Committee Meeting Information

September 14 and 15, 2009

Jackson Town Hall

Jackson, Wyoming

 

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Grant C. Larson, Co-Chairman

Representative Thomas A. Lockhart, Co-Chairman

Senator Eli Bebout

Senator Stan Cooper

Senator Rick Hunnicutt

Senator Marty Martin

Representative Bob Brechtel

Representative James Byrd

Representative Bernadine Craft

Representative Elaine Harvey

Representative Glenn Moniz

Representative Jim Roscoe

Representative Tim Stubson

Representative Dave Zwonitzer

 

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Maxine Weaver, Staff Attorney

Kelley Shepp, Associate Research Analyst

 

 

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.

Call To Order (September 14, 2009)

Co-Chairman Lockhart called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.  Senator Martin moved to accept the minutes from the June Meeting.  Representative Harvey seconded the motion and the motion passed.  Co-Chairman Lockhart introduced Majority Floor Leader Anderson, Speaker Simpson, Representative Gingery and former legislators Bill Hawks, Clarene Law, Bill Stafford and Mr. Barlow.  Co-Chairman Lockhart also introduced guests David Wendt, President of Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs, Liu Wenge, Director, International Division for Energy & Safety, Work Safety Law Institute & Deputy Chief Editor for China Coalbed Methane and Shengchu Huang, President of China Coal Information Institute & National Institute for Occupational Safety.

 

Executive Summary

The Committee heard from the Governor’s Office, the University of Wyoming, the Business Council, the Office of State Lands and Investments, the Banking Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Infrastructure Authority, the Pipeline Authority and the Economic Development Association.

 

The Committee received reports from the University of Wyoming, the Business Council and the Carbon Sequestration Task Force.  The Committee voted to continue consider action of the draft bill on collection agencies to the November meeting.

 

University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan introduced his staff and described the activities at the University [Appendix 3].  Bill Gern, Vice‑President for Research and Economic Development updated the Committee on the status of the NCAR supercomputer [Appendix 4].

 

Mark Northam, Director of the School of Energy Resources presented Report #537, School of Energy Resources [Appendix 5].  Speaker Simpson updated the Committee on the status of the Western Energy Conference to be held in Jackson October 25-27, 2009. 

 

Rob Wallace, Manager of Government Relations for GE Energy and Clean Coal Task Force Board Member submitted Report #643 on Clean Coal [Appendix 6].  Representative Brechtel moved to accept Report#537 and Report #643.  Representative Byrd seconded the motion and the motion passed.  The Committee accepted both reports.

 

Mr. Gern and Keith White, Director of the Interstate Gas Conservation Commission and Gasification Projects for GE and Chairman of the Governance Board, discussed the construction plans for the High Plains Gasifier project [Appendix 7].  Carol Frost, Associate Vice-President and Ron Surdam – State Geologist explained carbon sequestration activities, proposals and future plans [Appendices 8 and 9].  Doug Vinzant, Vice‑President of Finance and Administration briefed the Committee on energy efficiency initiatives at the University [Appendix 10]. 

 

Wyoming Business Council

Bob Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Wyoming Business Council (WBC), Mary Randolph and Ben Avery explained some of the programs administered by the WBC.  Ms. Randolph presented Report #413 – Main Street Program [Appendix 11].  Senator Martin moved to accept Report #413, seconded by Representative Harvey.  The motion passed and Report #413 was accepted.

 

Mr. Avery submitted Report #645 – Energy Conservation Improvement Program [Appendix 12] and discussed the developments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) [Appendix 13].  Representative Brechtel moved to accept the report.  Representative Harvey seconded the motion and the motion passed. The Committee accepted Report #645.

 

Pipelines

Porter Bennett, President and CEO of Bentek Energy presented an outlook of the United States natural gas markets [Appendix 14].

