MINUTES OF THE

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 415, Utah State Capitol

February 28, 2014

 

Members Present:     Sen. Scott K. Jenkins, Chair

                                    Sen. Allen M. Christensen

                                    Sen. Jim Dabakis

                                    Sen. David P. Hinkins

                                    Sen. Peter C. Knudson

                                    Sen. Ralph Okerlund

                                               

Members Absent:      Sen. Evan Vickers

 

Staff Present:             Brian Allred, Policy Analyst

                                    Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

 

NOTE:  A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

 

Chair Jenkins called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Dabakis moved to approve the minutes of the February 26, 2014 meeting.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Hinkins, Sen. Knudson, and Sen. Okerlund absent for the vote.

    

S.B. 237       Urban Farming Amendments (Sen. J.S. Adams)

 

Sen. Adams explained the bill to the committee:

 

Spoke to the bill:         Sterling Brown, Vice President, Public Policy, Utah Farm Bureau Federation

                                    Redge Johnson, Citizen

 

Spoke for the bill:       Julie Peck Dabling, Urban Farming, Salt Lake County                     

                                    Paula and Joseph Sargetakis, Owners, Frog Bench Farms

 

Spoke against the bill:             Royce Van Tassell, Vice President, Utah Taxpayers Association

 

Sen. Christensen assumed the Chair.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Okerlund moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed with Sen. Hinkins voting in opposition and Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.

 

S.B. 242       Alternative Energy Amendments (Sen. J.S. Adams)

 

Sen. Adams explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:         Jeff Hartley, Energy Interests

 

Spoke for the bill:       Jeff Peterson, Government Relations Director, Washaki Renewable Energy Biofuels

                                    Collin Dunken, Manager, Ormat Technologies

 

MOTION:   Sen. Hinkins moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Hinkins moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.

 

S. B. 243      Air Quality Programs (J.S. Adams)

 

Sen. Adams explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Knudson moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.         Page 3, Line 65:

           


             65               (i)  an individual, appointed by the governor, who is an employee of   {a}    an electrical   corporation, as


 

2.         Page 4, Line 91:         

 

             91        (f)  "Program utility" means one of the following with   {fewer than}   50  or more customers:


 

3.         Page 4, Lines 103 through 105:

    


                         103                (i)  agree to collect the charge by majority vote of the governing body;

                         104                       (ii)  at least   {45}    60   days before collecting a charge, provide notice to a program utility from

                         105        which a charge will be collected that the alternative fuel vehicle interlocal entity intends to

 

 

                       The motion passed unanimously.

 

Spoke to the bill:         Carl Albrecht, Commissioner, Airport/Airpark Commission, Municipal Utilities Commission

                                    Brad Shaffer, Rocky Mountain Power

                                   

Spoke against the bill:             Gary Hill, City Manager, Bountiful, Utah

                                                Kevin Garlick, Resource Manager, Utah Municipal Power Agency

                                                Claire Geddes, Consumer Advocate

                                                Michelle Beck, Director, Office of Consumer Service

                                                Kelly Francone, Executive Director, Utah Association of Energy Users

                                                Tim Funk, Project Director, Crossroads Urban Center

 

Spoke for the bill:       Jeff Edward, President, Economic Development Corporation Utah

                                    Zack Wester, Public Policy, Blu. LNG (Liquefying Natural Gas)

                                    Rey Butcher, Vice President, Questar,

 

Sen. Jenkins resumed to Chair.

                    

MOTION:   Sen. Okerlund moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Christensen voting in opposition.

 

H.B. 31        Pollution Control Amendments (R. Wilcox)

 

Rep. Wilcox explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Christensen moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

 

H.B. 341      Federal Land Acquisition Amendments (M. Noel)

 

Rep. Noel explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Knudson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Dabakis voting in opposition.

 

2nd Sub. H.B. 38         Resource Stewardship Amendments (P. Arent)

 

Rep. Arent explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Jeff Edwards, President, Economic Development Corporation of Utah

 

MOTION:   Sen. Okerlund moved amend the bill as follows:

 

1.    Page 2, Line 51

 

House Floor Amendments

 

2-24-2014:   

 

                               51   Committee. 

          (4) Each agency will retain absolute discretion whether or not to incorporate any of the practices or measures suggested by the coordinator.   

 

 

                     The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

MOTION:   Sen. Dabakis moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Christensen moved to adjourn.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Chair Jenkins adjourned the meeting at 9:54 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Scott K. Jenkins, Chair