Virginia Energy Plan; created. (HB1292)

Introduced By

Del. Chris Saxman (R-Staunton) with support from co-patron Sen. Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Energy Plan. Establishes an energy policy of the Commonwealth and directs the Division of Energy of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, in consultation with the State Corporation Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, and Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, to prepare a comprehensive Virginia Energy Plan to implement the policy. The measure directs the Virginia Liaison Office to work with members of the State Congressional Delegation and executive agencies to obtain an exemption to the existing federal moratorium on offshore natural gas exploration and development activity, and to enable Virginia to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over offshore wind energy resources. Royalties, lease payments, and other moneys paid by the federal government to the Commonwealth that are attributable to the development of offshore energy resources are to be deposited in the State Offshore Energy Revenue Fund and allocated equally among the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund, the Transportation Trust Fund, and distributions to Virginia citizens on a per capita basis. The Virginia Liaison Office is also directed to work with members of the State Congressional Delegation and executive agencies to enact legislation that increases the corporate average fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles. The Center for Coal and Energy Research is directed to encourage qualified state institutions of higher education to apply for federal grants to finance a center of excellence for advancing new clean coal technologies and will administer a clean coal technology research fund. Designs for state buildings are required to incorporate reasonable cost-effective energy conservation measures and alternative energy systems. The measure requires all localities and transportation districts that provide mass transit or public transportation through the use of diesel-fueled vehicles to use biodiesel fuel in amounts not less than 1 percent of total diesel fuel consumption by volume, effective when the annual capacity in the Commonwealth for the production of biodiesel fuel exceeds one million gallons, but in no event before July 1, 2007, as a condition for receiving state funding. A methane hydrates research center is established at Old Dominion University. The measure invalidates any restrictive covenant or similar specification that restricts or prohibits solar energy collection devices. The measure also directs the State Corporation Commission to develop a system for scoring parcels in the Commonwealth for their suitability as wind energy facilities, liquefied natural gas terminals, and nuclear energy facilities, upon recommendation by the Department of General Services for state-owned land, local governing bodies with the consent of the parcel's owner, or the owner of a parcel. Parcels that are scored as being optimal sites for such low-emission energy facilities would be eligible to use a one-stop permitting process, as may be adopted by the General Assembly. If approvals for such a facility are granted through the one-stop permitting process, the use of the parcel for the low-emission energy facility would be deemed to satisfy local zoning requirements. The existing Surry and North Anna nuclear plant sites and other sites determined through the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing process to be suitable for development of new nuclear generating units shall be deemed optimal sites without further proceedings. The bill also provides grant awards for producing and using clean and efficient energy including (i) grant awards in the amount of 0.85 cents for each kilowatt hour of electricity produced by a corporation from certain renewable energy resources and (ii) grants to individuals and corporations equal to 15 percent of the cost incurred in installing photovoltaic property, solar water heating property, or wind-powered electrical generators. The grants are limited to $2,000 for each system of photovoltaic property, $1,000 for each system of solar water heating property, and $1,000 for each system of wind-powered electrical generators. The measure provides individual income tax deductions for 20 percent of the cost of certain appliances meeting energy star efficiency requirements developed by the federal government and for fuel cells, heat pumps, air conditioners, boilers, furnaces and water heaters meeting specified performance measures, and for the sales and use tax paid on motor vehicles using clean special fuel sources as a source of propulsion. Finally, the measure exempts certified pollution control equipment and facilities used in collecting, processing, and distributing landfill gas or natural gas recovered from waste from taxation. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/11/2006Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/06 062626496
01/11/2006Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/07/2006Incorporated by Commerce and Labor (HB1153-Lingamfelter)