 

Governor's Office and Office of State Lands and Investments

Rob Hurless, Energy and Telecommunications Advisor to the Governor's Office and Lynne Boomgaarden, Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments and ARRA coordinator updated the Committee on the status of the federal stimulus spending, broadband applications and wind energy projects [Appendices 15 through 19]. 

 

Wyoming Transmission Infrastructure

Steve Ellenbecker, Director of Governmental & External Relations, Wyoming Infrastructure Authority briefed the Committee on the renewable energy conference and the wind conference [Appendices 20 and 21].  Rich Walje, President of Rocky Mountain Power explained the Gateway West Transmission Project and transmission lines and wind projects [Appendices 22 through 24].  Majority Floor Leader Anderson discussed the work being done by the Wind Energy Task Force.

 

Meeting Recess

The Committee recessed until Tuesday morning.

 

 

Call To Order (September 15, 2009)

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

 

Wyoming Economic Development Association

Phil Christopherson, President of Wyoming Economic Development Association and James Klessens reviewed economic development and described the building blocks of economic development used by various projects around Wyoming [Appendices 25 and 26].

 

Wyoming Banking Commission

Joe Mulberry, Assistant Commissioner and Marlene Atchison, Licensing Supervisor summarized banking division activities and presented the draft bill 10LSO-0071.W4 – Collection agencies [Appendices 27 through 30].  Mr. Mulberry and Ms. Atchison suggested some clarifications to the draft bill.  Linda Russell, member of the Collection Agency board spoke in favor of the proposed legislation.  Bradley Chapman spoke generally against the bill [Appendices 31 and 32]. 

 

Senator Cooper moved to forward the draft bill, including clarifications as discussed by the Committee,  to the November meeting.  Senator Martin seconded the motion.  Following discussion with no amendments, the motion passed.

 

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

Landfills

John Corra, Director of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and Carl Anderson, Solid and Hazardous Waste Administrator discussed the current status of landfill plans and landfill issues [Appendices 33 through 35]. 

 

Air Quality

Mr. Corra updated the Committee on ozone quality, new source reviews and fees relating to air quality [Appendix 36]. 

 

Carbon Sequestration

Mr. Corra, Tom Doll, Oil and Gas Supervisor and Ron Surdam, State Geologist submitted Report #637 - Carbon Sequestration, assisted by Carbon Sequestration Task Force Members Bob Green with Rio Tinto and Laura Ladd with the Governor's Office [Appendices 37 through 39].  Mr. Surdam described the potential for Wyoming geology for carbon sequestration [Appendices 40 and 41].

 

Representative Brechtel moved to accept the report.  Representative Byrd seconded the motion and Report #637 was accepted.

 

Pipelines

Bill Hawks, Chairman of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, Brian Jeffries, Executive Director of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority and Glen Murrell, Research Scientist with the Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute provided an update on activities of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority, proposed pipeline projects and the efforts of Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute [Appendix 42]. 

 

Jon Brumley, President, Encore Acquisition Company reported on the carbon sequestration pipeline from Lost Cabin Wyoming to Bell Creek Montana [Appendix 43].  Ed Miller, El Paso Senior Project Manager briefed the Committee on the status of the Ruby Pipeline Project and the development of a carbon neutral pipeline [Appendix 44]. 

 

 

Coal Generation

Marion Loomis, Executive Director of the Wyoming Mining Association discussed the Wyoming coal activities and the current coal production in Wyoming [Appendices 45 and 46]. 

