Conservation Watch #9 - 3/16

In This Issue:

• ACV Legislative Priority Milestone

• Fly-In Success!

• On The Move

• New In Town

• Calendar of Hearings

ACV Legislative Priority Milestone

ACV is pleased to announce a significant benchmark for our Legislative Priorities – by the end of this week we expect all of our priority legislation to finally be introduced and on their way for legislative action.    SB150, the emerging energy technology bill was introduced late last week; SB 121, HB 148 and SB 119 have replaced our original energy savings center priority as better vehicles for realizing energy efficiency savings for Alaska; and we expect to see a bill to allow the creation of regional transit authorities to be introduced in the Senate soon. Now for the real work.

• SB150 – This bill would create an emerging energy technology fund through the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska for the advancement of emerging clean energy technologies in Alaska.  This bill needs letters of support to the bill’s sponsor – Senator Lesil McGuire. 
  
• SB121/SB119/HB148 – All of these bills work to improve energy efficiency in public buildings.  Letters are needed to Senate Judiciary voicing support for SB121 and asking for a hearing.  It is a busy time of year and it is only going to get busier so if this bill has any chance of passing this year it will need to move very quickly.  Letters of support for HB148 are also needed.  While it looks like SB 121 will be the vehicle for energy efficiency in public buildings it would be great to start the dialog in the House.
• Soon to be introduced is a Regional Transit Authority bill that will allow municipalities to establish regional transit authorities to better plan for the transportation needs of the region.  For example, Anchorage and Mat-Su could greatly benefit from region-wide planning around their present and future transportation needs. We expect to see it any day now.  When that happens we will need letters of support to the bill’s sponsor and to the first committee of referral which is likely to be the Transportation Committee.
  

ACV Fly-In Success!

Last week, ACV, partnering with our sister organization ACA, hosted our semi-annual Legislative Fly-In.  With 40 participants it was our biggest Fly-In ever and a huge success.  They came from all over Alaska (spanning 15 different Senate Districts and 19 different House districts) to learn about the legislative process and what it takes to positively affect good public policy. Highlights included a Legislative Lunch Reception attended by over 75 people, including many staffers and Legislators as well as presentations from Deborah Williams of Alaska Conservation Solutions, Lois Epstein of Alaska Transportation Priorities Project, Chris Rose or Renewable Energy Alaska Projects, Bob Shavelson of Cook Inletkeeper and Tim Leach of the MEA Ratepayers Alliance.  

Far and away the top issue for fly-in participants was energy – encouraging energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation while steering Alaska away from coal.  However, issues ranged from toxics in the environment to coastal management and mixing zones.  While it is too soon to feel the full effect of the Fly-In on legislation we have already seen positive movement as a result of the work done by all our participants.  Thanks to everyone who attended and keep up the good work!

Fly-In By The Numbers

• # of Fly-In Participants: 40
• # of Senate Districts Represented: 15
  
• # of House Districts Represented: 19
• # of guest speakers: 10
  
• # of guests at Legislative Lunch Reception: +75
  

On The Move

SB 4 Coastal Management Program - Sen. Olson (D-Nome)
SB4 is an attempt at correcting problems with Alaska's Coastal Management Program resulting from changes made several years ago by the Murkowski Administration.  This bill has quite a bit of support from coastal districts and local coastal communities but has been opposed by the Governor and the Department of Natural Resources.  It will be heard today at 3:30pm in room 205 for its first hearing in Senate Resources.  ACV supports this bill.

SB 31 Geothermal Electricity Production Tax Credit – Sen. McGuire (R-Anchorage) | Sen. Ellis (D-Anchorage) | Sen. Thomas (D-Fairbanks)
SB31 now is no longer limited to just geothermal energy and offers a tax credit to any type of alternative energy. The bill has great potential to incentivize the development of renewable energy facilities. Several changes were made to the bill in Senate Energy before it was passed out of committee.  ACV supports this legislation and looks forward to it being heard in its next committee of referral, Senate Resources.

