HB73:

Electric utilities; definitions, aggregate capacity requirements for renewable energy facilities.

Bill Summary:

Electric utilities; definitions; public interest; aggregate capacity requirements for renewable energy facilities; cost recovery. Amends certain provisions related to the Air Pollution Control Board's regulation of carbon dioxide emissions. The bill removes certain requirements for energy efficiency pilot programs to be considered in the public interest. The bill removes aggregate capacity requirements for renewable energy generating facilities, including facilities utilizing energy derived from sunlight, onshore wind, and offshore wind. The bill further removes requirements for the State Corporation Commission's methodology in determining the reasonableness and prudence of costs related to a request for cost recovery for an offshore wind facility by a Phase II Utility.

The bill removes the requirement that the State Corporation Commission must wait until a certain report is received by the General Assembly prior to issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for any investor-owned utility to own, operate, or construct any electric generating unit that emits carbon as a by-product of combusting fuel to generate electricity.