and aggregated within a government entity or among multiple government entities to maximize energy savings and project efficiencies.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 44.39 RCW to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Committee" means the joint committee on energy supply and energy conservation.
     (2) "Conservation" means reduced energy consumption or energy cost, or increased efficiency in the use of energy, and activities, measures, or equipment designed to achieve such results.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 43.19 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Municipalities may conduct energy audits and implement cost-effective energy conservation measures among multiple government entities.
     (2) All municipalities shall report to the department if they implemented or did not implement, during the previous biennium, cost-effective energy conservation measures aggregated among multiple government entities. The reports must be submitted to the department by September 1, 2007, and by September 1, 2009. In collecting the reports, the department shall cooperate with the appropriate associations that represent municipalities.
     (3) The department shall prepare a report summarizing the reports submitted by municipalities under subsection (2) of this section and shall report to the committee by December 31, 2007, and by December 31, 2009.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Committee" means the joint committee on energy supply and energy conservation in chapter 44.39 RCW.
     (b) "Cost-effective energy conservation measures" has the meaning provided in RCW 43.19.670.
     (c) "Department" means the department of general administration.
     (d) "Energy audit" has the meaning provided in RCW 43.19.670.
     (e) "Municipality" has the meaning provided in RCW 39.04.010.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 43.19 RCW to read as follows:
     Financing to implement conservation measures, including fees charged by the department, may be carried out with bonds issued by the Washington economic development finance authority under chapter 43.163 RCW.