Renewable Energy Research Grant Program; established. (HB1421)

Introduced By

Del. Chuck Caputo (D-Oak Hill)

Progress

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

Description

Renewable Energy Research Grant Program; established. Establishes the Renewable Energy Research Grant Program and Fund under the Virginia Energy Plan. Moneys in the Fund shall be used for the sole purpose of attracting public and private research funding for institutions of higher education in order to increase renewable energy research capacity and development opportunities in Virginia. The program has four components: (i) a matching funds program to leverage federal and private research dollars; (ii) a strategic enhancement program to upgrade the research capacity of those academic departments that have demonstrated the ability to perform innovative research in renewable energy fields that have strong potential to contribute to economic development in the Commonwealth; (iii) a program to upgrade renewable energy research capacity in key departments of the institutions in order to attract specific companies to locate or expand in Virginia; and (iv) a program to enhance the capability of the institutions of higher education to commercialize renewable energy technologies or applications developed through their research. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/11/2008Committee
01/11/2008Presented and ordered printed 088009456
01/11/2008Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/25/2008Assigned C & L sub: 3 Energy
01/29/2008Impact statement from DPB (HB1421)
02/05/2008Reported from Commerce and Labor (17-Y 3-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2008Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/07/2008Assigned App. sub: Economic Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources(Cox)
02/12/2008Left in Appropriations

Comments

Laura Dely writes:

Yeah-hey!! This is a missing link in our Commonwealth Energy Plan.
We have wonderful, underrated Tech Universities that are bucking to climb the prestige ladder, and we're ranked 50th of all states in investment in efficiency and energy R & D. This legislation would, in one step, would solve these two problems and take us to the forefront of the new economy.
And BTW, that new economy if GREEN. Virginia would be very wise to invest now in its place in the future. It won't pay to stay the course and continue to invest in dirty coal.
Green is where the new jobs are and that's where the big money is going today and into the future.
Thank you Del. Caputo!