Conservation Watch #24 3/23/2010
Week ten and our priority energy bills are at it again. The Senate's omnibus energy bill is scheduled for its first hearing in Senate Finance Committee and Alaska Coastal Management Program was heard first time this year.
In this Issue
Natural Gas | Legislative Potpourri | From the Blog Bill Spotlight | This Week in Committee | New in Town
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Natural gas pipes (aupetitplombier integration gaz), France
Natural gas: The burning question
Will the Railbelt run out of natural gas?
Yes, someday. It could be as early as 2015 or 2016 for some when the Cook Inlet reserves are expected to produce below demand. Cook Inlet basin gas has kept the lights on for Alaskans from Seward to Fairbanks and provides most of the energy, heat and electricity, for hundreds of thousands living in and around Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley - anywhere reached by the Enstar gas lines.
It could be 50, 100, 1,000 years from now depending on how much of our reserves are developed and how Alaska’s estimated trillions of cubic feet of gas are used.
According to the Railbelt Integrated Resource Plan by Black and Veatch
“The population of the Anchorage, Mat-Su, and Kenai Peninsula areas has increased 170% from 1970 to 2005. At the same time, known reserves in the Cook Inlet have declined by 80%. As a result, one prediction is that gas supplies from known reserves will meet less than one-half of the residential and commercial demand for heating and electricity by 2017.
Consequently, the Railbelt region will not be able to continue its dependence upon natural gas in the future unless additional reserves are discovered in the Cook Inlet, new sources of supply become available from the North Slope, or a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal is developed to supplement Cook Inlet supplies.”
Natural gas, is made up mostly of methane. Methane is mostly made of hydrogen atoms, with a single carbon atom to hold the CH4 molecule together. It is the week nuclear force, stored in the bonds of the CH4 molecule, that gives natural gas its kick.
A complex mix of hydrocarbon gases and liquids, natural gas (NG) must be stripped of almost all material other than methane before it can be used as a fuel. The left-over material includes ethane, propane, butanes, pentanes and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, elemental sulfur, carbon dioxide, water vapor and sometimes helium and nitrogen.
When burned NG produces about a third the carbon dioxide as petroleum, and produces less than half that of coal. It is an abundant hydrocarbon that is used to generate electricity, heat homes, fuel vehicles, and as a feedstock for chemicals and plastics. Therefore natural gas already has an extensive existing infrastructure for transportation and storage.
The report by Black and Veatch also shows that regardless of whether Alaskans get their gas from new supplies from the Cook Inlet, gas from the North Slope, or imported Liquefied Natural Gas, it’s going to cost us.
“One reality can not be escaped: future gas supply prices will be higher,” Black and Veatch said in its report. Because, the consultants said, prices will need to increase to encourage exploration and development of new gas supplies. Cook Inlet natural gas supplies are projected to meet roughly half the demand in as little as seven years.
Definitions: Bullet vs Spur
When Alaskans talk about a "Bullet line" we are referring to
a 20-inch or 24-inch pipeline that would carry natural gas from the North Slope to Fairbanks and to Enstar’s gas lines in Southcentral Alaska. For ACV’s input on Enstar’s proposed bullet line: http://akvoice.org/policy-positions/enstar-bullet-gas-line.
Alternatively, another plan to bring North Slope gas to Fairbanks and Southcentral is to build a spur pipeline off the proposed large diameter pipeline. The large pipe would carry Alaska gas to the U.S. and/or international market with the smaller spur feeding the local market. The large gas pipeline is planned to be built through Interior Alaska to the Lower 48. The spur, however, is dependent on the success of the larger project, and some have expressed worries that the $30 billion large pipe may be delayed if the world economy remains depressed. A large diameter pipeline is not expected to be operational until at least 2018 or 2020. Enstar Natural Gas says Cook Inlet could run low on gas well before then.
LNG vs CNG
Liquified natural gas (LNG) | Compressed natural gas (CNG)
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) does not require the ultra-high pressures and / or low temperatures to produce nor does it require the sophisticated structures to store liquefied natural gas. The process of filing a CNG tank is
a far less energy-intensive, volatile and sophisticated process. In fact, CNG vehicle owners in Alaska and around the world currently fill their cars from the line leading to their homes. It is a process as simple as plug-in hybrid’s, and provides at least a 240 mile range. The drawback of compressed natural gas compared to liquefied is its energy density. While LNG carries 60% the energy density of diesel, Compressed gas holds less than half of that. The result is larger fuel tanks for vehicles and CNG can’t be used as an aviation fuel.
