Committee Meeting Information

September 26 and 27, 2007

Teton County Commission Chamber

200 South Willow Street

Jackson, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Grant C. Larson, Co-Chairman

Representative Thomas A. Lockhart, Co-Chairman

Senator Eli Bebout

Senator Stan Cooper

Senator Bob Fecht

Senator Bill Vasey

Representative Bob Brechtel

Representative Floyd Esquibel

Representative Debbie Hammons

Representative Elaine Harvey

Representative Saundra Meyer

Representative Lorraine Quarberg

Representative William "Jeb" Steward

 

Committee Members Absent

Representative Amy Edmonds

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Maxine Weaver, Staff Attorney

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

Executive Summary

The Committee heard from the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, the Wyoming Business Council, the Coalbed Methane Task Force, the Office of State Lands and Investments, the Banking Commission, the Real Estate Commission, the Aeronautics Commission and received background information regarding Wyoming's energy assets.

 

The Committee accepted reports on the School of Energy Resources, the Clean Coal Task Force, the Wyoming Conservation Corps, the Main Street Program and accepted the recommendations of the Coalbed Methane Task Force.

 

The Committee will sponsor the legislation on the residential mortgages act and laid back the draft bill on the drinking water and water pollution accounts to the next meeting.  The Committee will consider draft legislation on incentives for natural gas exports at the next meeting.  The Committee will not sponsor legislation on the designated real estate agents. 

 

Call To Order (September 26, 2007)

Co-Chairman Lockhart called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

Approval of Minutes

Representative Brechtel moved that the minutes from the June 12 and 13, 2007 Committee meeting be approved.  Representative Quarberg seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

University of Wyoming

Byron Allen, University of Wyoming (UW) Vice-President for Academic Affairs updated the Committee on the progress of NCAR supercomputer.

 

            A.         School of Energy Resources

Tom Buchanan, UW President and Mark Northam, Director of the School of Energy Resources provided a brief overview of the role of the School of Energy Resources and submitted Report #537 regarding the revenues to and the expenditures of the school and the summary of the progress of the school [Appendix 3].  Representative Meyer moved to accept the report.  The motion was seconded by Senator Cooper and passed.

 

B.         Clean Coal Task Force

Rob Hurless, Energy and Telecommunications Advisor to the Governor's Office presented the efforts of the Clean Coal Task Force and submitted Report #567 on the recommendations to fund specific proposals for research into clean coal technologies in Wyoming  [Appendix 4].  Representative Harvey moved to accept the report.  Senator Fecht seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

C.         Institute for Energy Research and Enhanced Oil Recovery

Jim Steidtmann, Executive Director for the Institute for Energy Research and Enhanced Oil Recovery and Lynne Boomgaarden, Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments explained the projects being considered by the institute [Appendices 5 and 6].

 

D.        Wyoming Conservation Corps

Nicholas Agopian, University of Wyoming and several students described what projects they have worked on under the Wyoming Conservation Corps.  Mr. Agopian presented Report #560 on the activities of the Conservation Corps and the progress toward self sufficiency [Appendix 7].  Senator Cooper moved to accept the report.  Representative Hammons seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

Carbon Sequestration

Senator Bebout and Representative Lockhart briefed the Committee on the carbon sequestration discussions from the Joint Judiciary Committee meeting held recently in Rawlins, Wyoming.

 

Wyoming Pipeline Authority

Mark Doelger, Chairman and Brian Jefferies, Executive Director with the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, discussed price compression and provided an update on pipeline capacity and potential projects [Appendices 8 through 10]. 

 

Co-Chairman Larson moved to have LSO staff draft a bill for the next meeting in the general context of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority memorandum, Appendix 10.  Representative Meyer seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

Wyoming Energy Assets

Jim Sims, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Business Roundtable and Founder of NextGen provided information on the future of coal in a carbon constrained world [Appendix 11].

 

Regional Energy Assets

Rich Walje, President of Rocky Mountain Power discussed future electric power demand, generation and transmission [Appendix 12].  Michael Hagood with Energy Systems Business Lead offered to provide a tour of his facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory.

 

Wyoming Business Council

Bob Jensen, Chief Executive Officer and Shawn Reese with the Wyoming Business Council explained the progress and effectiveness of various programs of the Wyoming Business Council [Appendices 13 and 14].  Ben Avery discussed the Challenge Loan Program [Appendices 15 and 16] and Steve Achter explained the workforce housing rules [Appendices 17 through 19].  Co-Chairman Larson introduced Clarene Law, former Co-Chairman of this Committee and now a Wyoming Business Councilmember.

 

Mary Randolph, Executive Director of the Wyoming Main Street Program explained the progress of the program and submitted Report #413, the Wyoming Main Street Annual Report [Appendix 20].  Representative Brechtel moved to accept the report.  The motion was seconded by Representative Hammons and passed.

 

Public Comment

David Wendt, President of Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs discussed exchanges and outreach programs to China.  Joe Coyne, Executive Director of the Converse Area New Development Organization expressed the appreciation of his organization for the Committee's support and advocacy for growth and energy development.

 

Meeting Recess

The Committee recessed until 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

 

Call To Order (September 27, 2007)

Co-Chairman Larson called the meeting back to order at 8:30 a.m. 

