PRINTER'S NO. 430
No. 366 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, BENNINGTON, BLACKWELL, CALTAGIRONE,
CARROLL, CASORIO, COHEN, CONKLIN, CURRY, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO,
FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GERGELY, GOODMAN,
GRUCELA, HARHAI, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KULA, LEACH, LEVDANSKY,
MANN, MARKOSEK, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, M. O'BRIEN,
PETRARCA, PETRONE, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, RUBLEY,
SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, STURLA,
SURRA, VEREB, WALKO, WATSON, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK
AND KORTZ, FEBRUARY 13, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
FEBRUARY 13, 2007
AN ACT
1 Establishing the State Energy Office and an advisory council;
2 and imposing duties on the State Energy Office.
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 "Commission." The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
13 "Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
14 the Commonwealth.
1 "Office." The State Energy Office established under section
2 3.
3 "Secretary." The Secretary of Environmental Protection of
4 the Commonwealth.
5 Section 3. The State Energy Office.
6 The State Energy Office is established in the Department of
7 Environmental Protection to promote the goals of energy
8 development and energy conservation.
9 Section 4. Composition of office.
10 The secretary shall designate an executive director and hire
11 the staff of the office in accordance with procedures of the
12 department.
13 Section 5. Advisory council.
14 An advisory council to the office is established. The
15 Governor shall appoint persons to the council who shall be
16 members of the General Assembly, the business and transportation
17 community of this Commonwealth, public officials and the general
18 public. The purpose of the council is to provide advice and
19 assistance to the office on matters affecting the State's energy
20 situation. The members shall be reimbursed for the expense of
21 participating in council functions.
22 Section 6. Powers and duties of office.
23 The powers and duties of the office are as follows:
24 (1) To promote the development of this Commonwealth's
25 indigenous and renewable energy resources through programs
26 involving information and technical and financial assistance.
27 (2) To assist the Department of General Services in
28 promoting the efficient use of energy by the State government
29 and all sectors of this Commonwealth. Working with the
30 Governor's Green Government Council, the office will
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1 encourage energy efficiency and conservation through programs
2 providing information and technical and financial assistance.
3 The office will also work with the commission to develop
4 specific programs to promote energy efficiency for
5 commercial, industrial and residential consumers of
6 deregulated utilities, such as natural gas and electricity.
7 (3) To be the point of contact for private and
8 government energy matters and the lead Commonwealth agency
9 for energy policy development. The office will regularly
10 update the Commonwealth's energy policy to determine new
11 opportunities for energy development and energy conservation.
12 (4) To be the primary manager and coordinator of Federal
13 energy grants, petroleum overcharge funds and private energy
14 grants.
15 (5) To assist the Department of General Services in the
16 review of energy-related plans, programs, policies and
17 regulations of Commonwealth agencies and to provide
18 recommendations to further promote energy development and
19 energy conservation. The office is authorized to intervene in
20 energy-related proceedings of the commission and other
21 Federal or State regulatory agencies.
22 (6) To monitor prices of petroleum and supplies of
23 petroleum products available for use in this Commonwealth to
24 determine whether there exists or is likely to exist an
25 emergency shortage under section 2802-C(d) of the act of
26 April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative
27 Code of 1929, and to conduct emergency allocation measures
28 during a period of declared emergency petroleum product
29 shortage under section 2802-C of The Administrative Code of
30 1929. The office will also monitor the price and supply of
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1 energy to provide information to the Governor on the changing
2 impact of energy prices on the Commonwealth's economy.
3 (7) To assume the responsibilities assigned to the
4 Department of Environmental Protection under the act of June
5 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and
6 Natural Resources Act, which had been assigned to the office
7 under prior statutes, regulations and executive orders,
8 including the administration of the funds transferred to the
9 department under section 507 of that 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. Effective date.
15 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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