Bill Text: GA HR520 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

Georgia House Resolution 520 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: House Study Committee on Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Georgia; create

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-11 - House Second Readers [HR520 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HR520-Introduced.html

11 LC 36 1858

House Resolution 520

By: Representatives Drenner of the 86th, Abrams of the 84th, Thomas of the 100th, Frazier of the 123rd, Williams of the 89th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, experience over the past ten years has demonstrated how dependence on traditional fossil fuels leads to economic distress when the flow of that energy source is slowed or disrupted; and

WHEREAS, because of its importance to our well-being, the security of traditional fuel supplies have become of grave concern in recent days, and dependence leaves our society vulnerable to disruption by persons of ill will; and

WHEREAS, sources of sustainable energy surround us, including solar, hydrogen, biomass, wind, incremental hydropower, and other sources, if only we will take the necessary steps to utilize fully the existing and developing technology to unlock the energy in those readily available resources; and

WHEREAS, renewable portfolio standards require electric utilities to provide a specified portion of their power generation from renewable resources, such as biomass, solar, and wind, and recoverable resources, such as landfill gases and solid waste; and

WHEREAS, the majority of the states have mandated renewable portfolio standards, while many others have voluntary renewable portfolio goals; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, Congress enacted the Energy Independence Act designed to increase energy efficiency, enhance the availability of renewable energy, and increase the production of clean renewable fuels, and under that Act the federal Environmental Protection Agency broadened the existing Federal Renewable Fuels Standard, FRS1, into FRS2, increasing the volume of renewable fuel required to be blended into transportation fuel from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022; and
WHEREAS, sustainable energy is vital to the economy and security of the people of the State of Georgia and of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, a national goal of 15-20 percent renewable based electricity by the year 2020 is thought by its proponents to offer the least-expensive and most market-friendly method of nursing steady growth of America's renewable energy industry; and

WHEREAS, inconsistent federal policies in the area of renewable energy have frustrated investors; and

WHEREAS, a national RPS is said to have many benefits, but may also have possible downsides in its implementation within this state; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of the State of Georgia to comprehensively study the possible implications and ramifications of a national RPS and determine how to encourage the greater use of renewable energy by establishing goals for electric utility companies in implementing renewable and recoverable portfolio standards to set voluntary renewable portfolio goals; and

WHEREAS, it is vital that the legislature recognize the economic, environmental, and fuel diversity benefits of renewable energy resources, encourage the establishment of a market for renewable energy in Georgia using the state's renewable energy resources, and encourage the further development of those resources.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Study Committee on Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Georgia to be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall select one of the members appointed as the chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2011. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2011.