* Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables
SB 459 and AB 841 are companion bills that incorporate the recommendations of the Governor’s Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables. The task force met through 2003 and 2004 to consider ways to update and improve state energy policies relating to conservation and renewable energy.
Several representatives of CFC member organizations served on the Governor’s Task Force, and CFC has made enactment of the Task Force recommendations a priority. For CFC, support for boosting energy efficiency programs and utilizing more renewable energy has been driven by the need to keep the costs of modernizing the state’s energy infrastructure as low as possible, and address the rising prices of fossil fuels. More recently, the damage caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita to the natural gas production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas has forced natural gas prices much higher and could make conservation and renewable energy an even greater priority.
* Senate Bill 459 - Substitute Amendment 1
* CFC Statement
* Legislative Council Memo
* Environmental Trust Financing: 2003 Wisconsin Act 152
The environmental trust financing law gives utilities in Wisconsin the option to finance certain environmental control activities through bond financing rather than through the traditional approach. Bond financing lowers costs to consumers as utilities forego a return on equity investment. Environmental control activities eligible for this financing approach under the Act include installing pollution control equipment on existing plants or retiring older plants.
CFC Statement at Assembly Energy Committee Hearing January 28, 2004
* MISO Act: 2003 Wisconsin Act 40
Also known as the MISO amendment, 2003 WIS. Act 40 allows the state's Public Service Commission to authorize the state transmission utility, the American Transmission Company, to withdraw from the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), the grid operator for the transmission of high voltage electricity across much of the Upper Midwest, if it deems such withdrawal is in the public interest.
* Generation Siting Incentives Act: 2003 Wisconsin Act 31
2003 Wis. Act 31 increases the financial aid available to communities to host new power plants.
Legislative Council Act Memo
* Leased Generation Law: 2001 Wisconsin Act 16 (pp 553–554)
The leased generation law, included as a part of 2001 Wis. Act 16, allows the Commission to choose long term leases as the financing mechanism for new power plants. At the same time, this law also preserves the Public Service Commission's jurisdiction over the operation and maintenance of these leased plants.
* Reliability 2000: 1999 Wisconsin Act 9
(Excerpt from budget legislation)
Included as a part of the 1999-2001 state budget, Reliability 2000 maintained limits on utility diversification, allowing additional energy-related diversification only if the utility divested its transmission assets. Reliability 2000 also encouraged the divestiture of transmission assets to an independent transmission company now called the American Transmission Company, created a new statewide energy efficiency and energy assistance program known as Public Benefits and created the state renewable portfolio standard.
Legislative Fiscal Bureau Summary
(see pages 30-45 for a discussion of Reliability 2000)
Legislative Council Staff Information Memorandum
Legislative Brief
* 1997 Electric Reliability Act 204
This legislation is the precursor to Reliability 2000. It shortened approval times for needed new generation and high voltage transmission lines, required construction of new generation; including renewables, required the independent operation of transmission facilities and authorized wholesale merchant plants. Additionally, the legislation also improved Wisconsin's strict standards for approving new generation and transmission.
Legislative Brief