Natural gas can be converted into a liquid fuel by way of the Fischer-Tropsch process. This liquid hydrocarbon is stable at room temperature and low on impurities.
Methane Hydrates
Simply put, methane hydrate isnatural gas trapped in water ice. Deposits of this “flammable ice” are found in the deep ocean where conditions of temperature and pressure make hydrates possible.. There is no current technology for extracting methane hydtrates. However, with an estimated world-wide reserve of up to 300 million trillion cubic feet, interest is growing. And Alaska is chock full of the stuff.
For more information on Methane Hydrates:
Syngas
CIRI Native Regional Corporation has proposed an underground coal gasification (UCG) project in the Beluga coal fields across the Cook Inlet from Homer. The process uses heat and steam to turn coal into syngas while still in the coal seam underground. This process may address some of the problems with coal combustion and mining (digging up sensitive habitat, air pollution, ash). However, UCG still produces large quantities of carbon pollution and the technology is new to the dynamic hydrological area around Chuitna. In its raw form, syngas can not be piped through the current Cook Inlet natural gas infrastructure, it must first be mixed with carbon monoxide which produces a NG-like hydrocarbon similar to the Town Gas used in 18th and 19th century U.S. This process requires $ millons in infrastructure. Under their current proposal, CIRI will use the syngas to fuel an electric generator.
Legislation to the Rescue
The 26th Alaska State Legislature has seen a formidable number of bills that relate with Natural Gas. Many legislators have made it a high priority to secure a reliable and affordable supply of natural gas for their constituents. Below is a list of current Natural Gas legislation:
To find more information about these bills: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_title_search.asp?session=26&searchoption=bills&search=natural+gas
HB 280 Natural Gas
HB 163 Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority
HB 8 Pipe For a Natural Gas Pipeline
SB 135 Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority
SB 208 DNR Study on Natural Gas
SB 34 Compressed Natural Gas for State Vehicles
HB 119 Production Tax on Certain Natural Gas
HB 398 Dnr Study on Natural Gas/Oil
SR 10 Domestic Natural Gas & Alt. Energy
SR 7 Vehicles Run by Propane/Comp. Natural Gas
HB 44 Energy Bonds/Investments/ANGDA
SB 220 Energy Efficiency/ Alternative Energy
HCR 2 In-State Gas Pipeline
HCR 3 In-State Gas Pipeline
HCR 4 In-State Gas Pipeline
HCR 5 In-State Gas Pipeline
HB 369 In-State Pipeline Manager/Team/Committee
HB 164 In-State Pipelines: Leases; Certification
SB 136 In-State Pipelines: Leases; Certification
HB 217 Tax on Gas For in State Manufacturing
HB 218 Creating Dept of Energy/AEA BD
HB 312 Advisory Vote on In-State Gas Pipeline
SB 287 In-State Gas Pipeline
HJR 36 Const. Am: Limiting Taxes on Gas
SB 185 Creating Dept Of Energy/AEA BD
HB 378 In-State Gas Pipeline
HB 120 Pipeline Contract Carriers
SB 192 Tax On Gas For In State Manufacturing
HCR 12 Urging Reevaluation Of Agia License
HCR 18 State Liability Under Agia
SB 191 Pipeline Contract Carriers
HR 11 Requesting Status Reports On Agia Project
For a list of current Natural Gas legislation:
Legislative Potpourri
Geothermal Bills Gain Momentum in Senate
Senate Resources took another step towards a brighter, cleaner, more sustainable energy future for Alaska last Thursday. After weeks of debate and recalibration, the committee moved Senate Bills 242 and 243 on to the Finance Committee where they now await fiscal review and passage to the full senate.
Introduced by Senator McGuire, the pair of bills act together to incentivize in-state geothermal resource expansion. SB 242 provides tax credits to would be producers for exploration and development. SB 243 sets the royalty rate on geothermal energy production, sale, or use, at 1.75% for the first ten years, and at 3.5% for the duration thereafter—well below the previous royalty rate set between 10% and 15%.
The committee worked hard to ensure the legislation would be strong enough to encourage major project development, while still benefiting the state by passing offered tax and royalty savings onto ratepayers.
