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Senate committee reviews Commerce energy budget; Petro Fund and solar programs highlighted

2699144 · March 19, 2025

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Summary

Senate members heard the Commerce Department's energy budget proposal, including a request for a $500,000-per-year Petro Fund database upgrade and language harmonizing solar rewards; the bill was laid over for possible omnibus inclusion.

Sen. Zhuang (committee presiding) and Department of Commerce officials presented Senate File 2393, the budget vehicle for energy portions of the Commerce Department, during the March 19 hearing. Commissioner Polish told the committee the department seeks operating increases and programmatic investments, including a $500,000-a-year request to support a new Petro Fund database and programmatic work, plus a proposed $3 million operating adjustment over the biennium.

Commissioner Polish said the Petro Fund has not seen a meaningful increase in more than 20 years and that the requested funds would support a new database and programmatic needs to improve operations. She described the Petro Fund as fee-supported and said the request is revenue-neutral to the general fund. The department also proposed technical language updates for the Solar Rewards program and changes to the energy-efficiency statute to modernize terminology.

Committee members asked for more detail about several line items. Senator Green asked about a recurring appropriation for vermiculite insulation remediation that supports weatherization work; Commissioner Polish said the appropriation helps remove vermiculite so low-income households can complete weatherization activities. Members also requested additional breakdowns — for example, the $400,000 grant line for university microgrid research — and the author and administration agreed to provide more detail while the bill is held over.

Budget riders and Renewable Development Account (RDA) allocations were discussed. Assistant officials and the author clarified that recent RDA additions had reserved low-income solar funds for the year and that the A1 amendment harmonizes the program language and reserves set-asides.

Senate File 2393 was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill; members and the department said additional documentation and technical fixes would be provided before further action.