SB 59 Medium-Speed Motor Vehicles – Sen. Stedman (R-Sitka)
SB59 changes the limitations on low-speed vehicles to allow them on roads with a speed limit under 45 miles per hour, an increase from the current 35 miles per hour max.  It also allows for low speed vehicles to cross highways at designated intersections. This change would help foster greater use of low speed electric vehicles in some communities. ACV supports this bill.  Already through the Senate Transportation Committee, SB59 will have its first hearing in Senate Judiciary on Wednesday, March 18th at 1:30pm in room 211.

SB 71 Alternative Energy For Public Works - Sen. Therriault (R-North Pole)
Sponsored by Senator Therriault, SB71 would encourage new public works facilities to use alternative (defined as non fossil fuel) energy as primary or secondary heat or electricity sources whenever the cost is comparative to fossil fuels.  It was referred to Senate Energy, Resource and Finance Committees and had its first hearing last week where it was quickly moved out of Senate Energy. ACV supports this bill.

SB 108 Stampede State Recreation Area – Sen. Thomas (D-Fairbanks)
SB108 would create the Stampede State Recreation Area. This bill was referred to both Resources and Finance committees and will have its first hearing on Friday at 3:30 in Room 205.

SB 116 Appropriation: Rural Energy Assistance – Senate Finance Committee
This is a revised and expanded version of Senator Hoffman’s bills to extend energy cost assistance to low income Alaskans. This approach drops a proposed new program for this purpose and simply places $ 9 million (up from the initially proposed $5 million) into the federal Low Income heating Assistance Program and the Alaska Heating Assistance Program.  It moved out of Senate Finance and is now in Rules awaiting a floor vote.

SB 121 Energy Efficiency Buildings/Public Works – Senate Resource Committee

SB121 was introduced by the Senate Resources Committee with the intent to reduce the amount of energy consumed by public facilities thereby reducing costs to the state and increasing jobs in energy efficiency industries. To accomplish this goal, SB121 requires the Department of Public Transportation and Public Facilities to create an energy use index for all heated public facilities to monitor baseline energy consumption data and energy efficiency data.  With information from the energy use index, DOTPF is then required to retrofit all heated public facilities listed in the index – the biggest energy consumers will be first in line.  SB121 allows for performance contracting to minimize front end costs to the state and has a 3-year self-reporting requirement to ensure that the program is working.  The bill was heard twice last week and was moved from the Senate Resources committee on Friday.  ACV supports this bill.

SB 127 Southeast State Forest – Rules by Request of the Governor
SB127 would create a Southeast State Forest. It was referred to Senate Community and Regional Affairs and Resources Committees. While the bill did not attract much public testimony, legislators had enough questions to hold the bill for an additional hearing.  No follow-up hearing has been scheduled yet.

SB 131 Net Energy Metering – Sen. McGuire (R-Anchorage) | Sen. Ellis (D-Anchorage)
This bill is the Senate companion to HB66, sponsored by Representative Seaton, introduced earlier this session.  It aims to implement net metering by some retail suppliers of electricity to promote the use of alternative energy resources from solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, or hydropower sources.  The bill was scheduled for a hearing last week but had to be postponed.  The bill is not yet scheduled for another hearing. ACV supports this bill.

SB 132 Southeast Energy Fund – Sen. Stedman (R-Sitka) | Sen. Elton (D-Juneau)
This bill would create the Southeast Energy Fund, a fund that would make grants for power projects, the repayment of loans and the payment of bonds for hydroelectric projects serving Southeast Alaska or for other projects to assist in meeting the energy needs of Southeast Alaska. This bill would expand the state’s current energy focus to address needs in SE Alaska.  At present no appropriation level for the fund as been identified.  At its first hearing the testimony was very positive and the bill easily passed out of the Energy Committee.  Next stop is Resources.

HB 163/ SB 135  Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority - Rules by Request of the Governor
This late arrival is one of several bills recently introduced by the Governor.  HB163 and SB135, companion bills, would clarify and broaden the scope of the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority.  The bills have Energy, Resources and Finance referrals in both bodies.  SB135 is up first with a hearing in Senate Energy at 11am in room 205 on Thursday. 

