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Committee advances bill allowing gas projects to borrow from GIFA
Summary
House Bill 51 would allow gas facilities and pipelines to use Georgia Infrastructure Financing Authority loans; committee advanced the identical Senate measure unanimously after proponents said the change helps communities upgrade gas service.
The committee advanced House Bill 51, a measure to permit gas facilities and pipelines to qualify for loans from the Georgia Infrastructure Financing Authority (GIFA), after supporters said the change would let cities and authorities borrow for main-line upgrades.
Mister Wilt, speaking for the bill’s author, said the measure is identical to a Senate bill already approved by the Senate committee and floor and “seeks to allow for gas facilities and gas pipelines, to be, projects that can borrow money from GIFA.” He said the measure responds to local needs such as the city of Douglas, which faces constraints on gas service capacity and would need to borrow to upgrade its main line.
Wilt told the committee industry stakeholders cooperated on language that protects company territories and that he did not recall substantive opposition during the Senate process. The sponsor reported a previous House vote result when the bill passed the lower chamber; the transcript records the House vote as “120 to 55.”
Committee members asked procedural questions but recorded no opposition during the committee vote. A motion to give the bill a favorable report was made and the committee advanced the measure; the sponsor indicated he expects the vice chairman to carry the bill in the Senate.
The chair said the committee will schedule additional items at upcoming meetings and confirmed the committee advanced HB 51 so local authorities could access GIFA financing for gas infrastructure projects.
