PRINTER'S NO. 3141
No. 2253 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, ADOLPH, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BUNT,
CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CRAHALLA, CURRY, DeLUCA, DeWEESE,
FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GERGELY, GOOD, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HERMAN,
JAMES, KOTIK, LEVDANSKY, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, PETRARCA,
PETRONE, PISTELLA, READSHAW, RUBLEY, STABACK, STURLA, SURRA,
THOMAS, TIGUE, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK,
NOVEMBER 21, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
NOVEMBER 21, 2005
AN ACT
1 Establishing the State Energy Office and an advisory council;
2 and imposing duties on the State Energy Office.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the State Energy
7 Office Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Commission." The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
13 "Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
14 the Commonwealth.
15 "Office." The State Energy Office established under section
1 3.
2 "Secretary." The Secretary of Environmental Protection of
3 the Commonwealth.
4 Section 3. The State Energy Office.
5 The State Energy Office is established in the Department of
6 Environmental Protection to promote the goals of energy
7 development and energy conservation.
8 Section 4. Composition of office.
9 The secretary shall designate an executive director and hire
10 the staff of the office in accordance with procedures of the
11 department.
12 Section 5. Advisory council.
13 An advisory council to the office is established. The
14 Governor shall appoint persons to the council who shall be
15 members of the General Assembly, the business and transportation
16 community of this Commonwealth, public officials and the general
17 public. The purpose of the council is to provide advice and
18 assistance to the office on matters affecting the State's energy
19 situation. The members shall be reimbursed for the expense of
20 participating in council functions.
21 Section 6. Powers and duties of office.
22 The powers and duties of the office are as follows:
23 (1) To promote the development of this Commonwealth's
24 indigenous and renewable energy resources through programs
25 involving information and technical and financial assistance.
26 (2) To promote the efficient use of energy by the State
27 government and all sectors of this Commonwealth. Working with
28 the Governor's Green Government Council, the office will
29 encourage energy efficiency and conservation through programs
30 providing information and technical and financial assistance.
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1 The office will also work with the commission to develop
2 specific programs to promote energy efficiency for
3 commercial, industrial and residential consumers of
4 deregulated utilities, such as natural gas and electricity.
5 (3) To be the point of contact for private and
6 government energy matters and the lead Commonwealth agency
7 for energy policy development. The office will regularly
8 update the Commonwealth's energy policy to determine new
9 opportunities for energy development and energy conservation.
10 (4) To be the primary manager and coordinator of Federal
11 energy grants, petroleum overcharge funds and private energy
12 grants.
13 (5) To assist in the review of energy-related plans,
14 programs, policies and regulations of Commonwealth agencies
15 and to provide recommendations to further promote energy
16 development and energy conservation. The office is authorized
17 to intervene in energy-related proceedings of the commission
18 and other Federal or State regulatory agencies.
19 (6) To monitor prices of petroleum and supplies of
20 petroleum products available for use in this Commonwealth to
21 determine whether there exists or is likely to exist an
22 emergency shortage under section 2802-C(d) of the act of
23 April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative
24 Code of 1929, and to conduct emergency allocation measures
25 during a period of declared emergency petroleum product
26 shortage under section 2802-C of The Administrative Code of
27 1929. The office will also monitor the price and supply of
28 energy to provide information to the Governor on the changing
29 impact of energy prices on the Commonwealth's economy.
30 (7) To assume the responsibilities assigned to the
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1 Department of Environmental Protection under the act of June
2 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and
3 Natural Resources Act, which had been assigned to the office
4 under prior statutes, regulations and executive orders,
5 including the administration of the funds transferred to the
6 department under section 507 of that act.
7 (8) To promote the establishment of a regional strategic
8 heating oil and diesel fuel reserve in the mid-Atlantic
9 states and other programs that ensure that energy shortages
10 or price surges do not harm the Commonwealth's economy.
11 Section 7. Effective date.
12 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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