HB 716 (BR 170) - D. Pasley, H. Moberly Jr.
AN ACT relating to the condition of electric utilities with respect to carbon dioxide emissions.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to require public utility planning for research, development, demonstration, and deployment of strategies and technologies for capturing, reducing, managing, and sequestering carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the combustion of coal and natural gas for generating electricity; direct the Public Service Commission to provide for recovery of prudent and reasonable costs for such activities through periodic rate case proceedings; direct the Public Service Commission to commence a rulemaking proceeding no later than the effective date of this Act to require utilities that operate fossil-fueled generating facilities in the Commonwealth to initiate strategic, long-range planning for management, control, and sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions; provide for Public Service Commission evaluation of all options and strategies that may be cost-effective for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, including retrofit installations for existing fossil fuel power plants and the incorporation of integrated carbon capture processes and technologies in all future fossil fuel power plants for which construction is commenced or was completed after July 1, 2010; include 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 among possible options; require the Public Service Commission to report findings and conclusions biennially to the Legislative Research Commission beginning no later than July 1, 2009; require the Public Service Commission to commence a general rulemaking proceeding covering all electric utilities that operate or plan construction of fossil fuel power plants to provide for terms of recovery of prudent and reasonable costs for research, development, demonstration, and deployment of cost-effective technologies and strategies for carbon dioxide emission management, reducing, and sequestration; direct the Public Service Commission to encourage utilities to form and participate in collaborative agreements, relationships, and projects for research, demonstration, and deployment of carbon emissions reduction technologies; direct the Public Service Commission to require all electric utilities that operate fossil fuel power plants in the Commonwealth to prepare and submit to the Commission on an annual a comprehensive inventory of such emissions as a public record; direct the Public Service Commission to consider a requirement that electric utilities become members of national or regional "carbon registries" for certification of achieved reductions in emissions in anticipation of market trading of carbon emission permits and offsets.
Mar 3-introduced in House
Mar 4-to Tourism Development & Energy (H)
