Vetoed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill modifying energy conservation, production, and transmission requirements.

Highlights:

-Establishes energy efficiency performance standards for state-owned and leased real property, and requires state agencies to conduct an energy audit at least every five years on all state-owned real property (Sec. 3). -Requires that the capacity of the renewable electric generation facilities included in a public utility’s generation portfolio, by the year 2013, shall be no less than 10 percent of the public utility’s peak retail load for a three-year average for the 2009, 2010, and 2011 calendar years; by the year 2017, shall be no less than 15 percent for a three-year average for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 calendar years; by the year 2021, shall be no less than 20 percent for a three-year average for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 calendar years (Sec. 6). -Enacts the Net Metering and Easy Connection Act, whereby customers may install and interconnect generators powered by renewable energy to the retail electric supplier’s energy system. Establishes requirements regarding net metering, interconnection, simple contracts, and liability (Sec. 7-23). -Amends the Kansas Air Quality Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Environment from promulgating rules and regulations that are more stringent than required by the federal Clean Air Act or rules and regulations authorized by that Act (Sec. 26). -Amends existing law to allow electric cooperatives with more than 15,000 members to remove themselves from the regulatory jurisdiction of the Kansas Corporation Commission regarding rates (Sec. 29). -Requires that the average fuel economy standard for state-owned motor vehicles purchased during fiscal year 2011 shall not be less than 10 percent higher than the average fuel economy standard of state-owned motor vehicles purchased during fiscal year 2008 (Sec. 30). -Requires any new coal-fired electricity generating facility in Kansas to purchase Kansas coal for at least 5 percent of its coal requirements (Sec. 37).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that changes energy laws, including establishing regulations for net-metering and underground gas storage; also decreases the ability of the Secretary of Health and Environment to regulate certain types of air pollution.

Highlights:

-Requires that the average fuel economy standard for state-owned motor vehicles purchased during fiscal year 2011 shall not be less than 10% higher than the average fuel economy standard of state-owned motor vehicles purchased during fiscal year 2008 (Sec. 1). -Requires the secretary of administration to establish guidelines for state agencies to purchase appliances, lighting fixtures/bulbs, and computers that meet energy efficiency guidelines (Sec. 3). -Requires the formation of rules and regulations for energy efficiency standards regarding newly constructed state-owned buildings, and renovations done to existing buildings (Sec. 6). -Requires the secretary of health and environment to formulate specific rules regarding salt solution mining, and underground hydrocarbon storage (Sec. 7) -Creates the Air Energy Storage Act, creating guidelines and rules for all aspects of underground gas storage (Sec. 8-15). -Amends existing law to allow large electric cooperatives to remove themselves from the regulatory jurisdiction of the Kansas Corporation Commission regarding rates, and provides a mechanism for doing so (Sec. 19). -Creates the renewable energy standards act, requiring that renewable energy sources compose 10% of electricity generation between 2010 and 2015, 15% between 2016 and 2019, and not less than 20% after 2020, and providing for certain exceptions (Sec. 20-26). -Establishes the net metering and easy connection act, and outlines all rules and regulations in regards to net metering (Sec. 27-43) -Voids any restrictive covenant that prohibits or restricts the use of any solar power technology on or adjacent to a residence (Sec.44). -Voids any city ordinance or county resolution that restricts or prohibits the use of solar power technology (Sec.45). -Prevents the Secretary of Health and Environment from setting air pollution regulations that are more stringent, restrictive, or expansive than federal regulations, and forces the approval without delay of applications for facilities that meet all requirements (Sec. 48). -Removes a section of law stating that the secretary may take any action necessary to protect health or the environment, and replaces it with permission for the secretary to issue a temporary order to cease harmful practices; if this fails, the secretary may pursue judicial action, which is open to judicial review prompted by the targeted organization (Sec. 50)

Full Bill Text