Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Environment Committee |
HB 1365
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Modifying the definition of "distributed generation" for the purposes of chapter 19.285 RCW, the energy independence act.
Sponsors: Representatives Eddy, Warnick, Morris and Hinkle.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/17/11
Staff: Scott Richards (786-7156).
Background:
Energy Independence Act.
In 2006 the people approved the Energy Independence Act (Initiative 937), which requires qualifying electric utilities with 25,000 or more customers to meet targets for using and conserving eligible renewable energy resources.
The Initiative 937 provides for additional credit toward meeting the renewable acquisition target. Qualifying electric utilities may count distributed generation at double the facilities output. Distributed generation means an eligible renewable resource where the generation facility has a generating capacity of not more than 5 megawatts.
Average Megawatt.
An average megawatt, sometimes abbreviated to aMW, is the amount of electricity produced by the continuous production of one megawatt over a period of one year.
Summary of Bill:
Under the Energy Independence Act, the term distributed generation means an eligible renewable resource where the generation facility, or any integrated cluster of such facilities, generates not more than 20 average megawatts in a calendar year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.