S.B. 169

1

RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONE TASK FORCE
2 2008 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Dennis E. Stowell
5 House Sponsor: Roger E. Barrus
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill establishes the Renewable Energy Zone Task Force.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . creates the Renewable Energy Zone Task Force;
13 . provides for membership and appointment of task force members;
14 . requires the task force to study certain issues concerning the development of
15 renewable energy resources including the identification of renewable energy zones;
16 . requires a report from the task force to the governor and Legislature; and
17 . addresses staff support for the task force.
18 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
19 This bill appropriates:
20 . $25,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2008-09 only, to the governor's
21 energy advisor.
22 Other Special Clauses:
23 This bill is repealed on December 31, 2008.
24 Uncodified Material Affected:
25 ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL
26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 Section 1. Renewable Energy Zone Task Force.
29 (1) There is created the Renewable Energy Zone Task Force comprised of 20 members,
30 as follows:
31 (a) the governor's energy advisor;
32 (b) a representative from the Utah Geological Survey's energy program;
33 (c) 11 members appointed by the governor representing each of the following interests:
34 (i) cooperative electric associations that distribute electricity;
35 (ii) investor-owned electric utilities;
36 (iii) municipal utilities;
37 (iv) wind-electric generation;
38 (v) solar-electric generation;
39 (vi) geothermal-electric generation;
40 (vii) biomass-electric generation;
41 (viii) hydroelectric generation;
42 (ix) the Governor's Rural Partnership Board;
43 (x) non-profit organizations addressing renewable energy issues; and
44 (xi) counties, from a list of names submitted to the governor by the Utah Association
45 of Counties;
46 (d) one member appointed by the president of the Senate;
47 (e) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
48 (f) one member from the Automated Geographic Reference Center, appointed by the
49 director of the Division of Integrated Technology;
50 (g) one member from the Public Service Commission, who need not be a member of
51 the Public Service Commission, appointed by the chair of the Public Service Commission;
52 (h) two members from universities located within the state, appointed by the governor's
53 energy advisor; and
54 (i) one member representing the Utah Science Technology and Research Governing
55 Authority with an understanding of renewable energy technologies, appointed by the executive
56 director of the authority.
57 (2) Members appointed under Subsection (1) shall be appointed by June 2, 2008, but
58 may be appointed sooner.

59 (3) The task force shall:
60 (a) study the development of renewable energy resources within the state, including:
61 (i) the establishment of renewable energy enterprise zones;
62 (ii) the establishment of a state entity to facilitate transmission infrastructure
63 development for renewable resources; and
64 (iii) any needed policy changes for transmission infrastructure development, including
65 cost recovery mechanisms;
66 (b) identify and map the location of areas in the state with the potential for
67 economically feasible electrical power generation from wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric,
68 and biomass resources;
69 (c) identify existing electrical transmission resources within the state and the location
70 of potential electrical transmission resources to aid in the development of renewable energy
71 development zones;
72 (d) research the cost to consumers of:
73 (i) existing electrical generation resources; and
74 (ii) newly developed resources, including traditional, renewable, and other resources;
75 (e) report to the governor and the Legislature concerning its activities and
76 recommendations by November 30, 2008.
77 (4) The task force may solicit and accept donations to pay expenses incurred in the
78 performance of its duties.
79 (5) The governor's energy advisor shall:
80 (a) provide staff support for the task force; and
81 (b) chair the task force.
82 Section 2. Appropriation.
83 There is appropriated from the General Fund to the governor's energy advisor for fiscal
84 year 2008-09 only, $25,000 for studying the establishment of a training center for alternative
85 energy technologies.
86 Section 3. Repeal date.
87 This bill is repealed on December 31, 2008.

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-25-08 7:12 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel