PRINTER'S NO.  875

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

786

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, BELFANTI, BRENNAN, BROWN, CONKLIN, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, MAHONEY, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MILNE, MYERS, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, SIPTROTH, WALKO, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 6, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MARCH 6, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Establishing the State Energy Office and an advisory council;

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and imposing duties on the State Energy Office.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Short title.

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This act shall be known and may be cited as the State Energy

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Office Act.

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Section 2.  Definitions.

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The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

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have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

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context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Commission."  The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

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"Department."  The Department of Environmental Protection of

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the Commonwealth.

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"Office."  The State Energy Office established under section

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"Secretary."  The Secretary of Environmental Protection of

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the Commonwealth.

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Section 3.  The State Energy Office.

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The State Energy Office is established in the Department of

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Environmental Protection to promote the goals of energy

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development and energy conservation.

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Section 4.  Composition of office.

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The secretary shall designate an executive director and hire

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the staff of the office in accordance with procedures of the

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department.

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Section 5.  Advisory council.

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An advisory council to the office is established. The

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Governor shall appoint persons to the council who shall be

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members of the General Assembly, the business and transportation

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community of this Commonwealth, public officials and the general

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public. The purpose of the council is to provide advice and

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assistance to the office on matters affecting the State's energy

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situation. The members shall be reimbursed for the expense of

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participating in council functions.

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Section 6.  Powers and duties of office.

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The powers and duties of the office are as follows:

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(1)  To promote the development of this Commonwealth's

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indigenous and renewable energy resources through programs

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involving information and technical and financial assistance.

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(2)  To assist the Department of General Services in

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promoting the efficient use of energy by the State government

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and all sectors of this Commonwealth. Working with the

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Governor's Green Government Council, the office will

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encourage energy efficiency and conservation through programs

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providing information and technical and financial assistance.

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The office will also work with the commission to develop

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specific programs to promote energy efficiency for

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commercial, industrial and residential consumers of

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deregulated utilities, such as natural gas and electricity.

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(3)  To be the point of contact for private and

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government energy matters and the lead Commonwealth agency

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for energy policy development. The office will regularly

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update the Commonwealth's energy policy to determine new

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opportunities for energy development and energy conservation.

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(4)  To be the primary manager and coordinator of Federal

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energy grants, petroleum overcharge funds and private energy

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grants.

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(5)  To assist the Department of General Services in the

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review of energy-related plans, programs, policies and

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regulations of Commonwealth agencies and to provide

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recommendations to further promote energy development and

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energy conservation. The office is authorized to intervene in

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energy-related proceedings of the commission and other

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Federal or State regulatory agencies.

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(6)  To monitor prices of petroleum and supplies of

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petroleum products available for use in this Commonwealth to

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determine whether there exists or is likely to exist an

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emergency shortage under section 2802-C(d) of the act of

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April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative

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Code of 1929, and to conduct emergency allocation measures

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during a period of declared emergency petroleum product

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shortage under section 2802-C of The Administrative Code of

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1929. The office will also monitor the price and supply of

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energy to provide information to the Governor on the changing

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impact of energy prices on the Commonwealth's economy.

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(7)  To assume the responsibilities assigned to the

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Department of Environmental Protection under the act of June

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28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and

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Natural Resources Act, which had been assigned to the office

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under prior statutes, regulations and executive orders,

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including the administration of the funds transferred to the

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department under section 507 of the Conservation and Natural

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Resources Act.

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(8)  To promote the establishment of a regional strategic

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heating oil and diesel fuel reserve in the mid-Atlantic

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states and other programs that ensure that energy shortages

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or price surges do not harm the Commonwealth's economy.

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Section 7.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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