Landmark Energy Policy, HB 306, Signed Into Law

(Anchorage) - The Governor today signed House Bill 306, the State Energy Policy, into law during a signing ceremony in downtown Anchorage. It was sponsored by the House Special Committee on Energy and unanimously passed both the Alaska State House and Senate during the past legislative session.

Alaska now has an energy roadmap.
~ Rep. Charisse Millett

The Energy Committee credits HB 306 as a unique piece of legislation, as it was not drafted by legislators. Co-Chairs Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, and Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, assembled a diverse group of Alaskans with decades of experience in energy issues to draft the bill last year.

The State Energy Policy lays out five main goals: establishing a statewide energy policy; establishing a thorough and coordinated approach to supporting energy efficiency and conservation; encouraging economic development in Alaska; supporting energy research, education and workforce development; and, coordinating governmental functions to support these actions.

It captures all the various elements of a diversified energy portfolio, including renewable and non-renewable sources, as well as conservation and efficiency measures.
~ Rep. Bryce Edgmon

"Alaska now has an energy roadmap," Millett said. "HB 306 creates an overarching energy policy for the legislature, the governor, power producers, and Alaskans, and it will be used to guide decisions about energy for generations to come."

"This policy takes Alaska into the 21st century in terms of an energy roadmap," Edgmon said. "It captures all the various elements of a diversified energy portfolio, including renewable and non-renewable sources, as well as conservation and efficiency measures."

The following 16 Alaskans served on the House Energy Stakeholders Group:

• Chris Rose, Renewable Energy Alaska Project
• Bill Popp, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation
• Jason Brune, Resource Development Council
• Caitlin Higgins, Alaska Conservation Alliance
• Gwen Holdmann, Alaska Center for Energy and Power
• Robert Venables, Southeast Conference
• Ralph Andersen, Bristol Bay Native Association
• Scott Goldsmith, Institute for Social and Economic Research
• John Davies, Alaska Cold Climate Housing Research Center
• Bob Pawlowski, Denali Commission
• Denali Daniels, Denali Commission
• Stacy Schubert, Municipality of Anchorage
• Marilyn Leland, Alaska Power Association
• Ron Miller, Energy Consultant
• Kathie Wasserman, Alaska Municipal League
• Meera Kohler, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative

The Governor also signed Senate Bill 220, the Omnibus Energy Bill or the Alaska Sustainable Energy Act, into law this afternoon. It contains a broad range of programs designed to implement the policy articulated by HB 306. It was sponsored by the Senate Resources Committee.

The House Energy and Senate Resources committees traveled together across the state for more than a year to learn about energy issues in every region of the state. The result was the two bills signed into law today, creating effective energy legislation that also lays the groundwork for even more work when the 27th Alaska Legislature gets underway in January 2011.