Guest Highlight
by Councilwoman Mary Cheh

State Updates
Legislative updates from Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina New Hampshire New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia

Alabama

SB 313

• Pending Third Reading in House Committee on Government Appropriations 5/8/08
• Would create and set the agenda for a joint committee on energy policy, aimed at reducing the state’s energy consumption through a number of measures, including increasing the energy efficiency of state-owned buildings.

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Alaska

SB 4002

• Signed into Law 8/25/08
• This bill institutes a one-year “Alaska Resource Rebate” of $1200 to residents of Alaska and suspends the motor fuel tax for one year, beginning September 1, 2008.

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California

AB 578

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/28/08
• Bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to study and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor on the impacts of distributed energy generation on the state’s distribution and transmission grid.

AB 746

• Re-referred to Senate Committee on Rules 8/4/08
• Bill would extend through 2021 the current law that requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to administer the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account in the General Fund to provide grants and loans to local government and public institutions for energy conservation and efficiency. It would thereby appropriate funds for the account through 2021; the appropriation is currently set to expire in 2011.

AB 901

• Re-referred to Senate Committee on Rules 8/4/08
• Bill would authorize a value-pricing and transit development demonstration program involving High-Occupancy Toll lanes to be conducted, administered, developed, and operated on State Highway Route 110 and Interstate 10 in Los Angeles County. An HOT lane is an High-Occupancy Vehicle lane that single-occupant cars can pay a fee to drive in.

AB 981

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/29/08
• Legislation would authorize the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco to designate a transportation management agency for Treasure Island for the purpose of recommending a fee structure for the congestion pricing fees that will be adopted.

AB 1358

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/29/08
• Bill would enact the Complete Streets Act of 2008, which requires the Office of Planning and Research to add a clause to the general plan for city government that plans for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways, defined to include motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, seniors, movers of commercial goods, and users of public transportation, The Office would also be required to prepare guidelines to assist city and county legislatures in accommodating all users of the transportation system, and to consult with leading transportation experts in preparing these guidelines

AB 1709

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/18/08
• Authorizes community facilities districts to finance and refinance the acquisition, installation, and updating of energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to or on real property and buildings.

AB 1954

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/19/08
• Bill authorizes a value pricing and transit program involving High Occupancy Toll lanes on State Route 15 in Riverside County. An HOT lane is a High-Occupancy Vehicle lane that single-occupant cars can pay a fee to drive in.

AB 2309

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/28/08
• Bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission to determine whether to require electrical corporations to provide in-home owner-requested energy efficiency audits and make recommendations to the owner on cost-effective measures that would decrease the building’s energy usage.

AB 2558

• Senate Moved to Inactive File 8/25/08
• Bill would authorize a regional transportation agency to impose a climate protection and system preservation fee on either motor vehicle fuel or motor vehicle registration.

AB 2791

• Approved by the Governor 8/1/08
• This bill requires electrical corporations to buy excess electricity from federal, state and local facilities, as well as from non-profit organizations, that use combined heat and power systems of less than 20 MW generating capacity. Previously, electrical corporations were required to buy excess electricity only from non-profit organizations who met those requirements.

AB 2857

• Enrolled 9/5/08
• This bill would prohibit the California Public Utilities Commission, which has regulatory authority over public utilities, from denying eligibility to residential users of gas or electricity whose energy use is submetered or who are tenants served by a master-meter customer for the California Alternate Rates for Energy program, which provides a 20% discount on monthly energy bills to low-income customers.

AB 2939

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/31/08
• Bill would authorize a city or county to impose more restrictive building standards than the California Green Building Standards Code, if certain provision are met: The more restrictive standards must not “replace” the California Green Building Standards Code, and the city or county in question must make a finding that the more restrictive standard is necessary to address environmental conditions and that it will not unreasonably impact housing affordability.

HB 3018

• Amendments Concurred to in Assembly 8/18/08
• Bill would establish the Green Collar Jobs Council to assist in identifying and linking green collar job opportunities with workforce development training opportunities, create a public-private partnership to build and expand the state’s workforce development programs, establish job training programs in the clean and green technology sectors to assist and prepare specific populations, and develop statewide and regional labor market data on California’s new and emerging green industries workforce needs, trends, and job growth.

SB 348

• Amendments Concurred to in Senate 8/5/08
• This bill would authorize the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County to impose a fee of up to $4, until January 1, 2009, on motor vehicles registered within San Mateo County for a program for the management of traffic congestion and stormwater pollution. The County could reauthorize the fee through January 1, 2013.

SB 908

• Vetoed by Governor 7/25/08
• This bill would require the State Board of Education and the Department of Education to revise the science curriculum to include climate change

SB 1292

• Referred to Senate Rules Committee, 8/4/08
• Bill would require the Office of Administrative Law to analyze any major regulation proposed by the State Air Resources Board to determine if the regulation is cost-effective and technologically feasible, and to determine whether it can achieve the purported emissions reductions. “Cost-effective” is not defined. The legislation requires the State Air Resources Board to reimburse the Office of Administrative Law for the cost of the analysis.

SB 1422

• Amendments Concurred to in Senate 8/30/08
• Bill would authorize the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to operate a value-pricing and transit development demonstration program involving HOT lanes. An HOT lane is a High-Occupancy Vehicle lane that single-occupant cars can pay a fee to drive in.

SB 1536

• Referred to House Committee on Utilities and Commerce 8/22/08
• Bill would prohibit electrical corporations from instituting mandatory dynamic pricing for residential customers, but would authorize the PUC to allow electrical corporations to offer dynamic pricing. Dynamic pricing may become the default pricing for residential customers beginning January 1, 2016. It also would require the PUC to establish a program assisting low-income electricity or natural gas customers with annual household incomes of 200% or less of the federal poverty guideline levels. It also would authorize the Commission to raise electricity rates.

SB 1550

• Senate Refused to Concur to House Amendments 8/31/08
• Bill would require the State Controller to develop a voluntary, investor-based climate change disclosure standard for use by listed corporations doing business in California in order to help investors make better-informed decisions. The standard would include information on a corporation’s emissions and emissions management, as well as risks and opportunities that the corporation faces due to the effects of climate change and the prospect of regulatory action.

SB 1573

• Vetoed by Governor 7/25/08
• This bill would shift the authority to prescribe standards on motor vehicle inspections from the Department of Consumer Affairs to the State Air Resources Board. The responsibility for implementation and enforcement would remain with the DCA.

Colorado

EO 408

• Signed by the Governor 4/22/08
• Establishes a statewide goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and to 80% below 2005 levels by 2050. The order also requires each utility to formulate a plan to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 2005 levels by 2020.

HB 1387

• Signed by the Governor 5/27/08
• Transfers $13 million per year from 2008 to 2011 from the severance tax trust fund to energy-related low-income assistance programs. The funds will be split evenly between the Low-Income Energy Assistance Project and the Energy Outreach Colorado program.

SB 55

• Signed by the Governor 5/20/08
• This bill increases fees for stationary sources of air pollution emissions.

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Connecticut

HB 5600

• Signed by the Governor 6/2/08
• Mandates a statewide emission cut to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050. It also calls for various reports by agencies to monitor progress toward these goals, requires the Department of Transportation to investigate various rail transport possibilities, and authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to use 60 percent of Clean Air Act Account revenues to implement this act.

HB 5686

• Favorable Report Issued by Legislative Commissioner’s Office 4/17/08
• Would establish a pilot green jobs training program at a regional community-technical college.

HB 5786

• Report Issued by Legislative Commissioner’s Office 4/23/08
• Would require each community action agency administering a fuel assistance program to provide funds for weatherization projects for low-income households participating in the Connecticut energy assistance program.

HB 5798

• Passed House and sent to Senate 5/7/08
• Would establish a tax credit for commercial and residential real estate projects that meet or exceed LEED Green Building Rating System silver certification. The amount of the credit would be: for LEED silver buildings, equal to 8 percent of the total investments; for LEED gold buildings, equal to 9 percent of total investments; and, for LEED platinum buildings, equal to 10 percent of total investments.

