ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: NREW DPA/SE 8-1-1-0 | APPROP DPA/SE 7-6-0-0

HB 2498: battery storage technology; grants; appropriation

S/E clean energy technology; grants; appropriation

Sponsor:  Representative Lieberman, LD 28

Caucus & COW

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to HB 2498

Overview

Establishes the Arizona Clean Energy Technology Improvement Grant Program, which is administered by the Arizona Commerce Authority, and a council to advise this program. Appropriates $5 million from the state General Fund to this program for grants in fiscal year 2022.

History

The Arizona Commerce Authority (Authority) promotes economic, community and workforce development. Its duties include supporting statewide business expansion, retention, attraction, workforce development and job training, online assistance for new business start-ups, and tax credit administration (A.R.S. § 41-1501 et seq.).

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteEstablishes the Arizona Clean Energy Technology Improvement Grant Program. (Sec. 1)

2.   Directs the Authority to administer this program using legislative appropriations but limits it to using no more than 5% of program monies for administration. (Sec. 1)

3.   Requires the Authority to:

a)   Promote the adoption of clean energy technology and its implementation in Arizona;

b)   Use program monies to provide grants to political subdivisions, nonprofit organizations and private enterprise for research, demonstration projects or market development for improved clean energy technology and its implementation in Arizona; and

c)   When providing grants, give special consideration for research, demonstration projects or market development that improve grid stability, synergize clean energy technologies and address clean energy technology life cycle challenges. (Sec. 1)

4.   Instructs the Authority CEO to appoint a Clean Energy Technology Improvement Advisory Council (Council) that includes at least the following members:

a)   Two people who work in an academic capacity and specialize in a field related to clean energy technology and use;

b)   Two representatives of political subdivisions in Arizona that provide electricity;

c)   Two representatives of electric public service corporations;

d)   Two representatives of the residential clean energy technology industry; and

e)   Two representatives of the electric vehicle industry.

5.   Requires the Council to advise the Authority on criteria for distributing program grants and efficiently promoting clean energy technology improvement and implementation in Arizona. (Sec. 1)

6.   Instructs the CEO to develop an application process in consultation with the Council. (Sec. 1)

7.   Stipulates that an entity—other than a political subdivision that provides electricity or an electric public service corporation—submitting a grant application must partner with at least one political subdivision or electric public service corporation in Arizona and include this information in its application. (Sec. 1)

8.   Authorizes the CEO to waive this partnership requirement for good cause. (Sec. 1)

9.   Requires a grant recipient to file a report to the CEO detailing the project's status and findings by December 31 of year after being awarded a grant and continuing through five years from when the project is substantially complete. (Sec. 1)

10.  Defines substantial completion. (Sec. 1)

11.  Directs the CEO to provide a copy of this project status report to the Speaker of the House, Senate President, Governor and Chair of the Corporation Commission. (Sec. 1)

12.  Terminates this program on June 30, 2029 or upon completion of all reporting requirements associated with this program. (Sec. 1)

13.  Appropriates $5 million from the state General Fund in fiscal year 2022 to the Authority to provide grants through this program. (Sec. 2)

14.  Exempt this appropriation from lapsing but requires that any monies remaining unexpended and unencumbered by June 30, 2024 revert to the state General Fund. (Sec. 2)

 

 

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

                  HB 2498

Initials PAB           Page 0 Caucus & COW

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------