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2009 SESSION

093061616
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 718
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 14, 2009
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the utility-scale energy generation from offshore winds. Report.
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Patron-- Marshall, R.G.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Commonwealth imports more energy than any other state except for California and faces a demand growth over the next 10 years in excess of 7,000 MW; and

WHEREAS, in light of potential constraints on emissions from coal-fired power plants, which provide more than half of our current supply of electricity, the deficit between existing and future resources may be further magnified; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has significant offshore wind energy resources with a potential installed capacity of more than 28,100 MW; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Energy Plan, published in 2007, reiterated the policy of the Commonwealth, expressed by the General Assembly, to support federal efforts that examine the feasibility of offshore wind energy being used in an environmentally responsible fashion and recommended that the Commonwealth (i) should encourage all cost-effective, environmentally responsible development of its offshore wind resources; and (ii) work with the federal Minerals Management Service's Outer Continental Shelf Alternate Energy and Alternate Use Program to more carefully characterize the offshore wind potential and identify potential environmental impacts of such development; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the utility-scale energy generation from offshore winds and the feasibility of commercial investment in such projects. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 11 members that shall consist of six legislative members, two nonlegislative citizen members, and three ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows:  four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one nonlegislative citizen member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and one nonlegislative citizen member to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Commissioner of Marine Resources or his designee, the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy or his designee, and the Director of the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium or his designee shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall: (i) examine and expand upon work begun by both public and private entities to promote the adoption of wind energy resources including the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, the Virginia Manufacturing Association, the maritime construction industry, and the American Wind Energy Association; (ii) assess the concerns of investors, builders, and operators of utility-scale wind farms in siting such a facility offshore of Virginia; (iii) identify resolutions to the obstacles faced by such investors, builders, and operators; and (iv) develop and recommend a detailed policy for offshore wind energy that may include regional solutions and interstate cooperation, integration of wind power with other renewable energies, traditional energy generation, and storage possibilities. During the course of its study, the joint subcommittee shall work through the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium with the federal Minerals Management Service's Outer Continental Shelf Alternate Energy and Alternate Use Program to more carefully characterize the offshore wind potential and identify potential environmental impacts of such development.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2009 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $6,800 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2009, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and the report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2009 interim.