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House committee adopts amendments and concurs in SB301 after addressing PSC concerns
Summary
The House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations committee adopted two amendments to SB301 that addressed concerns raised by the Public Service Commission, then concurred in the bill as amended; the final recorded tally on the concurrence was 11 ayes and 3 nays.
The committee took executive action on SB301, adopting amendments and then voting to concur in the bill as amended.
Representative Carter moved an amendment identified in the record as SB301.4.1 to address concerns expressed by the Public Service Commission about subsection language that could have preapproved projects; witnesses and members said the amendment would clarify that the commission should consider, rather than be required to adopt, specific factors. The committee adopted that amendment.
A second amendment (recorded in the transcript as a clarification about advanced transmission conductor language, described by staff during debate) was also adopted by voice vote. Members discussed the technical wording in a whereas clause and the resilience of advanced composite conductors to high temperatures and wildfire risk; the amendment added clarity about when advanced transmission technologies might increase capacity and reduce wildfire risk.
Representative Millett and others then introduced the twice-amended bill for concurrence. The committee recorded 11 ayes and 3 nays on the final concurrence and SB301 passed out of the committee as amended.
Key context: Representative Fielder noted the Public Service Commission had been the bill’s only opponent in committee and that the amendments were intended to resolve the PSC’s concerns about language tied to certificates of public convenience and necessity. The sponsor and amendment proponents said their intent was to require the commission to consider certain factors, not to dictate outcomes.
Outcome and next steps: SB301 was concurred in as amended and will proceed to the floor with the adopted amendments.