 

Meeting Adjournment

The next interim Committee meeting will be held November 9 and 10, 2009 at the Game and Fish building in Casper.  There being no further business, Co-Chairman Larson adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

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		Buchanan Comments		University of Wyoming
4		University of Wyoming		The NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) Fact Sheet		University of Wyoming
5		University of Wyoming		Report #537 – School of Energy Resources		University of Wyoming
6		University of Wyoming		Report #643 – Clean Coal		Clean Coal Task Force
7		University of Wyoming		High Plains Gasification Advanced Technology Center – GE Energy		University of Wyoming
8		University of Wyoming		Wyoming Carbon Underground Sequestration Project (WY-CUSP)		University of Wyoming
9		University of Wyoming		Power point – WY-CUSP Activities, Proposals and Plans		University of Wyoming
10		University of Wyoming		Climate Action Plan		University of Wyoming
11		Wyoming Business Council (WBC)		Report #413 – Wyoming Main Street Annual Report		WBC
12		WBC		Report #645 – Wyoming Energy Conservation Improvement Program		WBC
13		WBC		Status of State Energy Office – ARRA Stimulus Application		WBC
14		Pipelines		US Natural Gas Market Outlook		BenTek Energy
15		Governor’s Office and Office of State Lands (OSLI)		Recovery Home Page		OSLI
16		OSLI		Wyoming ARRA Funds Spreadsheet		OSLI
17		OSLI		Wyoming Wind Projects on State Trust Lands		OSLI
18		OSLI		Standardized vs. Negotiated Compensation for State Wind Leases		OSLI
19		OSLI		Projected Income from Windpower Conversion on Wyoming Trust lands		OSLI
20		Transmission Infrastructure		Connecting Wind and Transmission to Expand Wyoming’s Economy		Wyoming Infrastructure Authority
21		Transmission Infrastructure		Transmission Siting in the Western United States		Holland & Hart
22		Transmission Infrastructure		September 14, 2009 Comments		Rocky Mountain Power
23		Transmission Infrastructure		Wyoming Wind Projects		Rocky Mountain Power
24		Transmission Infrastructure		Energy Gateway -  Bringing New Transmission to the West		PacifiCorp
25		Wyoming Economic Development Association (WEDA)		The Elected Official's Guide to Economic Development		WEDA
26		WEDA		What is Economic Development?		WEDA
27		Wyoming Banking Commission		Mulberry Remarks		Wyoming Banking Commission
28		Wyoming Banking Commission		August 27, 2009 Memorandum		Wyoming Banking Commission
29		Wyoming Banking Commission		Cross Index Reference for 10LSO-0071		LSO
30		Wyoming Banking Commission		10LSO0071.W4 - Collection agencies.		LSO
31		Wyoming Banking Commission		Collection Agency Regulation Statute Proposed by the Division of Banking:  Why It Will Not Work		Bradley Chapman
32		Wyoming Banking Commission		September 12,2009 Memo from Thelton Q. Skipper		Bradley Chapman
33		DEQ - Landfills		Talking Points – Minerals Committee Briefing on Landfill Reports		DEQ
34		DEQ – Landfills		Table 2 – Summary of Alternatives and Cost Estimates		DEQ
35		DEQ – Landfills		August 24, 2009 Cover Note – Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Report		DEQ
36		DEQ - AQD		Air Quality Fees for 2011-12 Biennium		DEQ
37		Carbon Sequestration		Report #637 – Carbon Sequestration		Carbon Sequestration Working Group
38		Carbon Sequestration		CD – Carbon Sequestration Working Group Resource Materials		Carbon Sequestration Working Group
39		Carbon Sequestration		What is Geologic Carbon Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide?		Carbon Sequestration Working Group
40		Carbon Sequestration		Geological CO2 Sequestration in Wyoming in the Context of Mineral Development		State Geological Survey
41		Carbon Sequestration		Coal to Chemicals/Electrons in the Shaanxi Province of China – A Model for Future Coal Utilization in the Powder River Basin		State Geological Survey
42		Pipelines		September 15, 2009 Presentation		Wyoming Pipeline Authority
43		Pipelines		Entering a New Age For Encore		Encore Acquisition Company
44		Pipelines		Ruby Pipeline Project		El Paso Western Pipelines
45		Coal Generation		Update on Coal Industry		Wyoming Mining Association
46		Coal Generation		Peabody - Essential		Peabody Energy Corp.
47		Miscellaneous		August 27, 2009 Report Due List		LSO