PRINTER'S NO. 269
No. 272 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY McCALL, GEORGE, THOMAS, YOUNGBLOOD, GEIST, ARGALL,
BARD, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE,
CAPPABIANCA, M. COHEN, COLAFELLA, CORRIGAN, COY, DeWEESE,
EACHUS, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GABIG, GORDNER, GRUCELA, HORSEY,
JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, LEVDANSKY, MELIO, PETRARCA, PETRONE,
READSHAW, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SAMUELSON, SAYLOR, SHANER,
SOLOBAY, STABACK, STEELMAN, STURLA, SURRA, TIGUE, WALKO,
C. WILLIAMS AND WOJNAROSKI, JANUARY 29, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
JANUARY 29, 2001
AN ACT
1 Establishing a State Energy Office and providing for its powers
2 and duties; and making repeals.
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 "Council." The Advisory Council established under this act.
13 "Office." The State Energy Office established under this
14 act.
1 Section 3. Establishment.
2 The State Energy Office is established in the Governor's
3 Office to promote the goals of energy development and energy
4 conservation.
5 Section 4. Composition of office.
6 (a) Chairperson.--The Governor will be the chairperson of
7 the office.
8 (b) Executive director and staff.--The Governor will
9 designate an executive director and hire the staff of the office
10 in accordance with procedures of the Governor's Office of
11 Administration and of the Office of the Budget.
12 Section 5. Advisory council.
13 An advisory council will be appointed by the Governor to be
14 composed of members of the General Assembly, the business and
15 transportation community of this Commonwealth, public officials
16 and the general public. The purpose of the council is to provide
17 advice and assistance to the office on matters affecting the
18 State's energy situation. Advisory council members will be
19 reimbursed for the expense of participating in advisory council
20 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 promote the efficient use of energy by the State
27 government and all sectors of this Commonwealth. Working with
28 the Governor's Green Government Council, the office will
29 encourage energy efficiency and conservation through programs
30 providing information and technical and financial assistance.
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1 The office will also work with the Pennsylvania Public
2 Utility Commission to develop specific programs to promote
3 energy efficiency for commercial, industrial and residential
4 consumers of deregulated utilities, such as natural gas and
5 electricity.
6 (3) To be the point of contract 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 in the review of energy-related plans,
15 programs, policies and regulations of other Commonwealth
16 agencies and to provide recommendations to further promote
17 energy development and energy conservation. The office is
18 authorized to intervene in energy-related proceedings of the
19 Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and other Federal or
20 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
6 Pennsylvania Energy Office under prior statutes, regulations
7 and executive orders, including the administration of the
8 funds transferred to the department under section 507 of the
9 Conservation and Natural Resources Act.
10 (8) To promote the establishment of a regional strategic
11 heating oil and diesel fuel reserve in the mid-Atlantic
12 states and other programs that ensure that energy shortages
13 or price surges do not harm the Commonwealth's economy.
14 Section 7. Repeals.
15 Sections 504, 507 and 508 of the act of June 28, 1995
16 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources
17 Act, are repealed.
18 Section 8. Effective date.
19 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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