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2006 SESSION

062654844
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 80
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 10, 2006
Requesting the Secretary of Natural Resources to study the development of a comprehensive energy plan for the Commonwealth. Report.
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Patron-- Whipple
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, according to a 2001 study by the United States Energy Information Administration, Virginia ranks thirtieth nationally in the amount of energy consumed per capita and fourteenth in total energy consumption; and

WHEREAS, the nominal prices for oil, natural gas, and coal have set records within the preceding two years; and

WHEREAS, the Energy Information Administration expects that the total amount spent for gas consumed by the representative residential customer during this winter of 2005-2006 will be approximately 48 percent greater than last winter; and

WHEREAS, petroleum-based fuels support more than one-third of Virginia's energy consumption, a larger proportion than any other primary fuel; and

WHEREAS, from 1999 to 2003, the share of electricity generated in Virginia from renewable sources, excluding hydropower, increased from 2.3 to 3.6 percent; and

WHEREAS, according the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, Virginia's energy imports, which include petroleum products, natural gas, nuclear fuel, and electrical energy that comes into the state on transmission lines, total more than 50 percent of total in-state usage, with petroleum products accounting for about two-thirds of Virginia's net energy imports; and

WHEREAS, catastrophic hurricanes that damaged the Gulf Coast in 2005 have underscored the vulnerability of the Commonwealth's economy to disruptions in the energy supply; and

WHEREAS, a long-term commitment to energy conservation in conjunction with an adequate, reliable, diverse, efficient, and affordable energy supply is vital to Virginia's population growth, economic expansion, and security; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Secretary of Natural Resources be requested to study the development of a comprehensive energy plan for the Commonwealth. The plan will evaluate the Commonwealth's current and future energy supply and demand. In developing the plan, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall solicit and analyze suggestions and information from the following sectors: utility providers, petroleum companies, automobile manufacturers, fuel suppliers, technology companies, environmental organizations, and consumers.

The energy plan shall consider all relevant topics including, but not limited to (i) Virginia's current and projected energy needs; (ii) a review of Virginia's efforts to meet its current energy needs including, but not limited to, laws, regulations, executive orders, Building Code, alternative energy investments, and conservation plans implemented by the Commonwealth; (iii) Virginia's current and projected electric generating capacity for natural gas, liquefied natural gas, oil, coal, nuclear power, alternative and renewable energy sources, including hydrogen, solar, biomass, wind, and landfill methane, and other emerging energy technologies; (iv) Virginia's current and projected infrastructure needs for the production and supply of natural gas, liquefied natural gas, oil, coal, nuclear power, alternative and renewable energy sources, and other emerging energy technologies; (v) Virginia's current and projected consumer costs of natural gas, liquefied natural gas, coal, nuclear power, alternative and renewable energy sources, and other emerging energy technologies; (vi) current regulatory oversight, both state and federal, of natural gas, liquefied natural gas, coal, nuclear power, alternative and renewable energy sources, and other emerging energy technologies; (vii) a review of Virginia's successes in achieving energy efficiency; (viii) goals, both public and private, for the diversification of Virginia's electric power supply; (ix) current and projected capacity for gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen and natural gas; (x) Virginia's current and projected infrastructure needs for the production and supply of gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen and natural gas; (xi) Virginia's current and projected consumer costs of gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen and natural gas; (xii) current regulatory oversight, both state and federal, of gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen and natural gas; (xiii) goals, both public and private, for the diversification of Virginia's fuel supply; (xiv) traditional and alternative fuel vehicles, consumer access to alternative fuels, the current and projected costs to consumers for traditional and alternative fuels, and the current and projected infrastructure needs for the production and supply of alternative fuel vehicles and the relative costs and benefits of any said alternatives; (xv) methods by which Virginia can protect its energy supplies during an emergency; and (xvi) methods by which the State can reduce barriers and provide incentives to increase energy efficiency in power and fuel consumption.

To assist with developing the energy plan, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall host the 2006 Virginia Energy Forum before September 1, 2006, and serve as chairman for the Forum. Forum participants shall address the diversification of Virginia's energy supplies, energy generation, transmission, distribution, conservation, and energy security, as well as discuss the barriers presented by government and potential incentives that may be offered to help Virginia's future energy needs.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Secretary of Natural Resources by the State Corporation Commission, Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, and the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Secretary of Natural Resources for this study, upon request.

The Secretary of Natural Resources shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2006, and for the second year by November 30, 2007, and the Secretary of Natural Resources shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document for each year. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.