HB 164 / SB 136 In-State Pipeline: Leases; Certification – Rules by Request of the Governor
Another late arrival from the Governor’s office – HB 164 and SB 136, companion bills, relate to noncompetitive leases of state land and for rights-of-way for oil or natural gas pipelines that originate and terminate within the state. This bill also addresses the regulation and certification of those pipelines and conditional certification for new natural gas pipelines The bills have Energy, Resources and Finance referrals in both bodies.  SB136 will be heard in Senate Energy this week on Thursday at 11am in room 205.

SB 143 Railbelt Energy & Transmission Corp. – Rules by request of the Governor
SB143 is yet another and much anticipated new bill from the Governor.  This one would establish the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation – the entity that would unite the various utility operators on the Railbelt (GVA, MEA, HEA, ML&P, Chugach).  This is very complex bill and will be most interesting to watch.  It got referrals to Energy, Resources and Finance committees and has its first hearing on Thursday at 11am in room 205.

HB 43  Geoduck Aquatic Farming/Seed Transfer – Rep. Seaton (R-Homer)
HB43 prohibits the absence of wild geoduck stock within a management area as the reason for denial of an aquatic farm permit. Now, if a permit is issued for an aquatic farm to culture geoducks, in a management area that does not have wild geoduck stocks when the permit is issued, the permit may not allow operations for that purpose in the intertidal habitat or environment.  Already through the House Fisheries Committee, the bill has been stuck in the queue for several weeks awaiting a hearing in the House Resources Committee.  It will have its first Resources hearing on Wednesday at 1pm in room 124.

HB 70  Alaska Grown Agricultural Products – Rep. Gatto (R-Wasilla) | Rep. Ramras (R-Fairbanks)
HB70 would establish a farm-to-school program in the Department of Natural Resources, the Alaska grown fresh fruit and vegetable grant program in the Department of Education and Early Development, the farmers' market technology improvement pilot program in the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the farmers to food banks pilot program in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.  The bill was referred to House Resources and Finance Committees and will have its first hearing of the year on Wednesday at 1pm in room 124.

HB 121 Municipal Air Quality Property Tax Credit – Rep. Coghill (R-North Pole) | Rep. Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) | Rep. Gara (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Ramras (R-Fairbanks) | Rep. Kelley (R-Fairbanks)
Like SB93 by Senator Paskvan and others, this bill would allow a municipality to provide an ‘air quality improvement tax credit’ to partially offset the property taxes on a property that is improved in such a way as to improve the air quality in the municipality. Already through House CRA, HB121 was heard in House Finance on Friday morning.  ACV Executive Director Kate Troll testified in favor of the bill, adding a suggestion that the bill not only apply to municipalities with poor air quality but all municipalities.  Healthy debate about the bill followed and the bill was held for further discussion. 

HB 132 Bicycle Program – Rep. Seaton (R-Homer) | Rep. Gruenberg (D-Anchorage)
HB132 would authorize municipalities and nonprofit organizations to sponsor programs encouraging the safe use of bicycles as an alternative or supplement to motor vehicles.  It would amend the duties of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to include the administration of state funds appropriated for these types of programs and would allow state and federal aid allocated for highways to be used to support bicycle paths.  The bill was referred to Transportation and Finance committees.  It will be heard at 1pn in room 17 on Thursday.

HB 134 Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits – Rep. Harris (R-Valdez | Rep. Kelly (R-Fairbanks) | Rep. Millett (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Johansen (R-Ketchikan) | Rep. Foster (D-Nome) | Rep. Keller (R-Wasilla) | Rep. Chenault (R-Nikiski) | Rep. Coghill (R-North Pole) | Rep. Johnson (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Wilson (R-Wrangell) | Rep. Munoz (R-Juneau)| Rep. Hawker (R-Anchorage)

