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Senate committee adds wood-fiber, advances bill that expands statutory ‘clean energy’ list to include natural gas
Summary
A Senate committee approved an amendment adding wood fiber products to the statutory definition of “clean energy” in Senate Bill 22-31 and advanced the bill, which also includes natural gas in the definition. Committee members said defining clean energy by statute affects grant eligibility and program operation.
A state Senate committee advanced Senate Bill 22-31 on Oct. 12, approving an amendment to add “wood fiber products” to the list of sources defined as “clean energy” and moving the bill forward after a voice vote.
The bill, as presented to the panel, already includes natural gas in its list of items described as clean energy. Committee members discussed the practical effect of placing a statutory definition in state law; one lawmaker asked whether a definition would change which programs or grants could be awarded.
“Why do we need to define clean energy in statute?” asked Senator Barr during committee discussion, referring to the question of grant and program eligibility raised in the hearing. Senator Williams offered the amendment to add wood fiber products. “I’d like to offer an amendment,” Williams said, proposing that wood fiber products be added as one of the clean energy sources.
The committee approved the amendment by voice vote; the chairman then moved that the bill’s title is sufficient and that it be given a due-pass recommendation as amended. The motion passed by voice vote and the bill was reported out of the committee.
The action places the wording change into the legislative process; the committee did not record a roll-call vote on the amendment or the final motion in the transcript. The committee discussion linked the statutory definition to how grants and other programs interpret “clean energy,” but no specific grant or funding change was adopted during the session.
The bill will proceed through the legislative process as amended.
