THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CONKLIN, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, HARHAI, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MELIO, MILNE, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, SIPTROTH, WALKO, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 10, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MARCH 10, 2009  

AN ACT

Establishing a State Energy Office and providing for its powers

and duties; and making related repeals.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

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

Office Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Council."  An advisory council established under this act.

"Office."  The State Energy Office established under this

act.

Section 3.  Establishment.

The State Energy Office is established in the Governor's

Office to promote the goals of energy development and energy

conservation.

Section 4.  Composition of office.

(a)  Chairperson.--The Governor shall be the chairperson of

the office.

(b)  Executive director and staff.--The Governor shall

designate an executive director and hire the staff of the office

in accordance with procedures of the Governor's Office of

Administration and of the Office of the Budget.

Section 5.  Advisory council.

An advisory council shall be appointed by the Governor to be

composed of members of the General Assembly, the business and

transportation communities of this Commonwealth, public

officials and the general public. The purpose of the council is

to provide advice and assistance to the office on matters

affecting the State's energy situation. Advisory council members

shall be reimbursed for the expense of participating in advisory

council functions.

Section 6.  Powers and duties of office.

The powers and duties of the office are as follows:

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

indigenous and renewable energy resources through programs

involving information and technical and financial assistance.

(2)  To promote the efficient use of energy by the State

government and all sectors of this Commonwealth. Working with

the Governor's Green Government Council, the office shall

encourage energy efficiency and conservation through programs

providing information and technical and financial assistance.

The office shall also work with the Pennsylvania Public

Utility Commission to develop specific programs to promote

energy efficiency for commercial, industrial and residential

consumers of deregulated utilities, such as natural gas and

electricity.

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

government energy matters and the lead Commonwealth agency

for energy policy development. The office shall regularly

update the Commonwealth's energy policy to determine new

opportunities for energy development and energy conservation.

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

energy grants, petroleum overcharge funds and private energy

grants.

(5)  To assist in the review of energy-related plans,

programs, policies and regulations of other Commonwealth

agencies and to provide recommendations to further promote

energy development and energy conservation. The office is

authorized to intervene in energy-related proceedings of the

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and other Federal or

State regulatory agencies.

(6)  To monitor prices of petroleum and supplies of

petroleum products available for use in this Commonwealth to

determine whether there exists or is likely to exist a

shortage under section 2802-C(d) of the act of April 9, 1929

(P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929,

and to conduct emergency allocation measures during a period

of declared emergency petroleum product shortage under

section 2802-C of The Administrative Code of 1929. The office

shall also monitor the price and supply of energy to provide

information to the Governor on the changing impact of energy

prices on this Commonwealth's economy.

(7)  To assume the responsibilities assigned to the

Department of Environmental Protection under the act of June

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

Natural Resources Act, which had been assigned to the

Pennsylvania Energy Office under prior statutes, regulations

and executive orders, including the administration of the

funds transferred to the department under section 507 of the

Conservation and Natural Resources Act.

(8)  To promote the establishment of a regional strategic

heating oil and diesel fuel reserve in the mid-Atlantic

states and other programs that ensure that energy shortages

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

Section 7.  Repeals.

Repeals are as follows:

(1)  The General Assembly declares that the repeal under

paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate the provisions of

this act.

(2)  Sections 504, 507 and 508 of the act of June 28,

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

Resources Act, are repealed.

Section 8.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.