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H.B. 46 Enrolled

             1     

ENERGY POLICY AMENDMENTS

             2     
2006 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Roger E. Barrus

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Gregory S. Bell

             6      Cosponsors:
             7      Sheryl L. Allen
             8      Ralph Becker
             9      Craig W. Buttars
             10      David N. Cox
             11      Margaret Dayton
             12      Carl W. DuckworthBen C. Ferry
Lorie D. Fowlke
James R. Gowans
Neil A. Hansen
Fred R. Hunsaker
Bradley T. JohnsonJohn G. Mathis
Patrick Painter
David Ure
Mark A. Wheatley
Richard W. Wheeler
Larry B. Wiley              13     
             14      LONG TITLE
             15      General Description:
             16          This bill establishes the position of governor's energy advisor and an energy policy.
             17      Highlighted Provisions:
             18          This bill:
             19          .    defines terms;
             20          .    establishes the position of governor's energy advisor;
             21          .    outlines the governor's energy advisor's powers and duties;
             22          .    requires the governor's energy advisor to submit certain reports;
             23          .    declares the state's energy policy; and
             24          .    requires legislative committees to review and propose updates to the energy policy
             25      annually.
             26      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             27          None
             28      Other Special Clauses:
             29          None
             30      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             31      ENACTS:


             32          63-53b-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          63-53b-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          63-53b-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          63-53b-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          63-53b-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          63-53b-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          63-53b-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39     
             40      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             41          Section 1. Section 63-53b-101 is enacted to read:
             42     
CHAPTER 53b. UTAH ENERGY ACT

             43     
Part 1. General Provisions

             44          63-53b-101. Title.
             45          This chapter is known as the "Utah Energy Act."
             46          Section 2. Section 63-53b-102 is enacted to read:
             47          63-53b-102. Definitions.
             48          As used in this chapter, "state agency" means an executive branch:
             49          (1) department;
             50          (2) agency;
             51          (3) board;
             52          (4) commission;
             53          (5) division; or
             54          (6) state educational institution.
             55          Section 3. Section 63-53b-201 is enacted to read:
             56     
Part 2. Governor's Energy Advisor

             57          63-53b-201. Governor's energy advisor -- Duties.
             58          (1) (a) The governor shall appoint an energy advisor.
             59          (b) The governor's energy advisor serves at the pleasure of the governor.


             60          (2) The governor's energy advisor shall:
             61          (a) advise the governor on energy-related matters;
             62          (b) annually review and propose updates to the state's energy policy, as contained in
             63      Section 63-53b-301 ;
             64          (c) promote as the governor's energy advisor considers necessary:
             65          (i) the development of cost-effective energy resources both renewable and
             66      nonrenewable; and
             67          (ii) educational programs, including programs supporting conservation and energy
             68      efficiency measures;
             69          (d) coordinate across state agencies to assure consistency with state energy policy,
             70      including:
             71          (i) working with the State Energy Program to promote access to federal assistance for
             72      energy-related projects for state agencies and members of the public;
             73          (ii) working with the Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security to assist
             74      the governor in carrying out the governor's energy emergency powers under Title 63, Chapter
             75      53a, Energy Emergency Powers of Governor;
             76          (iii) participating in the annual review of the energy emergency plan and the
             77      maintenance of the energy emergency plan and a current list of contact persons required by
             78      Section 53-2-110 ; and
             79          (iv) identifying and proposing measures necessary to facilitate low-income consumers'
             80      access to energy services;
             81          (e) coordinate with the Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security
             82      ongoing activities designed to test an energy emergency plan to ensure coordination and
             83      information sharing among state agencies and political subdivisions in the state, public utilities
             84      and other energy suppliers, and other relevant public sector persons as required by Sections
             85      53-2-110 , 63-53a-3 , 63-53a-7 , and 63-53a-8 ;
             86          (f) coordinate with requisite state agencies to study:
             87          (i) the creation of a centralized state repository for energy-related information;


             88          (ii) methods for streamlining state review and approval processes for energy-related
             89      projects; and
             90          (iii) the development of multistate energy transmission and transportation
             91      infrastructure;
             92          (g) coordinate energy-related regulatory processes within the state;
             93          (h) compile, and make available to the public, information about federal, state, and
             94      local approval requirements for energy-related projects;
             95          (i) act as the state's advocate before federal and local authorities for energy-related
             96      infrastructure projects or coordinate with the appropriate state agency; and
             97          (j) help promote the Division of Facilities Construction and Management's measures to
             98      improve energy efficiency in state buildings.
             99          Section 4. Section 63-53b-202 is enacted to read:
             100          63-53b-202. Agency cooperation.
             101          A state agency shall provide the state energy officer with any energy-related
             102      information requested by the governor's energy advisor if the governor's energy advisor's
             103      request is consistent with other law.
             104          Section 5. Section 63-53b-203 is enacted to read:
             105          63-53b-203. Reports.
             106          (1) The governor's energy advisor shall report annually to:
             107          (a) the governor;
             108          (b) the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee; and
             109          (c) the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee.
             110          (2) The report required in Subsection (1) shall:
             111          (a) summarize the status and development of the state's energy resources;
             112          (b) address the governor's energy advisor's activities under this part; and
             113          (c) recommend any energy-related executive or legislative action the governor's energy
             114      advisor considers beneficial to the state, including updates to the state energy policy under
             115      Section 63-53b-301 .


             116          Section 6. Section 63-53b-301 is enacted to read:
             117     
Part 3. State Energy Policy

             118          63-53b-301. State energy policy.
             119          (1) It is the policy of the state that:
             120          (a) Utah have adequate, reliable, affordable, sustainable, and clean energy resources;
             121          (b) Utah will promote the development of:
             122          (i) nonrenewable energy resources, including natural gas, coal, oil, oil shale, and tar
             123      sands; and
             124          (ii) renewable energy resources, including geothermal, solar, wind, biomass, biodiesel,
             125      and ethanol;
             126          (c) Utah will promote the study of nuclear power generation;
             127          (d) Utah will promote the development of resources and infrastructure sufficient to
             128      meet the state's growing demand, while contributing to the regional and national energy supply,
             129      thus reducing dependence on international energy sources;
             130          (e) Utah will allow market forces to drive prudent use of energy resources, although
             131      incentives and other methods may be used to ensure the state's optimal development and use of
             132      energy resources in the short- and long-term;
             133          (f) Utah will pursue energy conservation, energy efficiency, and environmental quality;
             134          (g) (i) state regulatory processes should be streamlined to balance economic costs with
             135      the level of review necessary to ensure protection of the state's various interests; and
             136          (ii) where federal action is required, Utah will encourage expedited federal action and
             137      will collaborate with federal agencies to expedite review; and
             138          (h) Utah will maintain an environment that provides for stable consumer prices that are
             139      as low as possible while providing producers and suppliers a fair return on investment,
             140      recognizing that:
             141          (i) economic prosperity is linked to the availability, reliability, and affordability of
             142      consumer energy supplies; and
             143          (ii) investment will occur only when adequate financial returns can be realized.


             144          (2) State agencies are encouraged to conduct agency activities consistent with
             145      Subsection (1).
             146          (3) A person may not file suit to challenge a state agency's action that is inconsistent
             147      with Subsection (1).
             148          Section 7. Section 63-53b-302 is enacted to read:
             149          63-53b-302. Legislative committee review.
             150          The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee and the
             151      Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee shall review the state energy policy
             152      annually and propose any changes to the Legislature.


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