HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8 Offered January 15, 2008 Requesting the State Corporation Commission to require compliance with conservation and energy consumption requirements in making determination about need, corridor or route, and method of installation of electric transmission lines. ---------- Patron-- Athey ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) has the authority to grant or deny applications to construct electric utility facilities including high voltage transmission lines; and

WHEREAS, the SCC is required by § 56-46.1 to determine if a proposed high voltage transmission line is needed given a number of factors; and

WHEREAS, the determination of need includes some factors as enumerated in § 56-46.1; there are a number of other factors that electric utilities must comply with that impact the determination of whether need for the proposed high voltage transmission line exists or not; and

WHEREAS, electric utilities are required to participate in the renewable energy portfolio standard program pursuant to § 56-585.2 and achieve the RPS Goals as defined therein; and

WHEREAS, electric utilities are to achieve the maximum effective conservation of energy used by public utilities pursuant to § 56-235.1; and

WHEREAS, electric utilities are to achieve full compliance with the energy consumption reduction requirements for federal buildings set forth in Title I, Subtitle A, Section 102 of the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005; and

WHEREAS, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed into law December 19, 2007, requires in part, use of energy conserving lighting in all federal buildings; and

WHEREAS, on December 21, 2007, the United States Department of Energy adopted regulations implementing the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005; and

WHEREAS, an applicant who seeks to construct a high voltage transmission line should provide the Commission with such information as the Commission requires from it in order to verify compliance with the above statutes; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the State Corporation Commission be requested to require compliance with conservation and energy consumption requirements in making determination about need, corridor or route, and method of installation of electric transmission lines.  The applicant shall provide the Commission with such information as the Commission requires from it in order to make such verification; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the Commissioners of the State Corporation Commission so that they may be apprised of the sense of the House of Delegates in this matter.