Happy Kansas Day! And notes from House Utilities – net metering, HB 2020, 2043, 2051
January 29, 2009
Summary: Testimony taken on HB 2020 (renewable energy incentives), and 2043, 2051 (net metering). No motions, votes, or amendments and the issue goes to subcommittee at 9:00 a.m. Friday (tomorrow) in Docking 783.
- For CEP’s notes on net metering, click here.
- If you would like to find your legislator and contact them about any specific piece of legislation, click here.
- For specific bill tracking, check out KNRC.
- For questions on the legislative process, call the Kansas Legislative Hotline – 1-800-432-3924, or check out the legislature’s website.
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Net metering. Net metering! A topic we hear lots and lots about at CEP. I looked back over my notes on net metering from the committee hearings last year. Plenty has changed in the past year. It will be interesting to see if any of these arguments for or against net metering have changed as well.
As I recall, the arguments against – (1) only rich people can afford solar panels or wind turbines so net metering is a subsidy for them, and (2) net metering costs more for rural co-ops than IOUs, how do you get around that problem in a state with so many co-ops.
Arguments for – (1) energy independence, diversity, security, (2) offset for high fossil fuel prices, and (3) fair price needed to get everyday people into small renewables market.
That’s not comprehensive! Just off the top of my head. Will be interesting to see.
Very, very full room. Piles of testimony.
Hearing opens on HB 2020
Melissa Dublin briefs bill on renewable energy incentive program. Applies to installations of 5 MW or below. Reimburses on basis of capacity generation.
Proponents
Rep. Sloan (his bill) – This bill attempts to help people who want net metering and those who want community wind. Offers a balloon (amendment) to address rural co-op concerns with legislation. 5 MW limit is based on about three wind turbines (MH – 1.5 MW turbines?) (MH feels that Dan Nagengast, were he here, would want our readers to know that community wind turbines can start around 200 kW and move up to less than 1 MW, too – and Dan feel free to correct me) Amendment suggests that KEC would standardize interconnection among co-ops and KS Munis would standardize interconnection among munis. I don’t think we should exempt munis and co-ops from net metering.
Western Governors Association speaks out on needs for national and regional transmission planning
January 29, 2009
From the press release. Note that the WGA concerns with multiple lines could have an impact on the KS transmission discussion.
Western Governors: expanding transmission to access low-carbon resources requires federal-state partnership
DENVER – Western governors are urging congressional leaders and the administration to work with states and the private sector as they develop plans for expanding transmission lines to reach geographically constrained, low-carbon resources at the least cost possible and with minimal environmental impacts.
Writing on behalf of the Western Governors’ Association, Govs. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., WGA Chairman, and Brian Schweitzer, WGA Vice Chairman, recommended a number of factors that should be considered and actions taken in approving transmission proposals. Letters were sent to President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader John Boehner.
“The West is not starting from square one. We have an unprecedented number of proposals for major transmission projects,” Huntsman said. “Appropriate and timely action by the federal government in concert with the states will avoid the construction of multiple transmission lines to the most promising areas, capture economies of scale and minimize environmental impacts.”
Schweitzer said the federal government should assist in the “upsizing” of viable transmission projects to access geographically constrained, low-carbon resources, including wind, solar and geothermal.
“As our country strives to meet long-term goals related to energy and climate change, demand will increase dramatically for generation from areas that are far from population centers, but rich with low-carbon energy resources,” Schweitzer said. “The federal government should refocus its efforts to ensure future transmission corridors that involve federal lands will have as little environmental impact as possible and will be permitted expeditiously.”
In their letter, the governors noted that once a transmission line is constructed, it is very difficult and expensive to increase the capacity of that line. They asked the federal government to promptly take the following actions as they relate specifically to transmission built to reach geographically constrained, low-carbon resource areas:
- enact legislation to fund the upsizing of near-term transmission projects well into the development process;
- enact legislation to preserve the ability to expand, to their maximum technical capabilities, other proposed projects;
- increase the borrowing authority and authorization for federal power marketing administrations for transmission construction to move generation from these areas;
- provide that interest on bonds issued by or on behalf of states or local governments to finance transmission facilities using these resources be exempt from federal income tax; and
- redirect the implementation of sections of the 2005 Energy Policy Act to focus on expedited cooperative actions with states to preserve transmission corridors and to ensure the timely siting and permitting of large transmission lines. (emphasis added by MH)
Huntsman said Western governors share the President’s objective of wanting to build transmission to move large amounts of low-carbon energy resources to consumers, and he said the building blocks for succeeding are already in place.
“Regional transmission planning in the West is increasingly robust,” he said. “The WGA is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to identify Renewable Energy Zones, a project that is moving forward rapidly. State requirements for renewable generation and efforts to reduce greenhouse gases also are accelerating demand for renewable generation.”
Schweitzer added that “Congress needs to provide the Administration the right financial tools to ensure the adequate sizing of transmission to move the renewable generation that will be required well into the future. Western Governors look forward to having a constructive partnership with the federal government.”
