| Members Present: Sen. David P. Hinkins, Chair Rep. Carl R. Albrecht, Chair Sen. Nate Blouin Sen. Ann Millner Sen. Derrin R. Owens Sen. Evan J. Vickers Rep. Joel K. Briscoe Rep. Joseph Elison Rep. Colin W. Jack Rep. Phil Lyman Rep. Matt MacPherson | Rep. Doug Owens Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner Rep. Rex P. Shipp Members Absent: Rep. James Cobb Staff Present: Samantha D. Brucker, Managing Policy Analyst Scott Elder, Associate General Counsel Victoria Firmage, Administrative Assistant Samantha Merrell, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Albrecht called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. |
| Chair Albrecht welcomed Rep. MacPherson as a new member of the committee. |
| Rep. MacPherson introduced himself to the committee. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2023, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Rep. P. Lyman Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp | Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. J. Cobb Sen. A. Millner Sen. E. Vickers |
| 2.Draft Legislation: Utah Energy Act Amendments 8:30 - 8:35AM |
| Rep. Jack requested that several items be added to the 2024 General Session draft legislation committee bill, "Utah Energy Act Amendments"(2024FL0826). |
| MOTION:Sen. Owens moved that six items be added to the 2024 General Session draft legislation committee bill, "Utah Energy Act Amendments." The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Rep. P. Lyman Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. D. Owens Rep. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp | Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. J. Cobb Sen. A. Millner Sen. E. Vickers |
| 3.TransWest Express Transmission Update 8:35 - 8:50AM |
| 3. Presentation, TransWest Express Transmission Project Update |
| Kara Choquette, Director, Communications and Government Relations, TransWest Express LLC, and Joe Tippetts, consultant, TransWest Express LLC, gave an update on the TransWest Express Transmission Project. |
| Kara Choquette and Joe Tippets responded to questions from the committee. |
| 4.Fervo Energy 8:50 - 9:10AM |
| 4. Presentation, Fervo Energy: Next-Generation Geothermal in Utah |
| Ben Serrurier, Government Affairs & Policy, Fervo Energy, presented on Fervo Energy's geothermal approach and projects in Utah, and gave policy recommendations on how to strengthen Utah's geothermal industry. |
| Ben Serrurier responded to questions from the committee. |
| 5.A Performance Audit of the Intermountain Power Agency 9:10 - 9:40AM |
| 5a. Audit, Intermountain Power Agency |
| 5b. Presentation, A Performance Audit of the Intermountain Power Agency |
| Brian Dean, Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Legislative Auditor General (OLAG), and Matthais Broone, Senior Audit Supervisor, OLAG, highlighted the findings of the Intermountain Power Agency Audit conducted by the Office of the Legislative Auditor General. |
| Brian Dean and Matthais Boone responded to questions from the committee. |
| MOTION:Sen. Owens moved to open a committee bill file to address the recommendations of the Intermountain Power Agency Audit and the committee discussed the motion.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Rep. P. Lyman Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp Sen. E. Vickers | Rep. J. Cobb Rep. D. Owens |
| 6.Statutorily Required Report: Project Entity Oversight Committee 9:40 - 10:00AM |
| 6a. Presentation, Project Entity Oversight Committee |
| 6b. Handout, IPA Responses |
| 6c. Handout, IPP Financials |
| Greg Todd, Director, Office of Energy Development, Warren Peterson, Chair, Project Entity Oversight Committee, and Roger Killpack, Vice Chair, Project Entity Oversight Committee, gave an overview of responsibilities of the Project Entity Oversight Committee and discussed the Intermountain Power Plant Renewed Facility project. |
| Greg Todd, Warren Peterson, and Roger Killpack responded to questions from the committee. |
| 7.Statutorily Required Report: Energy Plan & Grant Program 10:00 - 10:15AM |
| 7a. Presentation, HB 426 Update |
| 7b. Handout, Utah Strategic Energy Plan Framework |
| Chair Albrecht noted that if agenda item seven took the remaining time, then agenda items eight, nine, and ten would be postponed to the November 15, 2023, committee meeting. |
| Greg Todd, Director, Office of Energy Development and Harry Hansen, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Development gave an update on the State Energy Plan and presented a Utah Strategic Energy Plan Framework with policy recommendations to the committee. |
| Greg Todd and Harry Hansen responded to questions from the committee. |
| 8.Adjourn |
| MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to adjourn the meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. C. Albrecht Sen. N. Blouin Rep. J. Briscoe Rep. J. Elison Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. C. Jack Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens Rep. J. Rohner Rep. R. Shipp Sen. E. Vickers | Rep. J. Cobb Rep. P. Lyman Rep. D. Owens |
| Chair Albrecht adjourned the meeting at 11:04 a.m. |