SB 510

• Favorable Report Issued by Legislative Commissioner’s Office 4/28/08
• Would create a state sales tax exemption and optional property tax exemption of an unspecified amount for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

SB 556

• Reported to House Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding on 3/25/08
• Would create a 20 percent tax credit for corporations on the purchase of products that reduce energy consumption by 20 percent or more, and a 10 percent credit for products that reduce energy consumption by 10 to 19 percent.

SB 565

• Favorable Report Issued by Legislative Commissioner’s Office 4/1/08
• Would establish a program to aggregate state emission credits, sell them and use part of the proceeds to achieve reductions in the emissions of pollutants in the state.

SB 571

• Favorable Report Issued by Legislative Commissioner’s Office 5/1/08
• Would require written residential disclosure reports, to be proffered to buyers during real estate sales that don’t involve a licensed broker, to include the results of an energy audit on the property in question, including recommended efficiency improvements and their projected effects. Requires the Energy Conservation Management Board to produce and distribute to the Real Estate Commission an annual report on the tax and financial incentives available to individuals and businesses for energy conservation.

SB 587

• Favorable Report Issued by Legislative Commissioner’s Office 3/31/08
• Would require the Department of Public Utility Control to order electric and gas companies to decouple their distribution revenues from the volume of electricity and gas they sell.

SB 591

• Referred to Senate Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding 4/09/08
• Would provide low-interest loans to state residents for energy-efficient improvements to their homes.

SB 1000

• Signed by Governor 6/17/08
• This law eliminates an increase in the petroleum products gross earning tax rate from 7% to 7.5%, thus maintaining the 7% rate until the next scheduled increase to 8.1% on July 1, 2013.

SB 1101

• Signed by Governor 8/26/08
• This law eliminates a $5 million annual cap on the existing $500 rebate on the purchase and installation of residential energy-efficient furnaces and boilers.

SB 1102

• Signed by Governor 8/26/08
• This law authorizes zero percent interest loans to households with no more than 200% of the median area income for the household’s size for the purchase of energy=efficient furnaces and boilers.

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Washington, DC

LB 492

• Signed by Mayor 8/4/08
• This law requires Washington DC to contract with a Sustainable Energy Utility for at least five years to conduct sustainable energy programs in DC, paid for by a surcharge on natural gas and electric utility sales. The SEU’s budget will be $7.5 million in the 1^st year, ratcheting up to $20 million in the 4^th year and every subsequent year. The SEU will be required to reduce per-capita energy consumption, increase renewable energy generating capacity, reduce the growth of peak electricity demand, improve the energy efficiency of low-income housing, reduce the growth in energy demand of DC’s largest energy users, and increase the number of green-collar jobs. It also requires that all city buildings and all large privately owned buildings be measured annually using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool, and that the results made public. The law also allows owners or operators of buildings that are not individually metered for electricity or gas to install submetering or energy allocation equipment.

LB 701

• Referred to Finance and Revenue Committee on 4/04/08
• Would establish a sales tax holiday for Energy Star-qualified appliances for the last weekend in September from 2009 to 2018.

LB 910

• Referred to Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs 7/21/08
• Bill would require the Mayor to create a pilot project to evaluate the efficacy of utilizing emerging carbon markets to advance the District’s goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy. The pilot project would identify facilities or fleets, establish their baseline carbon emissions, implement energy efficiency or renewable energy measures, monitor reductions in emissions and sell the emissions credits on a Fractional Carbon Exchange.

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Delaware

SB 263

• Signed by Governor 6/30/08
• Grants legal authority for Delaware to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) cap and trade program, establishes a gradual increase in the percentage of emissions allowances that are auctioned rather than allocated, and directs the proceeds from the auctioned allowances to Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility, the Weatherization Assistance Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Projects and administration of the RGGI program. Requires that participants in the LIHEAP program enroll within two years in the WAP program (subject to availability of WAP assistance).

