Legislature Passes Major Energy Package Including “Omnibus Energy Bill”
This session the legislature spent a great deal of time focusing on Alaska’s energy needs — looking for ways to ensure reliable and inexpensive long-term energy supplies . For Southcentral Alaska that’s imperative, because recent projections indicate demand for natural gas will soon outstrip supply, especially during the peak winter months . As Co-Chair of the House Resources Committee, Representative Johnson helped coordinate numerous legislative efforts to address Alaska’s long term energy needs:
HB 280: “The Cook Inlet Recovery Act:” Provides new incentives for increased Cook Inlet exploration; and development of natural gas storage facilities to ensure steady long-term gas supplies and reduce costs to consumers.
HB 369: Created In-State Gasline Development Team tasked with developing All-Alaska Gasline plan by July 2011 and get gas flowing by 2015.
SB 220: Omnibus Energy Bill: “The Alaska Sustainable Energy Act” Multifaceted legislation that creates a new revolving loan program to fund energy efficiency improvements in public and government buildings, schools and universities; provides assistance to low-income families when fuel prices are high; establishes new loans for Alaskan businesses to improve their energy efficiency; funds alternative energy upgrades; promotes energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of alternative energy through training and public education; provides grants for testing new energy technologies in Alaska and fosters innovation, investment in new energy industries and new high-tech Alaskan jobs.
SB 243: Geothermal: Provides cohesive regulatory framework to facilitate development of geothermal energy which eventually could provide up to one third of the energy now supplied.
SB 309: New Cook Inlet Exploration Incentives: Establishes tax incentives to encourage new investment in Cook Inlet gas exploration and development.