Discharge

HB134 amends the voter mandated cruise ship wastewater discharge law to remove 5 critical words: “at the point of discharge”. This very small change would essentially grant cruise ships a mixing zone, allowing their wastewater discharge to exceed clean water act standards until the cruiseship waste mixes with enough ocean water for dilution to occur. ACV believes that instead of prematurely changing the law we should work to find appropriate technology to meet the discharge levels or potentially grant the cruise ship industry additional time to develop the technology. At the last hearing an amendment was put forward by Representative Seaton that would grant an extension to the cruise ships on the condition that a land-based facility be built to process waste by 2013.  The bill will be heard today at 1pm in room 124

HB 150 Power Cost Equalization – Rep. Austerman (R-Kodiak) | Rep. Joule (D-Kotzebue) | Rep. Edgmon (D-Dillingham) | Rep. Wilson (R-Wrangell) | Rep. Foster (D-Nome) | Rep. Munoz (R-Juneau) | Rep. Thomas (R-Haines) | Rep. Harris (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Herron (D-Bethel) | Rep. Kerttula (D-Juneau) | Rep. Salmon (D-Beaver) | Rep. Johansen (R-Ketchikan)
HB150 would repeal certain provisions relating to modifying the factors that apply to calculate the amount of power cost equalization.  It was referred to House Community and Regional Affairs (CRA) and Finance Committees.  It will have its second hearing in CRA on Tuesday at 8am in room 124.

HCR 2, HCR 3, HCR 4 and HCR 5 In-State Gas Pipeline - Rep. Ramras (R-Fairbanks) | Rep. Millett (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Johnson (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Chenault (R-Nikiski) | Rep. Hawker (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Dahlstrom (R-Anchorage) | Sen. Therriault (R-North Pole) | Sen. McGuire (R-Anchorage) | Sen. Meyer (R-Anchorage) | Sen. Huggins (R-Wassilla) | Sen. Stevens (R-Kodiak)
These bills relate to providing energy security for Alaskans by working to support the gas pipeline.  All four of these resolutions will be heard in Senate Resources on Friday at 3:30pm in room 205.  

HJR19/SJR 11 Oil Tanker Escort Vessels/Oil Spill Anniversary – Sen. Stevens (R-Kodiak) | Rep. Austerman (R-Kodiak) | Rep. Harris (R-Valdez) | Rep. Gara (D-Anchorage) | Rep. Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks)
Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and supporting the continued practice of accompanying each oil tanker through Prince William Sound with at least a two-vessel escort.   The House version is awaiting a full house vote and the Senate bill has not been heard. ACV supports these resolutions.

New In Town

SB 150 Emerging Energy Technology Fund – Sen. McGuire (R-Anchorage)
One of ACV’s legislative priorities, we are excited to see SB150 finally in motion.  This bill would create an emerging energy technology fund through the Alaska Center for Energy and Technology to provide grants and loans to eligible applicants for research, development or demonstration projects designed to test new energy technologies or methodologies of conserving energy and/or to improve an existing energy technology.  Despite three committee referrals, Energy, Resources and Finance, we hope to see this bill move quickly. 

HB 179 Expanding Kenai River Special Management Area – Rep. Seaton (R-Homer)
"An Act adding certain state-owned land and water to the Kenai River Special Management Area." Referred to House Resources.

HB 182/SB 143 Railbelt Energy & Transmission Corp. – Rules by request of the Governor
HB182 and SB143 are companion bills bill from the Governor to establish the Greater Railbelt Energy and Transmission Corporation – the entity that would unite the various utility operators on the Railbelt (GVA, MEA, HEA, ML&P, Chugach). It got referrals to Energy, Resources and Finance committees and the Senate version has its first hearing on Thursday at 11am in room 205.

HB 183 Land Management: Hunting/Fishing/Trapping – Rep. Johnson (R-Anchorage)
This bill would severely limit  fish and game management options available to the Board of Fisheries, Board of Game, and Department of Natural Resources for sport, subsistence, and commercial fishing, sport and subsistence hunting, and trapping management.  It would require ‘no net loss of acreage available for sport, subsistence, and commercial fishing, sport and subsistence hunting, and trapping opportunities."  The bill was referred to House Fisheries and Resources Committees.

Calendar