 

CBM Task Force Report and Recommendations

Representative Pat Childers and John Corra, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality explained the progress of the Coalbed Methane Task force and presented the recommendations from the Task Force [Appendix 21].  The final report is being finalized and printed and will be submitted later to the Committee.  Co-Chairman Lockhart moved to accept the report as presented by Representative Childers.  Representative Brechtel seconded the motion and the motion and passed.

 

Office of State Lands and Investments

Ms. Boomgaarden and Robert Tompkins, Grant and Loan Program Administrator with the Office of State Lands and Investments presented background information and the proposed legislation, 08LSO-0065.W3, – Revolving loan fund accounts [Appendix 22].

 

Senator Vasey moved for the Committee to sponsor the draft bill, seconded by Senator Cooper.  Following discussion, Senator Vasey withdrew his motion and Senator Cooper withdrew his second.  Co-Chairman Larson laid the bill back until the next meeting.

 

Wyoming Residential Mortgages Practices Act

Jeff Vogel, Banking Commissioner and Mike Williams Deputy Banking Commissioner discussed changes in the draft bill since the last meeting and presented the proposed legislation, 8LSO-0049.W5 – Residential Mortgages Practices Act [Appendix 23].

 

Senator Bebout moved for the Committee to sponsor the draft bill.  Representative Brechtel seconded the motion.  Following discussion with no amendments, the motion passed 13-1 with Representative Edmonds being absent. 

 

Wyoming Real Estate Commission

John Gibbs with the Wyoming Real Estate Commission and Laurie Urbigkit with the Wyoming Association of Realtors presented the proposed legislation, 08LSO-0048.W6 – Designated real estate agents [Appendix 24].  Ms. Urbigkit explained work was still being done on the bill and asked that the bill not be presented during the upcoming budget session.

 

Senator Vasey moved for the Committee to sponsor the draft bill.  Co-Chairman Lockhart seconded the motion.  Following discussion with no amendments, the motion failed 13-1 with Representative Edmonds being absent.  The bill will not be sponsored by the Committee.

 

Wyoming Aeronautics Commission

Shelly Reams, Aeronautics Administrator, Amber Schlabs and Dave Thomas representing the Aeronautics Division, updated the Committee on enhanced air services and air transportation.  They presented information regarding what would be necessary to establish an intra-state air service program [Appendices 25 through 28]. 

 

Reports and updates

The Department of Environmental Quality had submitted information requested from the last meeting [Appendix 29] and an updated list of reports due was provided to the Committee [Appendix 30]. 

 

Meeting Adjournment

The next meeting will be December 3 and 4, 2007 in Casper, Wyoming.  There being no further business, Co-Chairman Larson adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Senator Grant C. Larson, Co-Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix		Appendix Topic		Appendix Description		Appendix Provider
1		Committee Sign-In Sheet		Lists meeting attendees		Legislative Service Office (LSO)
2		Committee Meeting Agenda		Provides an outline of the topics the Committee addressed at the meeting		LSO
3		University of Wyoming		Report #537 - School of Energy Resources		University of Wyoming
4		University of Wyoming		Report #567 – Clean Coal Task Force		University of Wyoming
5		University of Wyoming		Binder – Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute		University of Wyoming
6		University of Wyoming		PowerPoint - Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute		University of Wyoming
7		University of Wyoming		Report #560 – Conservation Corps		University of Wyoming
8		Wyoming Pipeline Authority (WPA)		August 9, 2007 Memo from LSO Staff		LSO
9		WPA		September 7, 2007 Memo from LSO Staff		LSO
10		WPA		September 26, 2007 Memo on incentives to spur timely construction of natural gas pipeline export capacity		WPA
11		Wyoming Energy Assets		Consensus Policy Recommendations on Global Climate Change		Western Business Roundtable
12		Wyoming Energy Assets		Presentation Paper		Rocky Mountain Power
13		Wyoming Business Council (WBC)		Materials Notebook		WBC
14		WBC		Spreadsheets		WBC
15		WBC		August 29, 2007 Attorney General Letter		WBC
16		WBC		Challenge Loan Funding Request		WBC
17		WBC		July 13, 2007 Workforce Housing Rules		WBC
18		WBC		August 17, 2007 Letter to Governor		LSO
19		WBC		September 7, 2007 Letter from Governor		WBC
20		WBC		Report #413 – Wyoming Main Street Annual Report		WBC
21		CBM task Force		Final Recommendations		LSO
22		Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI)		Proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0065.W3 - Revolving loan fund accounts.		LSO
23		Wyoming Residential Mortgages Practices Act		Proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0049.W5 – Residential Mortgages Practices Act.		LSO
24		Wyoming Real Estate Commission		Proposed Legislation – 08LSO-0048.W6 – Designated real estate agents.		LSO
25		Wyoming Aeronautics Commission (WAC)		August 28, 2007 Memo		WAC
26		WAC		Budget Request Narrative		WAC
27		WAC		Wyoming Intra-State Air Service Concept		WAC
28		WAC		Power Point		WAC
29		Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)		August 27, 2007 Letter		DEQ
30		Reports and Updates		September 7, 2007 Report Due List		Legislative Service Office