PRINTER'S NO. 41
No. 36 Special Session No. 1 of 2007-2008
INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, BELFANTI, BENNINGTON, BRENNAN, CASORIO,
DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HORNAMAN,
JOSEPHS, KOTIK, KULA, LEVDANSKY, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN,
McILHATTAN, McILVAINE SMITH, PETRONE, RUBLEY, SHIMKUS,
SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SURRA, THOMAS, WALKO, YOUNGBLOOD AND
YUDICHAK, OCTOBER 25, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
OCTOBER 25, 2007
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 assist the Department of General Services in
27 promoting the efficient use of energy by the State government
28 and all sectors of this Commonwealth. Working with the
29 Governor's Green Government Council, the office will
30 encourage energy efficiency and conservation through programs
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1 providing information and technical and financial assistance.
2 The office will also work with the commission to develop
3 specific programs to promote energy efficiency for
4 commercial, industrial and residential consumers of
5 deregulated utilities, such as natural gas and electricity.
6 (3) To be the point of contact for private and
7 government energy matters and the lead Commonwealth agency
8 for energy policy development. The office will regularly
9 update the Commonwealth's energy policy to determine new
10 opportunities for energy development and energy conservation.
11 (4) To be the primary manager and coordinator of Federal
12 energy grants, petroleum overcharge funds and private energy
13 grants.
14 (5) To assist the Department of General Services in the
15 review of energy-related plans, programs, policies and
16 regulations of Commonwealth agencies and to provide
17 recommendations to further promote energy development and
18 energy conservation. The office is authorized to intervene in
19 energy-related proceedings of the commission and other
20 Federal or State regulatory agencies.
21 (6) To monitor prices of petroleum and supplies of
22 petroleum products available for use in this Commonwealth to
23 determine whether there exists or is likely to exist an
24 emergency shortage under section 2802-C(d) of the act of
25 April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative
26 Code of 1929, and to conduct emergency allocation measures
27 during a period of declared emergency petroleum product
28 shortage under section 2802-C of The Administrative Code of
29 1929. The office will also monitor the price and supply of
30 energy to provide information to the Governor on the changing
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1 impact of energy prices on the Commonwealth's economy.
2 (7) To assume the responsibilities assigned to the
3 Department of Environmental Protection under the act of June
4 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and
5 Natural Resources Act, which had been assigned to the office
6 under prior statutes, regulations and executive orders,
7 including the administration of the funds transferred to the
8 department under section 507 of that act.
9 (8) To promote the establishment of a regional strategic
10 heating oil and diesel fuel reserve in the mid-Atlantic
11 states and other programs that ensure that energy shortages
12 or price surges do not harm the Commonwealth's economy.
13 Section 7. Effective date.
14 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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