San Juan Islander – January 12, 2012

The following bills were pre-filed and will be introduced in the state Senate on January 12, 2011. Senate Bill 6011: Charging an application fee for hydraulic project permits - Introduced by Sen. Kevin Ranker, (D-San Juan Island) on January 9, 2012, creates a $150 application fee to the department of fish and wildlife (DFW) for hydraulic project permits. Emergency permit applications and applications for projects done in conjunction with DFW are exempt. This act declares an emergency and takes effect January 1, 2012. Companion Bill: HB 2135. Senate Bill 6012: Promoting thermal energy recovery from fossil-fueled electrical generation facilities - Introduced by Sen. Kevin Ranker, (D-San Juan Island) on January 9, 2012, modifies the definition of "cogeneration credit," related to carbon dioxide mitigation, to include electricity in a stand-alone facility that is used to make thermal energy. This act also modifies the definition of a "mitigation activity" to include the recovery, transmission, and distribution of thermal energy from power generation facilities and commercial waste heat sources. This act also makes other changes in current law to promote thermal energy recovery from specific electrical generation facilities. For full list of bills, click here.