Geothermal technology uses heat from below the earth’s surface to power generators creating clean, continuous energy output. Ormat Technologies predicts that the proposed legislation would allow them to produce 50-100 megawatts of electricity for the Railbelt from their Mt. Spurr exploration site, 75 miles west of Anchorage. It would create new jobs and have minimal negative environmental effects. The legislation will also promote further geothermal exploration for in need communities around Alaska, which has more geothermal potential than any other state in America. With upcoming gas shortages and persisting high oil costs, this legislative effort represents positive progress in creating an affordable energy future and reaching state goals for a more renewables based utility portfolio.
Pebble Mine Preparations and Potential Impact Discussed in Legislative Hearings
Nearly two months into what had been a relatively quiet legislative session for major mineral extraction issues, the Pebble Mine project made a couple of appearances in the capitol last week.
Jane Whitsett, the Environmental Studies Manager for the
Pebble Partnership, gave a presentation of ongoing baseline studies at a Lunch and Learn event in the House Resources Committee on Tuesday. Her report gave a very basic overview of preparatory work being done before the permitting process begins. Although she touched on a broad range of pebble mine related issues, her report was devoid of hard data or any in depth evaluations of the potential environmental consequences of the pebble mine project. This will have to wait until the project is better defined, she said.
Legislators then heard invited testimony regarding Pebble Mine on Friday in a joint session of the Senate Resources and House Fisheries Committees. The CEO of the Pebble Partnership, the President of the Center for Science and Public Participation, the Director of Permitting at DNR, and a former Senate President all weighed in on the environmental ramifications of the proposed project.
As has been the case many times before, fisheries, water quality issues, and pollution potential dominated the talks. The expected consequences of such an enormous and potentially risky project varied from party to party, but all agreed that information would be necessary before the permitting process could begin, now slated potentially for early 2011.
Snow machines on Dalton Highway
HB 267 an Act relating to travel by snow machine within five miles of the right-of-way of the James Dalton Highway was heard yesterday, March 22nd, in a special (H) Transportation subcommittee chaired by Representative Tammy Wilson. The measure would allow snow machine use on the Dalton Highway, a 357 mile stretch of road north of Fairbanks, was sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly and Rep. Mark Neuman and Rep. Tammie Wilson
The bill continues to face tough opposition due to safety concerns around increased access, negative environmental consequences, as well as the bill’s lack of a fiscal note. It is scheduled to be taken up again by the full committee on March 25th at 1:00 PM in Capitol Rm 17.
During public testimony earlier this month, some testified in support of the legislation though the majority of Alaskans who weighed in on the bill were in opposition.
The objections were said to be due to forseen environmental consequences, the toll it would take on northern subsistence hunters, interference with winter industrial work on the roads, and the unreported fiscal responsibilities that would inevitably accompany such a road opening.
See Questioning Snow machines on Dalton Hwy “From the Blog” Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 1:46 PM for more information.
From the Blog
Sunday, March 21, 2010
10:37 AM - ACA Energy Efficiency Spotlight
Common sense energy solutions powering a home outside of Girdwood-- Vlad Smolkin
(Vlad Smolkin submitted this essay as part of an energy efficiency photo contest by ACV’s sister organization, Alaska Conservation Alliance)
As I was traveling down a windy dirt road outside of Girdwood, I couldn’t help but wonder how some of these remote houses were powered. Often times I did not see any electric utility poles, which likely meant that they were too far away from the power grid of the town. After several miles of wandering along this road, which eventually led to the Crow Creek mine, the houses were further and further apart. I looked into the distance at one of the older looking cabins and noticed two solar panels set upon poles in a section of the front yard. The yard was cleared out in order to get more direct light.
There was something beautiful in this juxtaposition of modern technology with the untouched and pristine landscape that surrounded it. It seems natural that a house would thrive upon the same material as the trees and plants around it, a true coexistence. Seeing these panels in such a remote place really emphasized to me the idea that energy independence is something that can work for the individual as well as on a larger scale. It just seems to make sense.
Friday, March 19, 2010
11:48 AM -- SB 220 Energy Efficiency / Alternative Energy, and Alaska Conservation Voters legislative priority, has been scheduled for a hearing in Senate Finance on March 25th at 9:00 AM.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
12:36 PM -- Tune in to Gavel to Gavel at 1:00 PM to hear Senate Bill 152: Regional Transit Authority discussed in (S) Transportation Committee. Public Testimony.
