HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 686 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 Directing the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring to study the feasibility of establishing a voluntary program to encourage the production of electricity from renewable resources. Report. ----------
Patrons-- Plum, Albo, Amundson, Bulova, Caputo, Ebbin, Marsden, Moran, Rust, Scott, J.M. and Watts; Senators: Herring, Howell and Ticer
---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

WHEREAS, renewable energy provides numerous advantages, including improved air quality, in-state jobs, stable fuel supplies and costs, and reduced dependence on fuel sources from other countries; and

WHEREAS, in North Carolina, the NC GreenPower program provides an example of an initiative that may offer an efficient, voluntary way to encourage the use of "green power," which refers to electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, biomass, and water; and

WHEREAS, the goal of NC GreenPower is to supplement the state’s existing power supply with more green power; and

WHEREAS, NC GreenPower is an independent, nonprofit organization established to improve North Carolina’s environment through voluntary contributions toward renewable energy; and

WHEREAS, NC GreenPower is the first statewide green energy program in the nation supported by all that state’s utilities; and

WHEREAS, the NC GreenPower initiative has been approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission and is administered by Advanced Energy, an independent nonprofit corporation; and

WHEREAS, NC GreenPower accepts financial contributions from North Carolina citizens and businesses and uses the contributions to help offset the costs of producing green energy; and

WHEREAS, residential and small commercial customers who elect to participate in the voluntary program agree to make tax-deductible contributions of $4 per month, which adds one block of 100 kilowatt-hours of green energy to North Carolina’s power supply, and larger electricity users may contribute $2.50 per month for each 100-kilowatt-hour block of green power, with a minimum commitment of 100 blocks (10,000 kWh) per month for one year; and

WHEREAS, an analysis of whether the NC GreenPower initiative should be the model for a similar program in Virginia is timely; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring be directed to study the feasibility of establishing a voluntary program to encourage the production of electricity from renewable resources. In conducting its study, the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring shall examine whether Virginia should establish a program based on the NC GreenPower initiative.

The Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall provide administrative staff support. The Division of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring. Technical assistance shall be provided to the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring by the State Corporation Commission. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the on Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring for this study, upon request.

The Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2007, and its chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2008 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.