House File 773 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (SUCCESSOR TO HF 681) Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act establishing an energy city designation program. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2598HV 82 4 rn/es/88 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 473.41 ENERGY CITY DESIGNATION 1 2 PROGRAM. 1 3 1. The department shall establish an energy city 1 4 designation program, with the objective of encouraging cities 1 5 to develop and implement innovative energy efficiency 1 6 programs. To qualify for designation as an energy city, a 1 7 city shall submit an application on forms prescribed by the 1 8 department by rule, indicating the following: 1 9 a. Submission of community=based plans for energy 1 10 reduction projects, energy=efficient building construction and 1 11 rehabilitation, and alternative or renewable energy 1 12 production. 1 13 b. Efforts to secure local funding for community=based 1 14 plans, and documentation of any state or federal grant or loan 1 15 funding being pursued in connection therewith. 1 16 c. Involvement of local schools, civic organizations, 1 17 chambers of commerce, and private groups in a community=based 1 18 plan. 1 19 d. Existing or proposed ordinances encouraging energy 1 20 efficiency and conservation, recycling efforts, and 1 21 energy=efficient building code provisions and enforcement. 1 22 e. Organization of an energy day observance and 1 23 proclamation with a commemorating event and awards ceremony 1 24 for leading energy=efficient community businesses, groups, 1 25 schools, or individuals. 1 26 2. The department shall establish by rule criteria for 1 27 awarding energy city designations. Rules shall also be 1 28 established identifying and publicizing state grant and loan 1 29 programs relating to energy efficiency, and the development of 1 30 a procedure whereby the department shall coordinate with other 1 31 state agencies preferences given in the awarding of grants or 1 32 making of loans to energy city designated applicants. 1 33 EXPLANATION 1 34 This bill provides for the establishment by the department 1 35 of natural resources of an energy city designation. The 2 1 objective of the designation shall be to encourage cities to 2 2 develop and implement innovative energy efficiency programs. 2 3 To qualify for designation as an energy city, the bill 2 4 provides that a city shall submit an application including the 2 5 submission of community=based plans for energy reduction 2 6 projects, energy=efficient building construction and 2 7 rehabilitation, and alternative or renewable energy 2 8 production; efforts to secure local funding for those plans; 2 9 involvement of local schools and community organizations; any 2 10 existing or proposed ordinances encouraging energy efficiency 2 11 and conservation, recycling efforts, and energy=efficient 2 12 building code provisions and enforcement; and the organization 2 13 of an energy day observance and proclamation with a 2 14 commemorating event and awards ceremony for leading 2 15 energy=efficient community businesses, groups, schools, or 2 16 individuals. 2 17 The bill provides that the department shall establish 2 18 designation criteria by rule, and shall identify and publicize 2 19 state grant and loan programs relating to energy efficiency. 2 20 Additionally, the department is directed to develop a 2 21 procedure for coordinating with other state agencies 2 22 preferences given in the awarding of grants or making of loans 2 23 to energy city designated applicants. 2 24 LSB 2598HV 82 2 25 rn:rj/es/88