12:26 PM -- HB 306 State Energy Policy: An Act declaring a state energy policy. Sponsored by the House Energy Committee. CSHB 306(RES), which passed the House Floor unanimously yesterday afternoon, was referred to Senate Resources then (S) Finance.
HJR 45 Oppose Federal Cap And Trade Legislation: Urging the United States Congress not to enact Cap and Trade legislation. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Stoltze (R)-MatSu/Chugiak, HJR 45 passed through the House yesterday afternoon 31Y to 7N. It was referred to (S) Resources then (S) Finance.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
9:54 AM -- House Bill 36 Initiatives: Contributions / Procedures was passed out of (H) Finance yesterday afternoon. It is not yet on the Calendar.
Fiscal note: $60,200. Alaska Public Offices Commission will have to add capacity.
Vote: Unanimous
Bill Spotlight
Senate omnibus energy bill, SB 220, to be heard in (S) Finance
Loaded with renewable energy and energy efficiency provisions, she Senate’s omnibus energy bill, SB220 Energy Efficiency / Alternative Energy, lays out a state energy policy to steer Alaska toward a clean energy future. The bill is now in the Senate Finance Committee with a scheduled hearing for Thursday, March 25th at 9:00 AM. A unanimous yes vote moved SB220 out of Senate Resources on March 8th.
There are plenty of components in this bill that the Conservation Community is excited about. Perhaps most notable in the state policy is a directive to institute a comprehensive and coordinated approach to supporting
energy efficiency and conservation. The bill calls on the state to reduce the amount of energy consumed by 15 percent by 2020, and directs the state’s Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to conduct energy audits of public buildings and then perform efficiency upgrades that will require the buildings to use less energy in the future, and save the state money in energy costs immediately.
The bill also calls for the establishment of an emerging energy technology fund. The fund stimulates research and development of clean energy technologies that will be viable in five years or less, but are not currently competitive. The emerging tech provision also should help build the University of Alaska system to educate Alaskan youth in their home state while preparing them for high-tech, specialized jobs in Alaska’s clean energy economy.
The Alaska Conservation Alliance is super-psyched about this bill. And we are grateful that the Senate Finance Committee scheduled a hearing for March 25th. So what can you do? Call your Alaska senator and let him or her know that you support energy efficiency for public buildings because it will save money for the state (and it is the right thing to do). Also, let them know that you want to see the state on the cutting edge of developing its own clean energy solutions and therefore support SB220. Thank the committee for scheduling a hearing for SB220 and ask them to pass it through soon.
Senate Finance is chaired by Sen. Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), and Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) with members Sen. Johnny Ellis (D)-Anchorage, Sen. Dennis Egan (D)-Juneau, Sen. Charlie Huggins (R)-Wasilla, Sen. Donald Olson (D)-Nome, Sen. Joe Thomas (D)-Fairbanks.
Greater Railbelt Energy & Transmission Corporation: GRETC
HB 182 Railbelt Energy & Transmission Corp.: An Act establishing the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation and relating to the corporation; relating to transition, financial plan, and reporting requirements regarding planning for the initial business operations of the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation; relating to a report on legislation regarding the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation; authorizing the Alaska Energy Authority to convey the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project and the Alaska Intertie to the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation; and providing for an effective date. Sponsored by (H) Rules by Request of the Governor, the bill was referred to (H) Energy then (H) Labor & Commerce then (H) Finance.
HB 182 was heard and held in (H) Energy on Thursday, March 18th. It is scheduled to be heard in (H) Energy on Wednesday, March 23 at 3:00 PM in Barnes Rm 124
SB 143 Railbelt Energy & Transmission Corporation: An Act establishing the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation and relating to the corporation; relating to transition, financial plan, and reporting requirements regarding planning for the initial business operations of the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation; relating to a report on legislation regarding the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation; authorizing the Alaska Energy Authority to convey the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project and the Alaska Intertie to the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation; and providing for an effective date. Sponsored by (S) Rules by Request of the Governor, the bill was referred to (S) Energy then Resources then Finance.
