Bill Text: VA HB1731 | 2015 | Regular Session | Prefiled

Virginia House Bill 1731 (Prior Session Legislation)

Prefiled

Bill Title: Natural Resources, Secretary of; required to report on certain environmental issues.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-03 - Stricken from docket by General Laws by voice vote [HB1731 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2015-HB1731-Prefiled.html

15103170D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1731 Offered January 14, 2015 Prefiled January 12, 2015 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 2 of Title 2.2 a section numbered 2.2-220.4, relating to Secretary of Natural Resources; report on certain environmental issues. ---------- Patron-- Sullivan ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 2 of Title 2.2 a section numbered 2.2-220.4 as follows:

§2.2-220.4. Report on certain environmental issues affecting the Commonwealth.

The Secretary shall, in consultation with appropriate state and federal agencies, report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the following topics:

1. Energy and air pollution, including:

a. Emissions of greenhouse gases, as well as other major air pollutants from all sectors;

b. Electricity, including:

(1) The sources of energy supply, both in-state and imported, including coal, nuclear power, natural gas, and renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass);

(2) The amount of energy efficiency delivered by utilities under the Commonwealth's voluntary energy efficiency resource standard;

(3) Productive uses of thermal energy from electric power generation; and

(4) Energy procurement by state-owned facilities, including public institutions of higher education; and

c. Transportation, including:

(1) The average fuel economy of all cars and trucks in the Commonwealth;

(2) The number of electric vehicles registered in the Commonwealth; and

(3) The transit, rail, and bus ridership in the Commonwealth.

2. Adaptation and resilience, including:

a. Identification of the geographic locations and facilities that are at most risk from extreme weather events and sea-level rise;

b. Identification of the actions the Commonwealth is taking to increase its resilience to extreme weather events and sea-level rise; and

c. Any recommended actions the private sector should be taking to increase the resilience of the Commonwealth to extreme weather events and sea-level rise.

The Secretary shall recommend necessary legislative action and may pursue available federal or private grants to assist the Secretary in carrying out the requirements of this section.