LRB-1882/P2
MIM:cdc
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Sherwin, BB0582 - Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy Consolidation
For 2021-2023 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
State government
Other state government
Office of sustainability and clean energy
This bill creates the office of sustainability and clean energy in DOA to administer certain energy programs. The bill requires the office of sustainability and clean energy to work on initiatives with specified goals regarding clean and renewable energy, innovative sustainability, and diversification of energy resources and imposes duties on the office for advising, supporting, reporting, and assisting state agencies, local governments, and private entities on clean and renewable energy. The bill allows the office of sustainability and clean energy to provide technical assistance to governmental units and private entities. In addition, the bill requires the office of sustainability and clean energy to establish a program for making grants from the environmental fund for clean energy production research.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1. 15.105 (35) of the statutes is created to read:
15.105 (35) Office of sustainability and clean energy. There is created in the department of administration an office to be known as the office of sustainability and clean energy.
Section
2. 16.954 of the statutes is created to read:
16.954 Office of sustainability and clean energy. (1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Office” means the office of sustainability and clean energy.
(b) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5).
(2) Initiatives. The office shall work on initiatives that have the following goals:
(a) Promoting the development and use of clean and renewable energy across this state.
(b) Advancing innovative sustainability solutions in ways that improve this state's economy and environment, including energy initiatives that reduce carbon emissions, accelerate economic growth, and lower customer energy costs.
(c) Diversifying the resources used to reliably meet the energy needs of consumers in this state and generate family-supporting jobs through the expansion of this state's clean energy economy.
(3) Other duties. The office shall do all of the following:
(a) Provide advice and support to state agencies in developing or retrofitting sustainable infrastructure to reduce energy use and lessen negative impacts on this state's air and water quality.
(b) Study and report on the status of existing clean and renewable energy efforts by the state, including economic development initiatives, and develop future energy policy opportunities for consideration by the governor and state agencies.
(c) Serve as a single point of contact to assist businesses, local units of government, and nongovernmental organizations that are pursuing clean energy opportunities.
(d) Identify and share information about clean energy funding and employment opportunities for private and state and local governmental entities.
(e) Take other steps necessary to facilitate the implementation of the initiatives specified in sub. (2) and to identify and address barriers to the implementation of those initiatives.
(4) Clean energy grants. The office shall establish a program for making grants from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (q) to fund research in support of clean energy production.
(5) Technical assistance. (a) The office may provide technical assistance to local governmental units and private entities to assist in the planning and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable resources and may charge for those services. The office may request technical and staff assistance from other state agencies in providing technical assistance to those units of government and private entities.
(b) The office may require a public utility to provide energy billing and use data regarding public schools, if the office determines that the data are necessary to provide technical assistance under par. (a) in public schools, including those with the highest energy costs.
(c) The office shall consult with the public service commission in implementing this subsection.
Section 3
. 20.505 (4) (q) of the statutes is created to read:
20.505 (4) (q) Clean energy grants. Biennially, from the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for grants under s. 16.954 (4).
****Note: This Section
involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
(End)
