Bill Text: OR HB2940 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the definition of baseload electricity; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB2940 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HB2940-Introduced.html

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     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 3128

                         House Bill 2940

Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Modifies definition of 'baseload electricity' for purposes of
greenhouse gas emissions standards.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the definition of baseload electricity; amending ORS
  757.522; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 757.522 is amended to read:
  757.522. As used in ORS 757.522 to 757.536:
  (1) 'Additional interest' means:
  (a) The acquisition, by the holder of an interest in a
generating facility located in Oregon, of a separate interest in
that generating facility that is producing energy and is in
service for tax purposes, commercially operable or in rates on
July 1, 2010; and
  (b) The renewal of an existing contract of five or more years
that includes the acquisition of baseload electricity for an
additional term of five or more years where the expected
greenhouse gas emissions profile of the contract renewal is
substantially similar to that of the previous contract.
  (2) 'Annual plant capacity factor' means the ratio of the
electricity produced by a generating facility during one year,
measured in kilowatt-hours, to the electricity the generating
facility could have produced if it had been operated at its rated
capacity throughout the same year, expressed in kilowatt-hours.
  (3)(a) 'Baseload electricity' means electricity produced by a
generating facility that is designed and intended, at the time a
site certificate { + , or a permit from another state or country
that authorizes the construction and operation of the
facility, + } is issued to the owner of the facility, to provide
electricity on a continuous basis at an annual plant capacity
factor of at least 60 percent.
  (b) 'Baseload electricity' does not include electricity from:
  (A) A qualifying facility under the federal Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601 to 2645; or
  (B) A generating source that uses natural gas or petroleum
distillates as a fuel source and that is primarily used to serve
either peak demand or to integrate energy from a renewable energy
source described in ORS 469A.025.

  (4) 'Construction' has the meaning given that term in ORS
469.300.
  (5) 'Consumer-owned utility' has the meaning given that term in
ORS 757.600.
  (6) 'Electric company' has the meaning given that term in ORS
757.600.
  (7) 'Electricity service supplier' has the meaning given that
term in ORS 757.600.
  (8) 'Generating facility' includes one or more jointly operated
electricity generators that use the same fuel type, have the same
in-service date and operate at the same location as described in
ORS 469.300.
  (9) 'Governing board' means the legislative authority of a
consumer-owned utility.
  (10)(a) 'Long-term financial commitment' means an investment in
or upgrade of a generating facility that produces baseload
electricity, or a contract with a term of more than five years
that includes acquisition of baseload electricity.
  (b) 'Long-term financial commitment' does not include:
  (A) Routine or necessary maintenance;
  (B) Installation of emission control equipment;
  (C) Installation, replacement or modification of equipment that
improves the heat rate of the facility or reduces a generating
facility's pounds of greenhouse gases per megawatt-hour of
electricity;
  (D) Installation, replacement or modification of equipment
where the primary purpose is to maintain reliable generation
output capability and not to extend the life of the generating
facility, and that does not increase the heat input or fuel usage
as specified in existing generation air quality permits, but that
may result in incidental increases in generation capacity;
  (E) Repairs necessitated by sudden and unexpected equipment
failure; or
  (F) An acquisition of an additional interest.
  (11) 'Output-based methodology' means a greenhouse gas
emissions standard that is expressed in pounds of greenhouse
gases emitted per megawatt-hour, factoring in the useful thermal
energy employed for purposes other than the generation of
electricity.
  (12) 'Site certificate' has the meaning given that term in ORS
469.300.
  (13) 'Upgrade' means any modification made for the primary
purpose of increasing the electric generation capacity of a
baseload facility.
  SECTION 2.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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