SB 143 was heard and held in (S) Energy on Wednesday, March 17th. On March 22nd, ENE Committee Chair Sen. Lesil McGuire (R)-Anchorage asked and received unanimous consent that the ENE Committee referral be waived on SB143. It was referred to (S) Resources and is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24th at 3:30 PM in BUTROVICH Rm 205. And again on Thursday, March 25th at 3:30 PM in BUTROVICH Rm 205
Snow machines on Dalton Hwy
HB 267 an Act relating to travel by snow machine within five miles of the right-of-way of the James Dalton Highway was heard yesterday, March 22nd, in a special (H) Transportation subcommittee chaired by Representative Tammy Wilson. The bill continues to face tough opposition due to the negative environmental consequences of increased access, as well as the bill’s lack of a fiscal note. It is scheduled again for the full committee on March 25th at 1:00 PM in Capitol Rm 17.
Alaska Coastal Management Program
HB 74 an Act relating to the Alaska coastal management program; and establishing the Alaska Coastal Policy Board was heard and held yesterday, March 22nd in (H) Resources. Public testimony was heard with a special presentation by North Slope Borough Mayor, Edward Itta. Itta said the bill would restore meaningful participation by state agencies and coastal districts, restores state’s rights, and puts air and water quality concerns back into project reviews. The N.S. Borough is in favor of HB 74. Some committee members were concerned that DNR hadn’t done enough to try to resolve the issues. No new hearing has been scheduled.
SB 277 Public Utility Exemption: Renewable Energy an Act exempting from regulation by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and by municipalities generators of electricity from renewable energy resources that sell electricity to regulated utilities was heard and held in (S) Judiciary committee yesterday, March 22nd. The bill was referred to (S) Resources then (S) Judiciary. It passed out of Resources on February 25th, 2010 with Sen. Lesil McGuire voting Do Pass and No Recommendation from Sens. Bill Wielechowski, Gary Stevens, Hollis French.
HB 414 Separate Oil & Gas Production Tax was heard and held with the Alaska Coastal Management Program bill in (H) Resources yesterday, March 22nd. The bill, sponsored by (H) Resources, was released on March 10th and referred to (H) Resources then (H) Finance committees.
HB 389 Commercial Fishing Loan Act: an Act relating to loans made to commercial fishermen under the Commercial Fishing Loan Act for product quality improvements and energy efficiency upgrades; and providing for an effective date. Sponsored by Rep. Paul Seaton (R)-Homer, the bill was passed out of (H) Fisheries to (H) Labor & Commerce today. Originally referred to FIN and RES, the RES referral was replaced by Labor & Commerce.
Vote:
Do Pass: Reps. Cathy Munoz, Bob Buch, Bryce Edgmon
No Recommendation: Reps. Scott Kawasaki, Wes Keller
SR 10 Domestic Natural Gas & Alternative Energy supports expansion of the use of domestic natural gas and alternative energies and urging agencies to use vehicles that run on compressed natural gas was Sponsored by Senator Wagoner.
HB 280 an Act relating to natural gas; relating to a gas storage facility; relating to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; relating to the participation by the attorney general in a matter involving the approval of a rate or a gas supply contract; relating to an income tax credit for a gas storage facility; relating to oil and gas production tax credits; relating to the powers and duties of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; relating to production tax credits for certain losses and expenditures, including exploration expenditures; relating to the powers and duties of the director of the division of lands and to lease fees for the storage of gas on state land; and providing for an effective date.
Introduced as a prefile on January 15, HB280 has a long list of signers. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Hawker and Rep. Mike Chenault, it is signed by Rep. Craig Johnson, Rep. Kurt Olson, Rep. Joe Thomas, Rep. Jay Ramras, Rep. John Harris, Rep. Charisse Millett and Rep. Bob Lynn.
HB 280 was passed out of (H) Finance Committee on Monday, March 22nd. Do Pass from Reps. Alan Austerman, Anna Fairclough, Mike Kelly, Neal Foster, Mike Doogan, Bill Thomas Jr, Reggie Joule, Bill Stoltze. And an Amend from Rep. Les Gara.
HB 280 was read twice on the House Floor today, Tuesday March 23rd at 10:00 AM. It is scheduled for a third reading March 24th.
SB 287 In-State Gas Pipeline: an Act amending the powers and duties of the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation related to the exercise of authority to purchase, transport, and sell natural gas produced on the North Slope for in-state use, and transferring exclusive and primary responsibility for the initiation and development of that project from the Office of the Governor and the Department of Natural Resources to those corporations; and providing for an effective date.
