Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Environment & Energy Committee |
SSB 5936
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: Concerning use of industrial waste through industrial symbioses.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Brown, Walsh, Hasegawa and Rolfes).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/18/19
Staff: Robert Hatfield (786-7117).
Background:
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is the lead state agency to assist in establishing and improving markets for recyclable materials. The Department of Commerce provides a range of programs to assist businesses, such as education, technical assistance and business grants and loans. In addition, Commerce implements the Clean Energy Fund program, which funds the development, demonstration, and deployment of clean energy technology.
Industrial processes create heat in the form of exhaust gases, cooling water, and hot equipment surfaces and products. Recovering this waste heat may be used to produce electricity, or to cool and heat a building or facility. Industrial symbiosis is the process of generating uses for industrial by-products, including heat, water, and materials.
Summary of Bill:
By December 1, 2019, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) must produce a proposal and recommendations for setting up an industrial waste coordination program. The Department of Commerce must convene at least two meetings with relevant industry stakeholders when developing the proposal.
The proposal must include:
a strategy to develop inventories of industrial waste innovation currently in operation;
recommendations regarding data collection for material flows to generate potential industry waste matches and opportunities;
guidance and best practices for emerging local industrial resource hubs; and
recommendations for performance metrics to track results of industrial or commercial hubs that measure economic and environmental outcomes.
Subject to appropriation, Commerce may make loans or grants for the development, demonstration, and deployment of projects that enhance cooperative use of waste heat and materials. The Department of Commerce may also develop a process for providing financial and technical assistance.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.