Transmission Siting (SHB 1037)

This bill would preempt local siting authority by redirecting the siting of multi-jurisdictional transmission facilities to the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC). EFSEC currently oversees the siting of energy generation facilities, gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, and transmission facilities related to generation facilities. The complaints by transmission developers have been related to the difficulty in coordinating transmission projects that cover many jurisdictions. Therefore, AWC has worked with the stakeholders to find a compromise that would retain local government authority in the case of transmission projects that are contained in just one city, or where transmission facilities are smaller than 115,000kV.

This compromise would give cities two opportunities to identify transmission corridors or develop criteria for future corridors in advance of any projects that would go to EFSEC:

During the annual updates to their land use plans, or
In a pre-application process where developers would be required work with the affected cities to try to come to an accommodation prior to the application being submitted to EFSEC.

Various cities have been sent the latest draft of this proposal. If you would like to review the draft language, contact Victoria Lincoln at victorial@awcnet.org or Sheri Sawyer at sheris@awcnet.org.

The bill is scheduled for hearing in the Senate Water and Energy & Telecommunications Committee on Wednesday, March 28 at 1:30 pm.

Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change (SSB 6001)

This bill has been through several rewrites during the past few weeks and has created a stir among some of the electric utilities and power generators around the state due to the emission standards. In a nutshell, the bill establishes statewide goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, establishes emissions performance standards for electric generation, calls for the state Department of General Administration to purchase at least 100 plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, and creates the Office of the Washington State Climatologist. The bill will be heard in the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee on Tuesday, March 27 at 10:00 am.

Anaerobic Digestion Power (E2SHB 1035)

This bill would create a grant program for anaerobic digester projects, to help lessen the capital costs of generating power produced from biogas (typically produced from feedstocks such as sewage sludge, livestock manure, or wet organic material). City electric utilities may be approached by these power producers to purchase the power or wheel the power to another purchaser.

In order to be eligible for a grant, the power producer must call for subscriptions seeking a purchase agreement. If the power producer cannot find a purchaser through the bid process, the producers may ask their local utility to purchase the power at the utility’s avoided cost as required under federal law that obligates the utility to purchase power from a qualified facility. Once the power producer has secured a power purchase agreement and has secured transmission access, the power producer may apply for a grant. The bill will be heard in the Senate Water, Energy & Telecommunications Committee on Wednesday, March 28 at 1:30 pm.

Sustainable Energy Trust (SHB 1032)

This bill would allow all electric and natural gas utilities to impose a monthly system benefits charge of up to $1.90 a month. Utilities could use the funds to develop sustainable energy resources or smart energy technology. City utilities would be required to submit to the governing board for approval a proposal for how the funds would be used, and each utility must establish a separate account for these funds. In addition, each utility must submit to the Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development a copy of their proposal for use in the state’s biennial energy report. The bill will have another hearing in front of the Senate Water, Energy & Telecommunications Committee on Wednesday March 28 at 1:30 pm.

Pipeline Safety (SSB 5225)

SSB 5225 is scheduled for hearing in the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee on Wednesday, March 28 at 1:30 pm. The bill would:

Extended the WUTC jurisdiction to all publicly-owned "master meters" and to all "gas" pipelines, consistent with federal definitions;
Allow the WUTC to match federal pipeline safety penalty limits by rule; and
Consolidate definitions applying to gas and hazardous liquid pipelines into one chapter.

Water Conservation Audits (SSB 5481)

Current law, RCW 39.35A, allows state and local governments to enter into performance contacts to help identify energy savings and help defray the cost of energy-saving projects by paying for projects from the energy savings. The Department of General Administration helps facilitate performance-based contracts for public facilities, including cities. This bill would expand the options for performance-based contacting to include water savings and solid waste reduction. SSB 5481 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Technology and Energy & Communications Committee on Wednesday, March 28 at 1:30 pm. AWC will again sign in to support this bill.

Developing Regional Compacts for
Siting Electrical Transmission Lines (HB 1038)

The bill calls for a task force to create a regional process for siting new cross border transmission lines. The task force will consist of legislators, local governments, and resource agencies with an interest in the issue. A report, with recommendations, is due to the legislature by September 1, 2008. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Water and Energy & Telecommunications Committee on Wednesday, March 28 at 1:30 pm.

Competitive Classification of Telecommunications Services (SHB 2103)

Under this proposal, the WUTC may consider the number and size of alternative providers of telecommunications services not subject to WUTC's jurisdiction in addition to those that are regulated by the WUTC, when determining whether a competitive telecommunications service is subject to effective competition.

A noncompetitive telecommunications company may petition the WUTC to have packages or bundles of telecommunications services subject to minimal regulation. The WUTC must grant the petition if:

each noncompetitive service in the packages or bundle is readily and separately available to customers at fair, just, and reasonable prices;
the price of the package or bundle is equal to or greater than the cost for tariffed services plus the cost of any competitive services as determined by the WUTC; and
the availability and price of the stand-alone noncompetitive services are displayed in the company's tariff and on its website, consistent with WUTC rules.

The WUTC may waive any regulatory requirement with respect to packages or bundles of telecommunications services if it finds those requirements are no longer necessary to protect public interest. The bill passed the Senate Water, Energy & Telecommunications Committee on March 21, and was referred to Rules.

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