Committee advances CERC funding bill SB 2143 to appropriations after debate on purpose and scale

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on an unspecified date voted 7-0 to give a due pass recommendation to Senate Bill 2143, known in the hearing as the CERC bill, and to refer it to the Appropriations Committee because the bill carries a funding request.

Members praised the State Energy Research Center’s role in leveraging state innovation dollars but pressed for clarity on how additional funds would be used and whether requests would create an ongoing expectation for larger appropriations. Senator Inghitt said she was concerned the program could become a recurring expectation: "it almost looks as if it's becoming an expectation where we go from 5,000,000 to 7 and a half 1000000 to 10,000,000. And I just wonder if this is something that'll continue into the the future. It concerns me in 1 way that there is no real set vision or goal for what they're going to accomplish."

Tom, a representative for the State Energy Research Center, described the center’s model as early-stage, "innovation dollars" intended to prove concepts and attract additional federal and industry funding. He told the committee, "the intent would be to build on these funds and to at least double them with external funding whatsoever, external funding outside of the ERC." He said the center typically uses small state grants to reach a point where federal and private cost-share follows.

Witness and committee remarks included several quantitative details cited by Tom: the center reviewed more than 120 proposals, funded or advanced about 68 of them, and divided its innovation funds among roughly 60 projects. He said approximately 20 percent of proposals (about 25 of 120) needed more development rather than being rejected outright. Tom reported innovation outcomes, including 11 patents from CERC-supported work and 18 new patents across programs since the innovation effort began. Committee members described the requested increase as an additional $2.5 million on top of existing allocations and debated whether the funds are directed to project matching, staffing, or broader program costs.

Senator Kessel moved that the committee give SB 2143 a due pass and refer it to Appropriations; Senator Ingrid seconded. The committee recorded a 7-0 vote in favor. Senator Behn was recorded in the transcript as the member who will carry the bill to the floor.

The bill will be considered by the Appropriations Committee next, per the committee referral recorded in the transcript.