Virginia Energy Plan; created. (SB262)

Introduced By

Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

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

Description

Virginia Energy Plan. Establishes an energy policy for 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, by July 1, 2007, a ten-year comprehensive Virginia Energy Plan to implement the Commonwealth's energy policy. As part of the Energy Plan, the Division of Energy and other agencies shall develop a system for measuring the extent to which parcels are suitable for the siting of wind or solar energy facilities. After July 1, 2007, upon receipt of a recommendation from the Department of General Services, a local governing body, or a parcel's owner that a parcel is a potentially suitable location for such an energy facility, the Division shall analyze the parcel's suitability. The measure also provides that it is the Commonwealth's policy to support federal efforts to determine the extent of natural gas resources 50 miles or more offshore and to support the inclusion of the Atlantic Planning Areas in the federal Mineral Management Service's draft environmental impact statement for natural gas exploration 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline. It is declared to be the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to examine the feasibility of off-shore wind energy being utilized in an environmentally responsible fashion. Other elements of the bill (i) require Dominion Virginia Power to apply for annual fuel factor adjustments to its electricity rates commencing July 1, 2007, and allow the SCC to require that 40% of any increase in fuel tariffs for the year 2007-2008 be deferred and recovered during the period from July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2010; (ii) create a state personal income tax deduction for 20% of the sales tax paid on certain energy efficient equipment or appliances, up to $500 per year; (iii) require state agencies to ensure that the design and construction of state-owned buildings comply with energy standards to be established by Department of General Services; (iv) establish a Clean Coal Technology Research Fund, to be administered by the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research and used to finance research initiatives at state institutions of higher education and to encourage qualified state educational institutions to apply for federal grants to finance a center of excellence for advancing new clean coal technologies; (v) direct the Commonwealth Transportation Board to encourage the use of biodiesel and other alternative fuels, to the extent practicable, in vehicles used to provide public transportation; (vi) create the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, to include Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute, James Madison University, and Norfolk State University, to serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource on coastal energy issues; (vii) prohibit community associations from enacting any provisions restricting solar power or the use of solar energy collection devices on units or lots that are part of the development, except to the extent provided in the applicable instruments, declaration or rules, and authorizes community associations to prohibit or restrict the installation and use of such solar energy collection devices on the common elements or common areas; (viii) state that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal action that provides for increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency standards; (ix) establish a program of grants of 0.85 cents for each kilowatt hour of electricity produced by a corporation from certain renewable energy resources; (x) establish a program of grants for 15% of the cost incurred in installing photovoltaic property, solar water heating property, or wind-powered electrical generators, up 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; (xi) exempt from property taxation any certified pollution control equipment and facilities used in collecting, processing, and distributing landfill gas and other gas recovered from waste products; (xii) require the State Corporation Commission and Secretary of Natural Resources to develop, by December 1, 2006, a proposal for a coordinated review of permits for any energy project that requires an environmental permit and a certificate of public convenience and necessity; and (xiii) sunset the provisions of the bill that establish the clean coal technology research fund, Coastal Energy Research Consortium, Renewable Electricity Production Grant Program, and Photovoltaic, Solar, and Wind Energy Utilization Grant Program if they are not funded by July 1, 2009. Read the Bill »

Status

05/18/2006: signed by governor

History

DateAction
01/10/2006Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/06 062601832
01/10/2006Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/24/2006Assigned C&L sub: Special on SB262
02/06/2006Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (14-Y 1-N)
02/06/2006Rereferred to Finance
02/07/2006Committee substitute printed 062730832-S1
02/08/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (SB262S1)
02/14/2006Reported from Finance with substitute (12-Y 3-N)
02/14/2006Committee substitute printed 062763832-S2
02/14/2006Read first time
02/14/2006Committee substitute rejected 062730832-S1
02/14/2006Reading of substitute waived
02/14/2006Committee substitute agreed to 062763832-S2
02/14/2006Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB262S2
02/14/2006Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
02/14/2006VOTE: (38-Y 0-N)
02/14/2006Passed Senate (31-Y 6-N)
02/14/2006VOTE: (31-Y 6-N)
02/14/2006Communicated to House
02/15/2006Placed on Calendar
02/15/2006Read first time
02/15/2006Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/21/2006Assigned C & L sub: Utilities/Employment (Byron)
02/24/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (SB262S2)
03/06/2006Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (14-Y 7-N)
03/07/2006Committee substitute printed 062777832-H1
03/07/2006Read second time
03/08/2006Passed by motion rejected
03/08/2006Read third time
03/08/2006Committee substitute agreed to 062777832-H1
03/08/2006Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB262H1
03/08/2006Passed House with substitute (71-Y 22-N)
03/08/2006Reconsideration of House passage agreed to by House
03/08/2006Passed House with substitute (74-Y 21-N)
03/08/2006VOTE: PASSAGE #2 (74-Y 21-N)
03/09/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (SB262H1)
03/09/2006House substitute agreed to by Senate (36-Y 1-N 1-A)
03/09/2006VOTE: (36-Y 1-N 1-A)
03/15/2006Enrolled
03/15/2006Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB262ER)
03/15/2006Signed by Speaker
03/16/2006Signed by President
03/24/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (SB262ER)
04/11/2006Governor's recommendation received by Senate
04/11/2006Governor's substitute printed 062787129-S3
04/18/2006Placed on Calendar
04/19/2006Floor substitute printed 062790832-S4 (Wagner)
04/19/2006Governor's substitute is specific and severable - motion defeated (11-Y 23-N 2SB"
04/19/2006VOTE: (11-Y 23-N 2-A)
04/19/2006Reading of substitute waived
04/19/2006Substitute by Senator Wagner agreed to 062790832-S4
04/19/2006Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute SB262S4
04/19/2006Passed Senate (37-Y 0-N 1-A)
04/19/2006VOTE: (37-Y 0-N 1-A)
04/19/2006Communicated to House
04/19/2006Read first time
04/19/2006Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
04/19/2006Reported from Commerce and Labor (16-Y 5-N)
04/19/2006Constitutional readings dispensed (89-Y 2-N)
04/19/2006VOTE: (89-Y 2-N)
04/19/2006Pending question ordered
04/19/2006Passed House (70-Y 20-N 2-A)
04/19/2006VOTE: PASSAGE (70-Y 20-N 2-A)
04/19/2006Reenrolled
04/19/2006Reenrolled bill text (SB262ER2)
04/19/2006Signed by President as reenrolled
04/19/2006Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
04/19/2006Communicated to Governor
05/18/2006G Approved by Governor-Chapter 939 (effective - see bill)
05/19/2006G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0939)