Renewable energy.

WORKING DRAFT
2005
STATE OF WYOMING
05LSO-0243

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0157

Renewable energy commission.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Warren and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Decaria, Jennings, Massie and Ross

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to renewable energy development; establishing a renewable energy commission within the governor's office; providing definitions; providing for membership; specifying duties; requiring the commission to submit its recommendations to the legislature as specified; providing an appropriation; providing for the termination of the commission; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2901 through 9
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2
‑
2904 are created to read:

ARTICLE 29
WYOMING RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMISSION

9
‑
2
‑
2901.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

(i)

"Commission" means the Wyoming renewable energy commission created by this section;

(ii)

"Renewable energy" means e
nergy produced from a renewable resource
;

(iii)

"Renewable resources" include wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas, hydro, geothermal and hydrogen if it is generated from any of the aforementioned sources
;

(iv)

"System" means physically connected generation, transmission and distribution facilities operating as a single unit.

9
‑
2
‑
2902.

Renewable energy commission created; membership; salary; meetings.

(a)

The Wyoming renewable energy commission is established in the governor's office to develop strategies and legislative recommendations to diversify and expand energy production and distribution systems in Wyoming with energy from renewable resources, alone and in conjunction with new and existing electric and natural gas generation and transmission facilities.

(b)

The commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members including:

(i)

The chief executive officer of the Wyoming business council or his designee;

(ii)

The director of the Wyoming infrastructure authority or his designee;

(iii)

One (1) member representing a Wyoming certified electric utility providing service in Wyoming;

(iv)

One (1) member representing the Wyoming agriculture industry;

(v)

Three (3) members representing the renewable energy industry;

(vi)

The director of the department of environmental quality or his designee;

(vii)

The administrator of the public service commission, office of consumer advocate, or his designee;

(viii)

The director of the University of Wyoming William D. Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources or his designee;

(ix)

The governor's energy and telecommunications policy advisor; and

(x)

Two (2) residents of the state appointed at large by the governor.

(c)

Appointed commission members shall serve until completion of duties delegated to the commission under this article. If a vacancy occurs on the commission, the governor shall appoint a new member from the same membership category to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. The governor may remove members as provided in W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
202. Commission members who are not state employees shall receive a salary equal to the per diem paid members of the Wyoming legislature under W.S. 28
‑
5
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101 for each day of actual service and when engaged in necessary travel plus necessary expenses.

(d)

The members shall elect from the membership a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. The two (2) members appointed at large shall be qualified voters of the state of Wyoming with special knowledge, as evidenced by college degrees or courses or with at least five (5) years experience in the field of renewable energy generation, manufacturing, transmission, marketing, industrial consumption or municipal consumption.

(e)

The commission shall meet not less than monthly at the call of the chairman. Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum.

9
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2
‑
2903.

Renewable energy commission duties; report; open meetings; attorney general to represent.

(a)

The commission shall develop strategies and legislative recommendations to diversify and expand energy production and distribution systems in Wyoming with energy from renewable resources, alone and in conjunction with new and existing electric and natural gas generation and transmission facilities by:

(i)

H
olding public meetings throughout the state;

(ii)

H
earing from experts and other interested parties;

(iii)

Studying and researching other states' renewable resource policies and programs;

(iv)

Analyzing existing Wyoming data related to renewable resources and existing electric and natural gas facilities; and

(v)

Incorporating past efforts related to renewable energy resources, including, but not limited to, the report issued by the Wyoming energy commission on December 14, 2001, and future possibilities that can be useful in decision making.

(b)

As part of its study the commission shall address the following:

(i)

The electric and natural gas industry structure and commercial energy markets;

(ii)

Models for integrating renewable energy into the existing energy system;

(iii)

Renewable energy resources, technologies and technical and regulatory issues;

(iv)

Financing strategies, market support mechanisms, incentives and public policies designed to encourage and promote renewable energy projects for the generation of electricity and heat;

(v)

The effects of renewable energy projects on workforce development and local and rural economies;

(vi)

Energy efficiency and energy conservation programs and regulations, an energy building code, renewable energy credits and other measures to encourage the development and use of renewable energy resources in Wyoming;

(vii)

Development of a renewable portfolio standard;

(viii)

The effects of renewable energy projects on national security, public health, welfare and the environment;

(ix)

The role of the university of Wyoming, Wyoming community colleges and the Western Research Institute in renewable energy research and business development; and

(x)

Other issues as deemed appropriate by the commission.

(c)

The commission shall submit to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee and the governor a preliminary report on its findings no later than June 30, 2006, and submit a final report with its recommendations for legislative changes by December 1, 2006.

(d)

Public hearings of the commission shall be held in accordance with W.S. 16
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4
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401 et seq. The attorney general shall be the legal adviser to the commission.

(e)

The commission may contract for consultants or administrative services as necessary to assist in the functions of the commission and the preparation of the reports.

(f)

Staff support for the commission shall be provided by the Wyoming business council and by any state agency upon request.

9
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2
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2904.

Termination of article.

W.S. 9
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2
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2901 through 9
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2
‑
2904 are repealed effective March 31, 2007.

Section 2.

There is appropriated two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) from the general fund to the governor's office for the period beginning July 1, 2005 through December 30, 2006 to implement the purposes of this act. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
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4
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207, the appropriation under this section shall not lapse at the end of the biennium ending June 30, 2006.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

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HB0157