Funding Bills Moving
The Environment and Energy omnibus finance bills are on the move! In the Senate, these issues are taken up separately, with the Energy provisions moving through Sen. Rosen’s Committee and the Environment issues through Sen. Ingebrigtsen’s committee. In the House, a single bill emerged from the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, and awaits action on the floor. There is one significant difference on energy matters between the House and Senate versions of the bills. The Senate has thus far agreed to the Governor’s recommendation for new positions at the Office of Energy Security and the Public Utilities Commission, with the funding for these positions coming from the use of leftover grant funds from the Renewable Development Fund. The House, on the other hand, does not fund any new positions and Representatives are holding a firm line on the issue. The bills will be voted on by the bodies next week and will require a conference committee to negotiate the differences.
Please see full publication below for more information.