Transcript Highlights:

• We're not limited; we're not resource-limited in the supplies of natural gas, oil, or coal.
• A system is 250 megawatts thermal, and the thermal number is an important number to remember.
• That was the big market change, Senator, that happened some 15 years ago when we started pulling coal
• We control roughly 8,000 megawatts of dispatchable power; we do it all: nuclear, gas, and coal.
• negotiating with one of those sites on the Texas Gulf Coast. infrastructure investors who have done coal

Bills: SB1468, SB1612, SB1789, SB2530, SB2571, SB2717, SB2967

Keywords: utility systems, Texas A&M, regents authority, construction, improvement, construction contracts, trust funds, property rights, mechanics lien, contractors, trustee liability, mechanic's lien, liability, attorney's fees, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, insurance regulation, administrative penalties, coastal counties, catastrophe year

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, Minnesota is leading the way on thermal energy networks and geothermal.
• I also serve on the PUC's thermal energy network deployment work group.
• </c><00:19:41.039><c> energy</c> also serve on the PUC's thermal energy also serve on the PUC's thermal
• We appreciate the opportunity to share our support. enough thermal energy to heat over 40 enough thermal
• </c> natural gas, and even clean coal. natural gas, and even clean coal.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it shows how much capacity we have in our thermal fleet.
• And it shows how much capacity we have in our thermal fleet.
• It was all thermal. It had the same characteristics.
• The megawatts coming to this grid are not thermal right now.
• Thermal is what everybody wants, and so we have thermal as well. Is that correct? That's correct.

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee held its third interim hearing on Texas electric grid reliability and 765 kV transmission lines/private property rights. Chair Schwertner opened by noting record ERCOT summer demand of 91,089 MW and emphasized the committee’s focus on managing rapid load growth, ensuring adequate generation, and protecting homeowners, businesses, landowners, and ratepayers. The committee also adopted strict two-minute limits for public testimony and planned to hear invited witnesses first, then public testimony. PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, and OPUC Chief Counsel Benjamin Barclay testified on Senate Bill 6 implementation, large-load interconnection, transmission cost allocation, and market design. Gleeson said the PUC has adopted or is finalizing rules on net metering/co-location, large load interconnection standards, and a transmission cost recovery rule that would move from 4CP to 12CP, lengthen the interval to 30 minutes, and add a minimum demand charge to better allocate costs to large loads. Vegas explained ERCOT’s new batch process for large loads, saying it provides year-by-year capacity allocations, clearer financial obligations, and a transmission plan; he reported 205 GW eligible for Batch Zero, with 65 GW classified as baseload, 25 GW in an intermediate category, and 114 GW as allocated load. Barclay supported the changes as better protection for residential and small commercial customers, while warning that the minimum demand charge may need an exit-fee concept to address stranded costs if large loads leave. Members pressed witnesses on whether additional market changes are needed to attract dispatchable thermal generation and whether DRS/DRRS Plus could become a capacity-market substitute. Gleeson and Vegas said the current market still favors solar, batteries, and other low-variable-cost resources, and that more incentives may be needed for gas and other thermal generation; Gleeson said the commission’s reliability standard assessment will begin this year and conclude next year with a 2029 outlook. They described DRS as an ancillary service for intraday reliability and DRS Plus as a proposed real-time revenue mechanism for thermal resources during scarcity, not a forward capacity market. Senators also questioned whether 12CP could still be gamed, whether curtailment authority under SB 6 should be expanded from EEA 2 to earlier stages, and whether the batch process should be bifurcated so traditional industrial loads are handled differently from data centers. Witnesses said the batch process is intended to prevent speculative projects from driving transmission costs, that most large-load projects are data centers, and that future rules may need to better distinguish among types of large loads.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you look at our options there, you're looking at natural gas, you're looking at coal, and you're
• We will build out as much natural gas as we can have pipelines for, and we will build out as much coal
• Advanced Test Reactor, the highest-volume, largest-power, or sorry, highest-power, largest-volume thermal
• if you look at the chart on the right here, Google and Microsoft, how much energy consumption and thermal
• It allows you to bring in sensors, bring in heat pipes, and other capabilities to test them for thermal

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to certainly explore the opportunity for some type of connection or partnership to an off-campus thermal
• So we develop, fund, own, and operate low-carbon district energy systems or thermal energy networks.
• whole part of it as a utility model and through some of the recent legislation that's come out for thermal
• done the calculation to see how much carbon dioxide emission reduction you received by going from coal
• How much carbon dioxide emission reduction you received by going from coal to natural gas, and how that

Bills: HB2330, HB2338

Keywords: energy systems, capital funding, state campus, school infrastructure, sustainability, weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, environment, 904, all

