Energy & Telecommunications

Providing a Framework for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (E2SHB 2815)

This bill proposes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create clean energy jobs. As amended, this bill would:

• Direct the Department of Ecology (DOE) to submit a greenhouse gas reduction plan to the Legislature to limit statewide greenhouse gas emissions.
• Authorize the DOE to adopt rules requiring a reporting system to monitor greenhouse gas emissions.
• Authorize the DOE to develop a design for a regional multi-sector market-based system to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Create a green industries job training account to train and transition workers to clean economy industry jobs.
• Direct the Department of Transportation to provide recommendations to reduce annual per capita vehicle miles traveled.

The bill passed the Senate Water Energy and Telecommunications Committee and was referred to Ways & Means.

Statewide Internet Deployment (E2SSB 6438)

This bill has been redrafted in the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee and now calls for the Department of Information Services (DIS) to convene a work group to develop a high-speed internet deployment and adoption strategy by September 1, 2008 and make recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2008. Most of the bill’s original goals are to be discussed by stakeholder groups in the interim DIS process instead of being specifically laid out in the bill. In this new version, DIS will consider the following:

1. How to create a geographic information system (GIS) map of high-speed internet infrastructure owned or leased by public entities;
2. How to work with telecommunications and internet service providers to assess and create a GIS map of privately-owned infrastructure and how to handle proprietary information;
3. How the state might create a nonprofit organization to spur development of high-speed internet resources;
4. How to use local technology planning teams to conduct a needs assessment and determine what technology, hardware, and software is needed.

AWC asked to have local governments included in the work group, and we thank Representative John McCoy (D-Tulalip) for agreeing with us that local governments need to be a part of this undertaking. The bill has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review Committee for further review on Friday, February 29.

Electronic Communication Devices (ESHB 1031)

This bill was brought back from last session and relates to protecting confidentiality and privacy of  individual personal information.  The bill has had several iterations since it was introduced in 2007.

Currently, the bill states that it is a class C felony for a person to intentionally scan another person’s identification device remotely without that person's prior knowledge for the purpose of fraud, identity theft, or any other illegal purpose.  (Identification device means an item that uses radio frequency identification technology (RFID) or facial recognition technology.)

All of the references to information gathered by companies, governments or utilities using RFID technology for services or to sell products has been removed from the bill.  This should address concerns the utilities had about using meter reading and other data collection activities for services provided.  The bill has passed out of the Senate Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee and has been referred to Rules for further review.

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