SB 314

• Passed Senate 6/25/08, Introduced and assigned to House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 6/26/08
• Bill would update building energy code to be in line with IECC 2006 for all new detached 1 and 2-story family dwellings and all other new residential buildings 3 stories or less in height. Energy standards for all other new buildings shall be in accordance with the ASHRAE standard 90.1-2004.

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Florida

HB 7135

• Signed by Governor 6/25/08
• Comprehensive energy legislation that requires the Florida Energy and Climate Commission to set a framework for a cap-and-trade program aimed at reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions. Also requires all new state-owned buildings to comply with a nationally recognized green building rating program, strengthens building codes for residential and commercial buildings, and would require the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction to establish minimum requirements for commercial and residential appliances, unless those standards are preempted by federal standards. The bill also would enable utilities to increase rates to pay for efficiency programs for consumers.

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Georgia

HB 670

• Signed by Governor on 5/14/08
• Creates tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Provides a tax credit of $0.60 per square foot, up to $100,000, for those who purchase residential lighting retrofit projects which result in lowering annual lighting energy consumption by 30 percent below ASHRAE 2004 standards. It also creates a tax credit of $1.80 per square foot, up to $100,000, for those who purchase a single family home or retrofitted building that is certified to exceed ASHRAE 2004 standards by 30 percent.

SB 130

• Signed by the Governor on 5/6/08
• Amends the Georgia Building Code to allow state funded buildings to be constructed or renovated to exceed ASHRAE 2004 energy efficiency standards by 30 percent, where such efficiency is cost-effective within a payback period of ten years.

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Hawaii

HB 2527

• Sent to Joint Committee 4/21/08
• Would require the Office of Planning to compile and distribute to the public information on how to implement smart growth principles, to act as the main resource for communities hoping to implement smart growth principles, and to report to the legislature on the progress of smart growth in communities throughout Hawaii.

HR 124-08 / HCR 145-08

• Referred to House Energy and Environmental Protection, House Finance Committees on 3/10/08
• Resolution would request the Department of Accounting and General Services to conduct a feasibility study on requiring renovations to state buildings to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

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Illinois

HB 1316

• Referred to House Rules Committee on 5/16/08
• Would urge compact fluorescent lamp manufacturers and retailers to voluntarily implement collection programs to ensure that compact fluorescent lamps are properly recycled.

HB 4919

• Arrived in Senate 5/7/08
• Would require all buildings owned or leased by the State to implement real-time pricing methods for electricity usage, to be monitored on an hourly basis and regulated to reduce electricity demand during peak load hours.

HB 5254 / SB 2220

• Referred to House Rules Committee and Senate Rules Committee on 3/14/08
• Would create the “Global Warming Response Act” which outlines a plan to reduce Illinois’ greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

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Indiana

EO 8-14

• Released 8/14/08
• Establishes an Energy Efficient State Building Initiative that requires that all new state buildings, state agencies, departments, offices, boards, commissions, and public universities shall be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to achieve maximum energy efficiency.

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Iowa

SB 2386

• Signed by the Governor on 5/06/08
• Establishes a commission on energy efficiency, which will look at energy efficiency standards in building construction and provide recommendations on efficiency standards for all new and existing buildings. The legislation also requires electric utilities to establish energy efficiency goals, and report back on progress they have made to increase energy savings.

HB 2538

• Referred to House Ways and Means Committee on 3/26/08
• Would increase the investment tax credit from 10 percent of a new investment to 12 percent for eligible housing business if a project meets or exceeds specified energy efficiency standards.

HB 2656

• Referred to House Commerce Committee 3/18/08
• Would require state utilities to cumulatively reduce electric and natural gas consumption by 1.5 percent annually, although individual utility goals could be more or less stringent. Would establish a commission to evaluate energy efficiency standards and practices applicable to new or existing residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The commission would also develop recommendations for: new energy efficiency standards; incentives to encourage energy efficient construction projects; the adoption of a statewide energy efficiency building labeling or rating system. The evaluations would focus specifically on reductions in energy use, indoor air quality effects and the relationship of the standards to weatherization programs.

