Committee hears SB 599 to preserve administrative funding and limited grants from Renewable Energy Fund
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Summary
SB 599 would preserve administrative funding (up to $1M) and continue limited grant authority for the Renewable Energy Fund after recent budget actions; DOE officials said the fund receives roughly $8M annually and warned cuts would require staff changes or alternate funding.
Sen. Waters introduced SB 599 to reconcile recent budget changes and preserve the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) for administrative costs and up to $1,000,000 in grants annually. Deputies from the Department of Energy explained the REF receives alternative compliance payments (roughly $8 million in recent years) and that about $1.0–1.5 million in staff and program costs are currently funded by the REF. Committee members questioned whether a remaining balance supports $1,000,000 in grants and the DOE explained receipts and timing affect available balances.
Why it matters Committee members were concerned that sweeping prior REF balances left less than the $1 million the sponsor intended for grants; DOE said upcoming receipts should restore fund capacity. The committee asked the department to clarify administrative costs and ongoing revenue timing.
Ending Hearing closed with requests for DOE to provide more precise fund balance and flows as the committee considers statutory language to preserve limited REF program capacity.