House File 2526 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 2526
BY THOMSON, GOLDING, SHERMAN,
and HAYES
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for an energy policy interim study committee.
2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. ENERGY POLICY INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE.
2 1. The legislative council is requested to establish an
3 Iowa energy policy interim study committee to investigate,
4 study, and evaluate current, past, and future energy policies,
5 statutes, and markets in the state of Iowa including but not
6 limited to those related to:
7 a. The electric grid.
8 b. Reliable energy production.
9 c. Native energy resources. For purposes of this paragraph,
10 “native energy” means energy produced within Iowa for resident
11 use.
12 d. Whether to disengage from the midcontinent independent
13 system operator.
14 e. Nuclear energy for Iowa or for a consortium of states led
15 by Iowa.
16 f. The establishment of backup systems throughout the
17 state, such as a microgrid, to allow communities to retain
18 independent systems.
19 g. Preventing the decommissioning of reliable electricity
20 production.
21 h. Evaluating the impact of new development on current grid
22 production.
23 i. Large data centers, liquified and compressed carbon
24 dioxide infrastructure, vertical hydroponic agriculture,
25 hydrogen hubs, and other concepts.
26 j. Short-term tax benefits for stock holders of an energy
27 utility versus the long-term consequences for customers.
28 2. a. The interim study committee shall consist of the
29 following members:
30 (1) Six members of the house of representatives, four
31 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of
32 representatives and two of whom shall be appointed by the
33 minority leader of the house of representatives.
34 (2) Five members of the senate, three of whom shall be
35 appointed by the majority leader of the senate and two of whom
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1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
2 b. The interim study committee shall elect a chairperson and
3 a vice chairperson. The commission shall meet at the time and
4 place specified by call of the chairperson.
5 3. Upon a majority vote or the signature of the chairperson,
6 the interim study committee may issue a subpoena.
7 4. The interim study committee shall meet during the
8 2024 legislative interim and submit a report containing
9 recommendations to the general assembly by December 15, 2024.
10 EXPLANATION
11 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
12 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
13 This bill creates an energy policy interim study committee
14 consisting of 11 legislative members. Decided by majority and
15 minority leadership of the house of representatives and the
16 senate, six members shall be from the house of representatives
17 and five members shall be from the senate.
18 The bill provides that the energy policy interim study
19 committee shall investigate, study, and evaluate energy
20 polices, statutes, and markets in Iowa. The interim study
21 committee shall focus on energy-related topics including
22 grids, reliable energy production, Iowa energy production,
23 the midcontinent independent system operator, nuclear energy,
24 backup systems, preventing decommissioning, large energy users,
25 and the short-term benefits for stockholders of an energy
26 utility and long-term consequences for customers.
27 The bill provides the energy policy interim study committee
28 with the authority to issue a subpoena upon a majority
29 vote of the interim study committee or the signature of the
30 chairperson.
31 The bill provides that the interim study committee shall
32 meet during the 2024 legislative interim and submit a report to
33 the general assembly by December 15, 2024.
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