Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

S-0088.1
                               SENATE BILL 5129
     State of Washington       68th Legislature       2023 Regular Session
     By Senators MacEwen, Fortunato, Holy, Hunt, McCune, Mullet, and Short
     Prefiled 01/03/23. Read first time 01/09/23.    Referred to Committee
     on Environment, Energy & Technology.
      AN ACT Relating to planning for advanced nuclear reactor
  technology in Washington; amending RCW 43.21F.088; and creating a new
  section.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
     NEW SECTION.    Sec. 1.     (1) The legislature reaffirms that
 Washington needs to implement a comprehensive energy planning process
 and that the state energy strategy developed and periodically
 reviewed by the department of commerce is an important element of
 that planning responsibility. The legislature has declared that a
 successful   state  energy   strategy  must   balance  three   goals:
 Maintaining competitive energy prices that are fair and reasonable
 for consumers and businesses and support our state's continued
 economic success; increasing competitiveness by fostering a clean
 energy economy and jobs through business and workforce development;
 and meeting the state's obligations to reduce greenhouse gas
 emissions.
     (2) The legislature finds that planning for the development of
 advanced nuclear reactor technology aligns with the legislature's
 goals for a comprehensive energy strategy. Therefore, the legislature
 intends for the state energy strategy to include consideration of
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 measures that will promote the development of advanced nuclear
 reactor technology in Washington.
     (3) The legislature further finds that advanced nuclear reactor
 technology is a nonemitting electricity generation resource that can
 help Washington meet its long-term emissions reduction goals for the
 electricity sector. The field of nuclear technology is rapidly
 evolving as new innovations are made, and the legislature concludes
 that the state should examine the various ways advanced nuclear
 reactor technology will support the state's energy infrastructure and
 economy in the future.
     (4) Furthermore, the legislature recognizes the challenges
 presented by years of inaction on the management of spent nuclear
 fuel. Therefore, the legislature directs the department of commerce
 to actively seek federal support to address this long-standing issue.
     Sec. 2. RCW 43.21F.088 and 2010 c 271 s 403 are each amended to
 read as follows:
     (1) The state shall use the following principles to guide
 development and implementation of the state's energy strategy and to
 meet the goals of RCW 43.21F.010:
     (a) Pursue all cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation
 as the state's preferred energy resource, consistent with state law;
     (b) Ensure that the state's energy system meets the health,
 welfare, and economic needs of its citizens with particular emphasis
 on meeting the needs of low-income and vulnerable populations;
     (c) Maintain and enhance economic competitiveness by ensuring an
 affordable and reliable supply of energy resources and by supporting
 clean energy technology innovation, access to clean energy markets
 worldwide, and clean energy business and workforce development;
     (d) Reduce dependence on fossil fuel energy sources through
 improved efficiency and development of cleaner energy sources, such
 as bioenergy, low carbon energy sources, advanced nuclear reactor
 technology, and natural gas, and leveraging the indigenous resources
 of the state for the production of clean energy;
     (e) Improve efficiency of transportation energy use through
 advances in vehicle technology, increased system efficiencies,
 development of electricity, biofuels, and other clean fuels, and
 regional transportation planning to improve transportation choices;
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     (f) Meet the state's statutory greenhouse gas limits and
 environmental requirements as the state develops and uses energy
 resources;
     (g) Build on the advantage provided by the state's clean regional
 electrical grid by expanding and integrating additional carbon-free
 and carbon-neutral generation, and improving the transmission
 capacity serving the state;
     (h) Make state government a model for energy efficiency, use of
 clean and renewable energy, and greenhouse gas-neutral operations;
 and
     (i)   Maintain   and   enhance  our   state's   existing   energy
 infrastructure.
     (2) The department shall:
     (a) During energy shortage emergencies, give priority in the
 allocation of energy resources to maintaining the public health,
 safety, and welfare of the state's citizens and industry in order to
 minimize adverse impacts on their physical, social, and economic
 well-being;
     (b) Develop and disseminate impartial and objective energy
 information and analysis, while taking full advantage of the
 capabilities of the state's institutions of higher education,
 national laboratory, and other organizations with relevant expertise
 and analytical capabilities;
     (c) Actively seek to maximize federal and other nonstate funding
 and support to the state for energy efficiency, renewable energy,
 emerging energy technologies, management of spent nuclear fuel, and
 other activities of benefit to the state's overall energy future; and
      (d) Monitor the actions of all agencies of the state for
 consistent implementation of the state's energy policy including
 applicable statutory policies and goals relating to energy supply and
 use.
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Statutes affected: 
Original Bill: 43.21F.088