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ANGDA bonds, gas line pipe on slate Alaska legislators file bills on variety of energy-related topics, including investments, establishment of coastal policy council Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Prefiled bills for the 26th Alaska Legislature, which gavels in Jan. 20, cover a wide range of energy-related issues from the state’s coastal zone management program to purchasing pipe for a natural gas pipeline and bonding of a spur gas pipeline by the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority.
House Bill 8, by Rep. Harry Crawford, D-Anchorage, proposes that the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities purchase pipe for a natural gas project under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act and sell the pipe to the line’s builder for terms that “may include an exchange by the state of some or all of the pipe for a state interest in the natural gas pipeline ... and any other terms that the department considers necessary to protect the interests of the state.”
Reps. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage, Paul Seaton, R-Homer and Sharon Cissna, D-Anchorage, offered HB 11 which requires that ambiguous language in state oil and gas leases be construed in favor of the state and against the interpretation offered by the person challenging the state’s interpretation.
HB 31 by Kurt Olson, R-Kenai, is for net energy metering, with retail suppliers of electricity offering a net energy meter option capable of registering the flow of electricity in two generations for electric generating facilities using solar, wind, tidal, geothermal or hydro and having a capacity of not more than 25 kilowatts.
Initiative changes In HB 36 Rep. Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan, the in-coming House Majority Leader, proposes substantial changes to the state’s ballot initiative process including: prohibiting initiatives substantially similar to those that failed within the previous two years; requiring financial disclosure for initiative sponsors receiving contributions or making expenditures exceeding $500 in a calendar year; and replacing the current limit for collecting signatures of $1 a signature with an hourly rate or other method and prohibiting concurrent signature solicitation for more than one petition. In addition, a signature petition would have to contain the full language of the proposed bill and the sponsors would be required to hold public hearings in at least 30 House districts within a year after the application is certified by the lieutenant governor.
Energy investments Rep. Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, the in-coming House Speaker, is proposing a number of energy investments in HB 44.
• The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board would be allowed to invest up to $1 billion of the fund’s assets in in-state energy projects.
• The Alaska Housing Finance Corp. would be authorized to issue bonds to establish energy efficiency and conservation programs for homeowners to a limit of $100 million.
• The Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority would be authorized to issue up to $250 million in bonds “to acquire a gas supply, develop the Cook Inlet and Fairbanks markets, and plan, permit, and design gas transmission systems to mitigate gas shortfalls and ensure energy efficiency for Alaskans.”
• The Alaska Railroad Corp. would be authorized to issue bonds up to $250 million “to foster programs that support energy infrastructure development.”
• The Alaska Energy Authority would be authorized to issue up to $40 million in bonds to develop energy programs for which it already has authority.
Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, is proposing an amendment to Alaska’s constitution under House Joint Resolution 6 to create a gas revenue endowment fund.
Coastal policy board On the Senate side, in Senate Bill 4, Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, is proposing creation of the Alaska Coastal Policy Board. The board would be in the Department of Natural Resources and would include four public members appointed by the governor with a member each from northwest Alaska, southwest Alaska, upper Cook Inlet and Southeast Alaska. The commissioners of Environmental Conservation, Fish and Game and DNR would also be board members.
The board would have the authority to approve coastal zone regulations before they are adopted by DNR; apply for and accept “grants, contributions, and appropriations, including application for and acceptance of federal funds that may become available for coastal planning and management.” The board would also approve Alaska coastal management program standards and criteria for preparation and approval of district coastal management plans.
SB 31, by Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, establishes a geothermal electricity production tax credit (see story in Jan. 11 issue of Petroleum News).
Additional prefiled bills will be released Jan. 16.
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