SB 3284

• Referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee 3/18/08
• Would authorize school corporations to implement cost-effective energy-efficiency measures.

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Kansas

EO 08-03

• Signed by the Governor 3/21/08
• Establishes the Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy Advisory Group and requires it to set a greenhouse gas reduction goal and develop a comprehensive plan to achieve it.

EO 08-04

• Signed by the Governor 3/27/08
• Reformulates the composition of the Kansas Energy Council with the intent to change the council’s focus to encouraging renewable energy and energy efficiency.

HB 2919

• Joint Committee Appointed 4/3/08
• Would create income tax credits for non-owner occupied multi-family dwellings equal to $100 for every unit located immediately below an attic space with insulation sufficient to achieve R-52 insulation value, and equal to $300 for every unit served by a newly installed replacement heating and cooling system that meets certain energy-efficiency criteria.

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Kentucky

HB 2

• Signed by the Governor 4/24/08
• Requires all construction or renovation of public buildings to meet high-performance building standards – all high-performance buildings must be capable of being rated an Energy Star building - beginning January 1, 2009. Starting January 1, 2018, all publicly leased buildings must meet high-performance building standards as well, and prior to that date, any building meeting those standards will receive preference in state leasing decisions.
• The law also creates residential income tax credits equal to 30 percent of the purchase of upgraded insulation (up to $100 per taxpayer); energy-efficient windows and storm doors (up to $250 per taxpayer); or qualified energy property, including energy-efficient heat pump water heaters, heat pumps, central air conditioners, furnaces, hot water heaters, hot water boilers, and advanced main air circulating fans (up to $250 per taxpayer). Residential taxpayers may also claim an income tax credit equal to $800 for the construction of a new Energy Star home or $400 for the sale of a new Energy Star manufactured home. New commercial income tax credits are also created equal to 30 percent of the purchase of energy-efficient indoor lighting systems (up to $500 per taxpayer); and heating, cooling or ventilation systems (up to $500 per taxpayer).
• The Kentucky Bluegrass Turns Green Program is also established, to further demand-side management in private and public-sector buildings by supplying grants to help fund DSM measures and energy audits. Through June 30, 2013, all DSM projects must have at most a 5-year simple payback. Starting July 1, 2013, the Program can consider projects with up to 12-year simple paybacks. It also calls for the Governor’s office of Energy Policy to make recommendations concerning the adoption of a renewable-energy and energy-efficient portfolio standard for Kentucky.

HB 716

• Referred to House Tourism, Development, and Energy Committee 3/4/08
• In order to prepare for a “likely” federal government mandate to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, would require electric utilities to develop and implement research and development and deployment strategies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, including demand-side management programs and mechanisms; increased substitution of renewable, non-carbon and carbon-neutral generating sources; and energy efficiency measures for homes and commercial buildings.

SB 253

• Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee 3/10/08
• Would require all building construction or renovation projects that are at least 50 percent funded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to be designed and constructed to qualify for LEED, Green Globes, or Energy Star certification.

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Louisiana

HB 41

• Referred to House Commerce Committee 3/31/08
• Would exempt the enforcement of the energy conservation section of the International Residential Code, thereby removing the energy code from the state’s uniform construction code.

HB 707

• Referred to House Appropriations Committee 3/31/08
• Would require construction for new state facilities to be designed and certified to achieve at least two globes using the Green Globes Rating System or to achieve the LEED Silver standard.

SB 351

• Signed by Governor 6/30/08
• Requires state agencies to purchase only hybrid or alternate fuel vehicles.

SB 455

• Referred to Senate Finance Committee 4/8/08
• For political subdivisions which choose to enter into performance-based energy-efficiency contracts, this bill would provide guidelines for estimating and guaranteeing energy cost reductions from specific energy efficiency improvements.

SB 650

• Referred to Senate Finance Committee 3/31/08
• Would require that when state agencies enter into performance-based energy efficiency contracts, both parties submit an annual audit report showing savings and an explanation of how savings are measured.

