House File 412 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY REICHERT
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for the establishment of a green energy zone
2 program.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1718HH 83
5 rn/nh/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 471.1 GREEN ENERGY ZONE PROGRAM.
1 2 1. A green energy zone program is established, to be
1 3 administered by the Iowa power fund board established in
1 4 section 469.6. The objective of the program shall be to
1 5 identify areas of the state with maximum alternate and
1 6 renewable energy generation potential and apply a specialized
1 7 set of regulatory requirements intended to promote alternate
1 8 and renewable energy production, transmission, and
1 9 distribution.
1 10 2. a. The board shall designate areas of the state as
1 11 green energy zones based upon application of one or more of
1 12 the following criteria:
1 13 (1) The average annual wind speed exceeds fifteen and
1 14 seven=tenths miles per hour.
1 15 (2) The average global horizontal irradiance per square
1 16 mile exceeds one hundred sixty=six watts.
1 17 (3) Significant hydraulic energy potential exists, as
1 18 determined by the board.
1 19 (4) Significant landfill gas potential exists, as
1 20 determined by the board.
1 21 b. An alternate energy production facility not meeting the
1 22 criteria specified in paragraph "a" may apply to the board for
1 23 special consideration for designation as a green energy zone.
1 24 The board shall develop by rule an application process and
1 25 criteria for program participation by existing and prospective
1 26 alternate energy production facilities.
1 27 3. The board, in conjunction with the utilities board of
1 28 the utilities division of the department of commerce, shall
1 29 develop a specialized feed=in tariff applicable to power
1 30 purchase agreements entered into between alternate energy
1 31 production facilities and electric utilities whose service
1 32 area encompasses part or all of a green energy zone at a
1 33 sufficient rate to provide an incentive for the development of
1 34 alternate and renewable energy production within the green
1 35 energy zone, establish an expedited transmission line
2 1 franchise petition process authorizing transmission line
2 2 construction and operation based upon economic need, recommend
2 3 modification of maximum limits on loans issued pursuant to the
2 4 alternate energy revolving loan program in section 476.46, and
2 5 identify additional incentives, including tax incentives, for
2 6 promoting alternate and renewable energy production within
2 7 green energy zones.
2 8 4. The board shall perform an annual assessment of the
2 9 impact of establishing the green energy zones on alternate and
2 10 renewable energy generation, and shall submit a report to the
2 11 governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2013,
2 12 regarding the program and recommendations for program
2 13 enhancements or expansion.
2 14 EXPLANATION
2 15 This bill directs the Iowa power fund board to establish
2 16 and administer a green energy zone program with the objective
2 17 of identifying areas of the state with maximum alternate and
2 18 renewable energy generation potential and applying specialized
2 19 regulatory requirements intended to promote alternate and
2 20 renewable energy production, transmission, and distribution.
2 21 The bill provides that the board shall designate as a green
2 22 energy zone areas of the state with specified levels of
2 23 alternate and renewable energy harvest potential based upon
2 24 factors specified in the bill, and develop by rule an
2 25 application process and criteria for program participation by
2 26 existing and prospective alternate energy production
2 27 facilities within a green energy zone. The board, in
2 28 conjunction with the Iowa utilities board, is required to
2 29 develop a specialized green energy zone feed=in tariff,
2 30 applicable to power purchase agreements between alternate
2 31 energy production facilities and electric utilities, establish
2 32 an expedited transmission line franchise petition process
2 33 authorizing transmission line construction and operation based
2 34 upon economic need, recommend modifying maximum limits on
2 35 loans issued pursuant to the alternate energy revolving loan
3 1 program, and identify additional incentives, including tax
3 2 incentives, for promoting alternate and renewable energy
3 3 production within green energy zones.
3 4 The bill provides that the board shall perform an annual
3 5 assessment of the impact of establishing the green energy
3 6 zones, and submit a report to the governor and the general
3 7 assembly by January 1, 2013, regarding the program and
3 8 recommendations for program enhancements or expansion.
3 9 LSB 1718HH 83
3 10 rn/nh/5.1