September 26 and 27, 2007
Teton County Commission Chamber
200 South Willow Street
Jackson, Wyoming
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
Representative Amy Edmonds
Maxine Weaver, Staff Attorney
Please refer to
Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.
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.
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.
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.
Byron Allen, University of Wyoming (UW) Vice-President for Academic Affairs updated the Committee on the progress of NCAR supercomputer.
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.
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.
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].
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.
Senator Bebout and Representative Lockhart briefed the Committee on the carbon sequestration discussions from the Joint Judiciary Committee meeting held recently in Rawlins, Wyoming.
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.
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].
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.
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.
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.
The Committee recessed until 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
Co-Chairman Larson called the meeting back to order at 8:30 a.m.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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].
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].
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|