Geothermal resources study.

2015
STATE OF WYOMING
15LSO-0219
Numbered
2.1

HOUSE BILL

NO.
HB0194

Geothermal resources study.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Winters and Lockhart and Senator(s) Coe

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to geothermal resources; providing for a study of geothermal resource energy exploitation, development, production and regulation; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section
1
.

(a)

The joint
m
inerals,
b
usiness
and

e
conomic
d
evelopment
interim committee shall study

the use and regulation of
geothermal resource
s
, with a focus on the following issues
:

(i)

T
he exploration, development and production of geothermal energy
;

(ii)

P
rotection of the environment against damage resulting from the exploration, development and production of geothermal energy;

(
iii)

P
reventing
waste of
geothermal resources
in connection with the exploration, development and production of geothermal energy;

(
iv)

P
rotection of the general public against injury or damage resulting from the exploration, development and production of geothermal energy;

(v)

T
he

appropriate agency or agencies to regulate the

exploration, development
and
production
of geothermal energy
;

(
vi
)

H
ow regulation of
geothermal
energy
should be funded and
the process

for decommissioning of facilities
used in geothermal energy production;

(
vii
)

Geothermal resource or energy
tax policies
;

(
viii
)

A
voiding duplication of conflicting requirements and effects on state trust

lands
;

(
i
x
)

Any relevant federal statutes that may preempt or limit

state or county authority; and

(
x
)

Other issues relating to
geothermal resource
s
the
committee

determines
to be relevant
.

(b)

The committee
shall submit its recommendations, including

any
proposed legislati
on
,
to the legislature
n
o later

than November 1, 20
15

for consideration in the 2016 budget session
with respect to the issues specified in subsection (
a
) of

this section.

(c)

As used in this act:

(i
)

"
Geothermal resources
"
means natural heat, steam or hot water brought to or near the surface from
geothermal formations
; and

(ii)

"
Geothermal energy
"
means hot water, heat or
e
lectricity generated from the exploitation of geothermal resources
.

Section
2
.

This act is effective immediately upon

completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law

as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming

Constitution.

(E
ND)

1
HB0194