SB1346: Coastal Energy Research Consortium; makes certain technical corrections to membership.


SENATE BILL NO. 1346
Senate Amendments in [ ] -- January 29, 2009
A BILL to amend and reenact 67-600 through 67-604 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium.
Patron Prior to Engrossment--Senator Wagner

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That 67-600 through 67-604 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

67-600. Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium established.

The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, hereinafter referred to as the Research Consortium, is hereby created to include Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary, the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, James Madison University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Hampton University, and the University of Virginia and is to be located at Old Dominion University.

67-601. Functions, powers, and duties of the Consortium.

The Coastal Energy Research Consortium shall serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource for the Commonwealth on coastal energy issues. As used in this chapter, "coastal energy" includes wave or tidal action, currents, offshore winds, thermal differences, and methane hydrates. The Research Consortium shall (i) consult with the General Assembly, federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, private industry and other potential users of coastal energy research; (ii) establish and administer agreements with other universities of the Commonwealth to carry out research projects relating to the feasibility of recovering fuel gases from methane hydrates and increasing the Commonwealth's reliance on otherall domestic forms of coastal energy; (iii) disseminate new information and research results; (iv) apply for grants made available pursuant to federal legislation, including but not limited to the federal Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 19992000, P.L. 106-193 and from other sources; and (v) facilitate the application and transfer of new coastal energy technologies.

67-602. Control and supervision.

The Research Consortium shall be governed by a board of directors, which shall consist of 1415 voting members as follows: (i) the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy or his designee; (ii) the Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission or his designee; (iii) a member of the maritime industry to be appointed bythe President of the Virginia Manufacturers Association or his appointed member of the maritime manufacturing industry; (iv) a member of the maritime industry to be appointed by the Hampton Roadsthe President of the Virginia Maritime Association or his appointed member of the maritime industry; (v) the Director of the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or his designee; (vi) the President of Old Dominion University or his designee; (vii) the Director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary or his designee; (viii) the President of Norfolk State University or his designee; (ix) the President of James Madison University or his designee; (x) the President of Virginia Commonwealth University or his designee; (xi) the President of the University of Virginia or his designee; (xii) the President of Hampton University or his designee; (xiii) a member of the technology community to be appointed by the chairman of the Hampton Roads Technology Council or his appointed member of the technology community; and (xiv) a member of the renewable energy industry to be appointed by the Director of the Hampton Roads Clean Cities Coalition or his appointed member of the renewable energy industry; and (xv) the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality or his designee [ as the lead agency for the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program ] .

67-603. Appointment of a director.

The board of the Research Consortium shall appoint a an executive director to serve as the principal administrative officer of the Research Consortium. The executive director shall report to the board of the Consortium and be under its supervision.

67-604. Powers and duties of the director.

The executive director shall exercise all powers imposed upon him by law, carry out the specific duties imposed on him by the board of the Research Consortium, and develop appropriate policies and procedures for (i) identifying priority coastal energy research projects; (ii) cooperating with the General Assembly, federal, state, and local governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations and private industry in formulating its research projects; (iii) selecting research projects to be funded; and (iv) disseminating information and transferring technology related to coastal energy within the Commonwealth. The executive director shall employ such personnel and secure such services as may be required to carry out the purposes of this chapterthe Consortium, expend appropriated funds, and accept moneys from federal or private sources for cost-sharing on coastal energy projects.

SENATE BILL NO. 1346
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
A BILL to amend and reenact 67-600 through 67-604 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium.
Patron-- Wagner

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That 67-600 through 67-604 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

67-600. Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium established.

The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, hereinafter referred to as the Research Consortium, is hereby created to include Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary, the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, James Madison University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Hampton University, and the University of Virginia and is to be located at Old Dominion University.

67-601. Functions, powers, and duties of the Consortium.

The Coastal Energy Research Consortium shall serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource for the Commonwealth on coastal energy issues. As used in this chapter, "coastal energy" includes wave or tidal action, currents, offshore winds, thermal differences, and methane hydrates. The Research Consortium shall (i) consult with the General Assembly, federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, private industry and other potential users of coastal energy research; (ii) establish and administer agreements with other universities of the Commonwealth to carry out research projects relating to the feasibility of recovering fuel gases from methane hydrates and increasing the Commonwealth's reliance on otherall domestic forms of coastal energy; (iii) disseminate new information and research results; (iv) apply for grants made available pursuant to federal legislation, including but not limited to the federal Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 19992000, P.L. 106-193 and from other sources; and (v) facilitate the application and transfer of new coastal energy technologies.

67-602. Control and supervision.

The Research Consortium shall be governed by a board of directors, which shall consist of 1415 voting members as follows: (i) the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy or his designee; (ii) the Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission or his designee; (iii) a member of the maritime industry to be appointed bythe President of the Virginia Manufacturers Association or his appointed member of the maritime manufacturing industry; (iv) a member of the maritime industry to be appointed by the Hampton Roadsthe President of the Virginia Maritime Association or his appointed member of the maritime industry; (v) the Director of the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or his designee; (vi) the President of Old Dominion University or his designee; (vii) the Director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary or his designee; (viii) the President of Norfolk State University or his designee; (ix) the President of James Madison University or his designee; (x) the President of Virginia Commonwealth University or his designee; (xi) the President of the University of Virginia or his designee; (xii) the President of Hampton University or his designee; (xiii) a member of the technology community to be appointed by the chairman of the Hampton Roads Technology Council or his appointed member of the technology community; and (xiv) a member of the renewable energy industry to be appointed by the Director of the Hampton Roads Clean Cities Coalition or his appointed member of the renewable energy industry; and (xv) the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality or his designee.

67-603. Appointment of a director.

The board of the Research Consortium shall appoint a an executive director to serve as the principal administrative officer of the Research Consortium. The executive director shall report to the board of the Consortium and be under its supervision.

67-604. Powers and duties of the director.

The executive director shall exercise all powers imposed upon him by law, carry out the specific duties imposed on him by the board of the Research Consortium, and develop appropriate policies and procedures for (i) identifying priority coastal energy research projects; (ii) cooperating with the General Assembly, federal, state, and local governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations and private industry in formulating its research projects; (iii) selecting research projects to be funded; and (iv) disseminating information and transferring technology related to coastal energy within the Commonwealth. The executive director shall employ such personnel and secure such services as may be required to carry out the purposes of this chapterthe Consortium, expend appropriated funds, and accept moneys from federal or private sources for cost-sharing on coastal energy projects.