January 22, 2008, Introduced by Senators BROWN, BIRKHOLZ, RICHARDVILLE, PAPPAGEORGE, KAHN, BISHOP, SANBORN, ANDERSON, BASHAM, HARDIMAN, JANSEN and SWITALSKI and referred to the Committee on Energy Policy and Public Utilities.
A bill to create a commission to investigate renewable energy;
to define renewable energy; to determine certain powers and duties
of the commission; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"renewable energy commission act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Biomass" means any organic matter that can be converted
to usable fuel for the production of energy and is available on a
renewable basis, including, but not limited to, all of the
following:
(i) Agricultural crops and crop wastes.
(ii) Wood and wood wastes, including wood and wood waste from
wood product and paper processing.
(iii) Animal wastes.
(iv) Municipal wastewater sludge.
(v) Aquatic plants.
(vi) Food production and processing waste.
(vii) Municipal solid waste.
(b) "Renewable energy fuel" means any of the following:
(i) Biomass.
(ii) Geothermal.
(iii) Solar.
(iv) Wind.
(v) Hydroelectric, except for pump storage systems.
(vi) Gas captured from the decomposition of waste.
(vii) That portion of a fuel mixture that is a biomass fuel.
Sec. 3. (1) The renewable energy commission is established
within the department of labor and economic growth. The commission
shall investigate and recommend strategies that the governor and
the legislature may implement to promote the use of renewable
energy. The commission shall also identify mechanisms that promote
research into renewable energy.
(2) The commission shall identify mechanisms that promote
effective communication and coordination of efforts between this
state and local governments, private industry, and institutes of
higher education concerning the investigation of, research into,
and promotion of renewable energy.
(3) The commission may also review any state regulation that
may hinder the use, research, and development of renewable energy
and recommend changes to the governor and the standing committees
of the house and senate that deal with energy issues.
Sec. 4. The commission shall consist of the following members,
appointed within 90 days of the effective date of this act:
(a) The director of the department of labor and economic
growth or his or her designee. The director of the department of
labor and economic growth shall be the chair of the commission.
(b) One member appointed by the governor to represent the
Michigan economic development corporation.
(c) One member appointed by the governor to represent the
department of agriculture.
(d) One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate
to represent local government.
(e) One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate
to represent the business community.
(f) One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate
to represent a statewide association representing energy
efficiency.
(g) One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate
to represent a statewide association representing clean energy.
(h) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives to represent the general public.
(i) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives to represent municipally owned electric utilities.
(j) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives to represent a statewide association that
represents renewable energy.
(k) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives to represent investor-owned electric utilities.
(l) One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate
to represent alternative electric suppliers.
(m) One member appointed by the governor to represent colleges
and universities in this state that are engaged in renewable energy
research.
(n) Any other member that the governor concludes is necessary
to further the commission's purposes.
Sec. 5. No later than 1 year after the effective date of this
act, the commission shall issue a written report on its
investigation and recommendations to the legislature and the
governor. Follow-up reports shall be issued at least annually and
may be issued more frequently if the commission considers it
advisable.
Sec. 6. This act is repealed effective January 1, 2011.