Current Status: (S) Res Then Fin
Sponsor(S): Senator(S) Mcguire, Davis
Hearing: (S) Res Mar 22 3:30 Pm Butrovich 205 Teleconference
HB 36 Initiatives: Contributions/ Procedures, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Johansen, Rep. Charisse Millett.
HB 36 is on the move. Introduced as a prefile in the first session of the 26th State Legislature, January 9th 2010 the bill passed out of (H) Finance, its final referred committee in the House, on Tuesday, March 16th. It passed with six Do Pass (Reps. Bill Thomas, Alan Austerman, Mike Kelly, Anna Fairclough, Bill Stoltze, Mike Hawker) and four Amends (Reps. Les Gara, Mike Doogan, Reggie Joule, Neal Foster)
It moved out of (H) Judiciary four days before the end of the session last year with three Do Not Pass; Rep. Lindsey Holmes, Rep. Max Gruenberg, Rep. Jay Ramras, Do Pass, Rep. (now Sen.) John Coghill, No Recommendation Nancy Dahlstrom and an Amend by Rep. Bob Lynn.
The initiatives bill then collected several more co-sponsors and moved to (H) Finance where it was heard and held on February 8th, March 15th and finally passed out of committee on March 16th of this year.
During hearings Rep. Les Gara (D)-Anchorage voiced concern that the bill would place an onerous price on individuals or groups collecting signatures for initiatives, among other concerns.
HB 36 was amended in Judiciary last year. Removed was a provision that prevented the re-issuing of a failed initiative for two years after the attempt. However, the bill still deserves to be watched carefully.
The Administration allotted the bill a $60,000 fiscal note.
HB 36 passed out of (H) Finance Friday, March 16th. It was referred to (H) Rules.
For more information: Conservation Blog, February 4, 2010 at 1:03 PM -- HB 36: The Good, the Bad, and the is it Really Necessary?
HB 306 State Energy Policy Energy an Act relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Natural Resources, including transferring certain powers and duties to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. The bill passed the House of Representatives last week (Yes 38) and was referred (S) Resources.
HB 411 Power Project Fund: An Act relating to the power project fund; authorizing the Alaska Energy Authority to charge and collect fees relating to the power project fund; authorizing the Alaska Energy Authority to sell and authorizing the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to purchase loans of the power project fund; providing legislative approval for the sale and purchase of loans of the power project fund under the memorandum of understanding dated February 17, 2010; and providing for an effective date was sponsored by (H) Rules by Request of the Governor. The bill moved out of (H) Energy on March 16th with a unanimous ‘Do Pass’ vote.
HJR 45 Oppose Federal Cap and Trade Legislation: Urging the United States Congress not to enact Cap and Trade legislation was sponsored by Rep. Bill Stoltze. The bill passed the House of Representatives with 31 Yes and 7 No votes. It was transmitted to the Senate and referred to (S) Resources and (S) Finance.
HR 14 Oppose Federal Health Care Reform Bills: Urging the United States Congress to oppose federal health care reform bills was sponsored by Rep. Mike Chenault. The bill was read twice on the House Floor, adopted a Health and Social Services committee substitute, and returned to (H) Rules.
SB 242 Geothermal Resource Tax Credits, sponsored by Sen. Lesil McGuire (R)-Anchorage, passed out of (S) Resources on Thursday, March 18th.
Sen. Lesil McGuire and Sen. Wagoner voted Do Pass. Sens. Wielechowski, Stevens, and French voted No Recommendation. The bill was referred to (S) Finance. No hearing has yet been scheduled.
SB 243 No Royalty on Geothermal Resource sponsored by Sen. Lesil McGuire (R)-Anchorage, passed out of (S) Resources Thursday, March 18th.
Sen. Lesil McGuire voted Do Pass. Sens. Wielechowski, Stevens, and French voted No Recommendation. The bill was referred to (S) Finance. No hearing has yet been scheduled.
SB 284 CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES An Act relating to state election campaigns, the duties of the Alaska Public Offices Commission, the reporting and disclosure of expenditures and independent expenditures, the filing of reports, and the identification of certain communications in state election campaigns; and providing for an effective date is scheduled for a hearing in (S) Finance on Wednesday, March 23rd at 1:30 PM in Senate Finance Rm 532. Introduced on February, 19th, the bill was referred to State Affairs then Judiciary then Finance(referral added 3/2).
