Jan 05 - Montgomery Advertise

Gas prices have gone down, but the Alabama Legislature isn't letting up on a package of energy bills that will save energy, promote alternative energy and create jobs.

"Just because fuel prices have dropped significantly does not mean we need to back off," said Rep. Greg Wren, vice chairman of the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy.

"We're picking up for '09 where the session left off in '08."

Lawmakers on the committee charged with energy policy introduced 11 bills in 2008. When the new session begins Feb. 3, they plan to introduce 14 bills, including those that didn't pass last year.

Wren, R-Montgomery, said the diverse slate of proposals includes bills dealing with efficiency and conservation; research and development; incentives and tax credits for alternative and renewable fuels, as well as expansion of broadband access in the state.

"This is focused on providing and developing a comprehensive energy policy for the state and responsible policies that the state can take the lead on and encourage both producers and consumers of energy for the years to come," Wren said. "This is a long-term commitment to developing a comprehensive energy strategy."

As for gas, he said the drop in fuel prices should not lessen the public's focus on finding alternatives.

"While we have a little breathing opportunity, we want to seize that opportunity to put in place these energy initiatives that have been worked on by more than 250 people throughout the state from universities to the private sector to advocacy groups," Wren said.

He said the joint energy committee is the largest project he has been a part of since he joined the Legislature in 1994. Fourteen legislators and about 250 people representing the public and the private sector have been involved, Wren said.

After a disappointing finish in the last session -- with only one bill being passed and signed by the governor -- Sen. Wendell Mitchell said he thought some of the people working with the committee might lose enthusiasm.

"For some reason, they came back even more zealous," said Mitchell, chairman of the energy committee.

Mitchell, D-Luverne, said the number of people involved increased.

Wren said eight of the 11 bills in the 2008 package were in position to pass on the last day of the session. "They met the fate of countless other bills," he said.

The Legislature passed two bills, one of which was vetoed by Gov. Bob Riley.

Riley vetoed a bill that focused on research and development, a proposal intended to lure public and private research grants into the state. At the time, Riley's staff said the panel that would have been created by the bill would have duplicated work of a state agency and created an executive agency that was not under the control of the governor.

Several committee members were vocal about their frustration with Riley vetoing the bill, which received overwhelming support from the Legislature.

The Legislature passed, and Riley signed, the Alternative and Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which offers tax abatements, credits and deductions for the development, use and expansion of alternative and renewable energy sources.

Leadership in the House and Senate have committed to support the bills in 2009 and "understand people of the state expect the energy issue to be a top priority of the Legislature this session," Wren said.

"We're trying to get most, if not all of them, to the governor," he said.

Mitchell said some of the bills were tweaked to "make them more acceptable" to consumers and energy interests.

"They're stronger now than they were," the senator said.

Mitchell is confident the bills will pass.

Their fate, like last year, could depend on whether there are calendar-consuming filibusters or stalling tactics in the Senate.

If the bills stall, Mitchell said, it will be because of unrelated issues in the Senate.

Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. supported the package of bills during the previous session, said his chief of staff, Mike Martin.

"He knew that a number of people from various walks of life were involved in developing those bills," Martin said. "If they were comfortable with them, so was he."

Martin said he is not aware of any reason Folsom would not support them again.

A summary released by the energy committee before the 2008 session stated that the initiatives were important as fuel prices shot up, with a growing emphasis on conservation, and as Alabama continues to grow -- with the population expected to increase by more than 6 percent in the next 20 years.

"Now is the right time for Alabama to examine energy production and consumption and enact the beginning of a comprehensive energy plan to serve all Alabamians," according to the summary.

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