SB 809

• Signed by Governor 7/9/08
• Allows political subdivisions to enter into performance-based energy efficiency contracts for the lesser of twenty years or the average life of the equipment installed by the performance contractor.

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Maine

EO25

• Released 6/18/08
• Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Education and the Director of the Bureau of General Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation, the Director of Energy Independence and Security and other stakeholders to examine remaining obstacles to using certified green construction methods and environmentally preferable materials for new state facilities built, owned, or financed.

HB 1619/LD 2257

• Signed by Governor 4/24/08
• Adopts the 2009 IECC as the statewide uniform building code.

HB 1627/LD 2264

• Signed by Governor 4/17/08
• Encourages the Maine State Housing Authority to provide incentives to individuals and entities to conserve energy within the state’s affordable housing properties.

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Massachusetts

HB 4594

• Signed by Governor 5/29/08
• Establishes a Housing Stabilization and Investment Trust Fund to be used among urban, suburban, and rural areas to provide funds for energy audits and housing modifications to achieve energy efficiency and conservation, among other things.

HB 4821

• HB 4951 Substituted 7/9/08

HB 4951

• Signed by Governor 7/28/08
• In order to have a diesel substitute fuel classified as an eligible substitute, manufacturers and distributers must provide documentation proving that the fuel yields at least a 50 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to the diesel fuel being displaced.

HB 5035

• SB 2540 Substituted 7/30/08

SB 2540

• Signed by Governor 8/7/08
• Establishes a greenhouse gas registry and reporting system (which may be created in collaboration with other states or the region) for greenhouse gas emission sources emitting 5,000 tons of GHG per year or more and for all electricity generation sources. A GHG inventory will be published triennially. Greenhouse gases will be limited at 10-25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, with further limits through 2050 when emissions must be at least 80 percent below 1990 levels.

SB 2743

• Partially Signed by Governor 8/14/08 (Section 13 Vetoed)
• Establishes a commission to study and recommend options for updating farming technology including ways to promote energy conservation, collaborative purchasing, purchasing and selling of energy, energy saving technology, and alternative options for sustainability and growth.

SB 2768

• Signed by Governor 7/2/08
• Requires utility companies to purchase all available energy efficiency improvements that cost less than it does to generate power, while also requiring utilities to offer rebates and other incentives for customers to upgrade lighting, air conditioning, and industrial equipment to more efficient models. Bill also requires the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards to adopt, as a minimum standard, the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code as part of the State Building Code.

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Michigan

HB 6009

• Referred to House Committee on Energy and Technology 4/24/08.
• Would require all newly constructed or renovated state buildings to be LEED certified, at least 1% of the state’s energy requirements to be met through net metering by 2020, and at least 6% of the state’s car fleet to be alternative energy vehicles by 2020.

HB 6028

• Referred to House Committee on Tax Policy 4/30/08
• Would provide a $1,000 income tax credit for the purchase of a hybrid vehicle.

HB 6178

• Read in the House a Second Time 6/25/08
• Would create a business tax credit of $10,000 for the construction or renovation of an industrial or commercial building that achieves LEED certification.

HB 6179

• Referred to House Committee on Tax Policy 5/22/08
• Would establish income tax credits for the purchase of qualified energy-efficient home appliances and home improvements, including tankless water heaters, furnaces, various heat pumps and other appliances that achieve certain efficiency standards,

HB 6363

• Referred to House Committee on Regulatory Reform 8/13/08
• Would require all governmental subdivisions to administer and enforce a nationally recognized model code.

SB 1228

• Reported favorably by Senate Committee on Energy Policy and Public Utilities 5/22/08
• Would require the Energy Office to provide the Legislature with an annual report on recommendations for increasing energy conservation and efficiency.

SB 1380

• Signed by Governor 7/8/08
• Bill establishes a Michigan strategic fund to be used for the creation and operation of centers of energy excellence programs to promote the development, acceleration, and sustainability of energy excellence sectors in the state. Energy excellence sectors are defined as new and developing industry sectors within an energy field, including energy efficiency technology, alternative energy technology, etc.

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