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Committee adopts cleanup shifting statutory language to favor natural gas for new generation
Summary
Senate Bill 460, described as cleanup language to emphasize natural gas as a preferred fuel for new electricity generation, passed the committee 10-1 after extensive debate about whether the change would disadvantage other resources.
Senate Bill 460, which replaces references to "fossil fuel" with "natural gas" in portions of state statute and emphasizes natural gas as the preferred fuel source for certain new generation, passed the committee by roll call, 10 to 1.
Senator Green said the change is largely cleanup and reflects industry advice — including comments from Southwest Power Pool officials — that the state needs more natural-gas-fired generation to maintain reliability. "They are telling us that we've got to have more natural gas generation," Green said.
Opponents warned the bill could impose a higher evidentiary burden on any non–natural gas option. Senator Boren pointed to text that requires entities choosing a source other than natural gas to provide evidence to the Corporation Commission or other regulators that their choice is in the best interest of state electric consumers. Boren said that language, when combined with striking "fossil fuel," makes natural gas a privileged choice and places extra burdens on other technologies.
Green argued the bill does not bar other sources and that existing statutory phrases remain; he said language was intended as a preference rather than an absolute prohibition. After debate the clerk recorded 10 ayes and 1 nay and the chair declared the bill passed in committee.
