2008 Senate Bill 327 (Override agency coal plant rejection; push "green" energy)

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• Introduced in the Senate on February 7, 2007, to create a refundable income tax credit for motor fuel dealers who sell biodiesel and other renewable fuels. The amount of the income tax credit would be $0.065 per gallon if renewable fuels exceed nine percent of a dealer's sales in 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee on February 8, 2007.
    • Reported in the Senate on March 15, 2007.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Mark Taddiken on March 15, 2007, to insert a new definition of what constitutes a "biodiesel" fuel. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on March 15, 2007.
• Passed in the Senate (40 to 0) on March 21, 2007, to create a refundable income tax credit for motor fuel dealers who sell biodiesel and other renewable fuels. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on March 22, 2007.
  • Referred to the House Energy and Utilities Committee on January 22, 2008.
    • Reported in the House on February 13, 2008, a substitute bill that would permit new coal-fired electricity plants to be built, mandate renewable energy quotas for electric utilities, and require some electric generation facilities to use carbon dioxide capture technologies. The bill would also set energy efficiency standards for state agencies, create the Kansas Energy Science and Technology Commission, enact "net metering" to give residential consumers credit for energy they produce themselves, and provide tax incentives for energy efficiency improvements in residential rental property.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Carl Holmes on February 18, 2008, to delete new policy research requirements proposed for the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 18, 2008.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Larry Powell on February 18, 2008, to delete the bill's proposed new Kansas Energy Science and Technology Commission. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 18, 2008.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Tom Moxley on February 18, 2008, to lower the future minimum percentages of energy that electricity plants would have to produce from renewable sources. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 18, 2008.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Forrest Knox on February 18, 2008, to insert a definition of "best available control technology" for dealing with carbon dioxide emissions. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 18, 2008.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Vaughn Flora on February 18, 2008, to mandate an 80 percent reduction in mercury emissions from any electricity plant that burns a significant amount of coal. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 18, 2008.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Michael O'Neal on February 18, 2008, to clarify that Kansas clean air regulations could not exceed federal standards. The amendment passed in the House (72 to 47) on February 18, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Passed in the House (77 to 45) on February 19, 2008, to permit new coal-fired electricity plants to be built, mandate renewable energy quotas for electric utilities, and require some electric generation facilities to use carbon dioxide capture technologies. The bill would also set energy efficiency standards for state agencies, mandate that utilities offer "net metering" to give residential consumers credit for energy they produce themselves, and provide tax incentives for energy efficiency improvements in residential rental property. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on February 20, 2008, to concur with a House-passed version of the bill. The vote sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.
  • Motion by Sen. Jay Emler on February 20, 2008. The motion passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 20, 2008.
• Received in the House on February 21, 2008.
• Passed in the House (75 to 47) on March 5, 2008, a compromise conference committee report to permit new coal-fired electricity plants to be built, mandate renewable energy quotas for electric utilities, and require some electric generation facilities to use carbon dioxide capture technologies. The proposal started with the House-passed version of the bill, then made changes that included: delete the requirement for increased fuel efficiency of new motor vehicles purchased by state agencies; reinsert the proposed Kansas Electric Generation Science and Technology Commission; postpone the carbon capture requirement on electricity generating plants; add additional restrictions to the proposed tax credit for non-owner occupied residencies; modify the phased-in renewable energy quotas for electricity plants; require more prompt decisions by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on proposed air quality permits; and, clarify that KDHE may deny permits under the Secretary's emergency authority only for "existing sources of air pollution that pose an imminent and substantial threat to health and to the environment". [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on March 6, 2008.
• Passed in the Senate (31 to 7) on March 6, 2008, the same compromise conference committee report that the House approved on March 5, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Vetoed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on March 21, 2008, with her veto explanation message available online at http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/gov_327.pdf.
• Received in the Senate on April 3, 2008.
• Passed in the Senate (32 to 7) on April 3, 2008, to override the Governor's March 21 veto of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]

Comments

Introduced in the Senate on February 7, 2007. Passed in the Senate (40 to 0) on March 21, 2007. New Comment