Monday, February 11, 2008

No Hearings Yet for SB 224, HB 1117, HB 1090 or HB 1280

We have entered the second week of the second half of the 2008 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Late this afternoon committee schedules for both the House and the Senate were posted but none of the bills we are following have been scheduled for committee hearings thus far this week.

Today, SB 224 was finally assigned to the House Commerce, Energy and Utilities Committee. SB 224 contains a weak Renewable Electricity Standard provision but contains other language that utility consumer advocates and environmentalists are opposing. See Bad Bills (Still Alive) http://www.citact.org/newsite/. SB 224 is not listed on the agenda for the committee hearing 02/14/08 which leaves only next week for a committee hearing.

HB 1117 addresses coal gasification and substitute natural gas as well as creating a 10% state income tax credits for wind and anaerobic digesters. HB 1090 requires the state of Indiana to become a member of and participate in the climate registry concerning greenhouse gas emissions reporting and reduction. Neither bill is scheduled for a hearing this week before the Senate Utilities & Regulatory Affairs Committee.

HB 1280 addressing energy efficient buildings has been assigned to the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee but it has also not been scheduled for a committee hearing yet.

To remain viable for the 2008 session bills must receive a committee hearing in the second house by next Thursday, February 21, 2008.

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