Biennial energy strategy.

2018
STATE OF WYOMING
18LSO-0181
Numbered
1.2

SENATE FILE

NO.
SF0014

Biennial energy strategy.

Sponsored by:
Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the administration of the government; requiring a biennial energy strategy as specified; creating an energy strategy committee; locating the energy strategy committee in the appropriate agency or office; assigning duties to the energy strategy committee, the Wyoming business council, the Wyoming infrastructure authority or the governor; requiring reports; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section
1
.

W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
225 is created to read:

9
‑
1
‑
225
.

Biennial energy strategy
; definitions;
energy strategy
committee.

(a)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Biennial energy strategy" means the coordinated and comprehensive biennial plan
that
:

(A)

Includes t
he activities of agencies,
boards
and
commissions
,

policy initiatives and other actions
aimed at
achiev
ing
excellence in energy development, production, technological innovation, regulation and stewardship of natural resources for the highest benefit of
Wyoming
citizens
;

(B)

Includes p
rograms and initiatives intended to
i
ncrease economic competitiveness, expansion and diversification
,
to
p
rovide for efficient and effective regulation
and natural resource conservation, reclamation and mitigation and
to
develop education
, innovation and new technologies
; and

(C)

Identifies appropriate means to complete initiatives and work with agencies, boards
,

commissions and other interested parties to implement initiatives.

(ii)

"Energy, natural resource and economic development agencies" means the department of environmental quality, Wyoming infrastructure authority, Wyoming pipeline authority, oil and gas conservation commission, department of agriculture, University of Wyoming, Wyoming business council and other
agencies
, boards and
commissions
the governor designates.

(
b
)

There is created an energy strategy committee
within the governor's office
consisting of five (5) voting members
, one
(1)
of whom shall be the governor or his designee
.

T
he
governor shall appoint the remaining four (4) members as follows
:

(i)

On
e (1) member
shall be
from the energy industry
;

(ii)

O
ne (1) member
shall be
from the
environmental community;

(iii)

One (1) member
shall be
from the public;

(iv)

One (1) member
shall be
at
‑
large.

(c
)

The governor shall a
ppoint or reappoint
energy strategy committee
members for staggered terms
, as determined by the governor,
no
t to exceed four (4) years each. The governor may remove a member of the energy strategy committee as provided in W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
202.

(
d
)

The Wyoming business council shall:

(i)

Prepare the
energy strategy committee
for public hearings to elicit broad public
views regarding the status of existing programs and initiatives and the development of new recommendations for a biennial energy strategy;

(ii)

Provide staff and assistance to
the energy strategy committee
in conducting public hearings
;

(iii)

C
ompile comments obtained under paragraph (i) of this subsection and other sources of information
;

(iv)

P
repare a biennial energy strategy.

(
f
)

The energy strategy committee shall:

(i)

Review, revise
or
adopt the biennial energy strategy
prepared by the Wyoming business council
;

(ii)

Monitor implementation of the biennial energy strategy by energy, natural resource and e
conomic development agencies;

(iii)

P
rovide regular progress reports
on implementation of the biennial energy strategy
to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee;

(i
v
)

Make budget recommendations
to the governor
for
energy, natural resource and economic development agencies as the
se agencies

implement

the biennial
energy strategy
's
initiatives;

(v)

By August 30, 2019, and every two (2) years thereafter, submit the biennial energy strategy to the legislature through the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 201
8
.

(END)

1
SF0014