SB 295 Flame Retardants an Act relating to flame retardants and to the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing flame retardants; relating to bioaccumulative toxic chemicals; and providing for an effective date was moved out of (S) Health and Social Services Committee and was referred to Finance. It has not been scheduled a hearing.
Vote:
Do Pass: Sens. Bettye Davis, Joe Thomas, Joe Paskvan
No Recommendation: Sen. Fred Dyson
SB 301 Power Project Fund: An Act relating to the power project fund; authorizing the Alaska Energy Authority to charge and collect fees relating to the power project fund; authorizing the Alaska Energy Authority to sell and authorizing the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to purchase loans of the power project fund; providing legislative approval for the sale and purchase of loans of the power project fund under the memorandum of understanding dated February 17, 2010; and providing for an effective date was sponsored by Rules by Request of the Governor. The bill moved out of (S) Resources on March 17th and has been referred to (S) Finance.
This Week in Committee
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
(H)Community & Regional Affairs Standing Committee
8:00 AM in Barnes Rm 124
HB 202 Residential Sprinkler Systems
HB 318 Unregulated Potable Water Systems
HB 281 Board of Game/Fish & Game Commissioner
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
(H)Resources Standing Committee
12:00 PM in Capitol Rm 106
-- Please Note Time & Location Change --
Lunch & Learn: An In-depth Look at Alaska's Resources Presentation: "Emerging Coal Technologies and Marketing," by Steve Denton, Vice President, Business Development, Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc.
TELECONFERENCED
(H)Energy Special Committee
3:00 PM in Barnes Rm 124
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
HB 182 Railbelt Energy & Transmision Corp.
TELECONFERENCED
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
(H)Resources Standing Committee
1:00 PM in Barnes Rm 124
HB 229 Gas Exploration/Development Tax Credit
HB 227 Holitna Basin Reserve
HB 246 Sport Fish Guide Licenses
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
(S)Resources Standing Committee
3:30 PM in Butrovich Rm 205
SB 275 Aquatic Farming
SB 143 Railbelt Energy & Transmission Corp.
<Pending Referral>
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
Thursday, March 25, 2010
(S)Finance Standing Committee
9:00 AM in Senate Finance Rm 532
SB 220 Energy Efficiency/Alternative Energy
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
(H)Transportation Standing Committee
1:00 PM in Capitol Rm 17
HB 267 Snow Machine Use in Dalton Hwy Corridor
HB 313 Maintenance of Railroad Crossings
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
(H)Energy Special Committee
3:00 PM in Barnes Rm 124
Overview: Biomass Energy, by Dave Stancliff, Gateway School Borough & Jeff Hermanns, Alaska Division of Forestry
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
(S)Resources Standing Committee
3:30 PM in Butrovich Rm 205
SB 143 Railbelt Energy & Transmission Corp.
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
Friday, March 26, 2010
(S)Finance Standing Committee
9:00 AM in Senate Finance Rm 532
SB 92 U.S. Presidential Election Compact
SB 234 Extend Alcoholic Beverage Control
SB 264 Commercial Fishing & Agricultural Bank
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
(H)Resources Standing Committee
1:00 PM in Barnes Rm 124
SB 195 Make Goldstream Public Use Area Permanent
SJR 27 Fed. Funding: Domestic Seafood Marketing
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
Saturday, March 27, 2010
(H)Resources Standing Commtittee
10:00 AM in Barnes 124
-- Please Note Time Change --
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
(S)Finance Standing Committee
10:00 AM in Senate Finance 532
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
TELECONFERENCED
New in Town
HB 419 An Act relating to the board, investigations, and examinations of the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank; and providing for an effective date.
Sponsored by the Labor and Commerce Committee, this bill has been referred back to the Labor and Commerce Committee and is not yet scheduled for a hearing.
Tweet of the Week
From (S)Transportation Committee, Thursday March 18th
##Hello from (S) Transportation Committee. On deck SB152: Regional Transit Authority. Allows munis to join forces to meet public transit need
##(S) Transportation: SB152 RTA: testimony Alaska Railroad up first. 2002 AKRR report recommends regional transit authories. AKRR supports.
##(S) Trans: SB152 RTA: testimony: Chris Rose, REAP said MatSu to Anchorage commuter rail held up by lack of RTA.
##(S) Trans: SB152 RTA: testimony: Caitlin Higgins, Ex. Dir. ACA / ACV. Taya Wagoner w/ AYEA.