Summary: The committee first received a Department of Commerce overview of capital budget grant programs, including behavioral health facilities, Building for the Arts, Building Communities Fund, early learning facilities, library capital improvements, and youth recreational facilities. Commerce described program purposes, eligibility, match requirements, funding cycles, and example projects such as an early learning center in Spokane, a new library in Stevens County, and a youth clubhouse in Prosser. Members asked about behavioral health capital projects, including how many facilities had been built or retrofitted and how capital and operating funding are coordinated; Commerce said it could provide follow-up data and explained that it works on capital while HCA, DSHS, and DOH handle operating requests. Members also raised concerns about empty facilities and nonprofit financial accountability, and Commerce said it reviews applicants’ financials, relies on expert boards and partners, and uses monitoring and compliance staff to address problems. The committee then heard an update on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard from Commerce. The presentation reviewed Washington’s clean buildings law, recent changes under House Bill 1543, compliance requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings, incentive programs, and district energy system decarbonization planning for state campuses. Commerce reported nearly 5,000 inquiries in 2025, about 28,000 covered buildings statewide, and that over half of Tier 1 buildings are already meeting targets. It also said 10 fellows had assisted more than 250 buildings in 16 counties and that 27 of 34 campus decarbonization plans were received, with common themes including electrification, geothermal, thermal storage, aging infrastructure, grid constraints, and high capital costs. Members asked what legislative action could help, and Commerce said it had just completed rulemaking under HB 1543 and was still learning what problems remain. Western Washington University and Corex then presented on WWU’s campus heating conversion project and a possible district energy partnership with the Port of Bellingham. WWU described its aging steam system, high maintenance costs, emissions, and the $51 million in Climate Commitment Account funding it has received for a phased transition to a hot-water system using technologies such as geo-exchange, heat recovery chillers, and air-source heat pumps. Corex described its existing low-carbon district energy system at the port, which uses waste heat and could potentially be extended to WWU and nearby properties, including possible sewer-heat recovery. Members asked about sewer-heat examples and the broader public responsibility for campus decarbonization. The work session ended with discussion of House Bill 2330, which would create a Campus Energy Upgrades Committee in Commerce to score and prioritize state campus district energy projects, report on barriers to energy-as-a-service and public-private partnerships, and align future capital budget requests with the committee’s recommendations. Testimony on HB 2330 included support from Washington State University, the University of Washington, and a mechanical contractor, with concerns about deferred maintenance, funding predictability, and the need for larger capital investment. The committee also heard House Bill 2338, which would authorize community-scaled weatherization projects under Commerce’s low-income weatherization program. Staff explained that the bill would allow weatherization funding and match dollars to be used for neighborhood-scale projects serving multiple dwelling units, while still prioritizing low-income households, and that the fiscal note estimates about $273,000 in FY 2027 and ongoing administrative costs. The prime sponsor said the bill would expand access without undermining the existing program and improve energy efficiency and household affordability. Testifiers from the Washington State Community Action Partnership and Spark Northwest supported the bill, saying it would help scale weatherization to mobile home parks and low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, improve health and safety, reduce utility bills, and make it easier to serve rural and remote communities. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• plant and Four Corners coal plant were.
• line went from Coal Strip to Seattle.
• In the past history of the state of New Mexico, we closed the coal-powered plants in the northwestern
• And, you know, that's what really squeezed coal to my mind. Okay.
• Representative, I think that thermal gas is going to be Going to be a big part of resource portfolios

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm a coal. It's her individual. My doctorate degree is in combustion. So I'm a coal.
• Kanab and the Kaiparowits Plateau is one of the best still reserves of coal, by two minutes coal, near
• It rivals what comes off of a coal plant, a subcritical coal plant.
• coal plant.
• We get up into 300 to 550 degrees C when we're burning coal with advanced coal combustion plants.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm a coal. It's her individual. My doctorate degree is in combustion. So I'm a coal.
• Kanab and the Kaiparowits Plateau is one of the best still reserves of coal, by two minutes coal, near
• It rivals what comes off of a coal plant, a subcritical coal plant.
• coal plant.
• We get up into 300 to 550 degrees C when we're burning coal with advanced coal combustion plants.

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the availability of presentation materials, then moved into a series of technical briefings from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent federal and DOE efforts to streamline nuclear regulation for advanced reactors, including NRC Part 53 and upcoming Part 57 rulemaking, DOE authorization updates, crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements, and use of AI to speed licensing communications and document review. He emphasized that the goal is to align safety standards for advanced technologies, reduce rework for developers, and support deployment for commercial, defense, and research uses. In response to questions, he said there is no current plan to merge agencies, but there is more information-sharing and embedded NRC staff at DOE facilities; he also noted public outreach is supported through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, covering uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and recycling. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), DOE’s HALEU Availability Program, and the need to expand domestic enrichment, deconversion, and transportation capacity to support advanced reactors and the 2050 nuclear growth goal. He also reviewed used fuel management, including on-site storage at operating and shutdown reactors, the Center for Used Fuel Research at INL, a high-burnup research cask project, and the long-term repository question, which he said is ultimately political as well as technical. He outlined reprocessing approaches—aqueous/Purex, pyrochemical, and fluoride volatility—describing INL’s work on electrochemical processing of EBR-II fuel and noting industry interest from several companies in recycling technologies. Ashley Shields presented on AI for nuclear applications, describing INL’s use of generative AI, high-performance computing, and digital-twin tools to accelerate reactor design, licensing, operations, and materials development. She highlighted the Prometheus effort to pursue highly automated reactor design and operation, the large documentation burden for reactor licensing, and ongoing work on autonomous control, remote operation, and AI-assisted materials qualification through the Vulcan challenge and related data platforms. In questions, she said AI tools are used under data-governance and security controls, with different models chosen for different tasks, and argued that software engineers and human oversight remain necessary. The session ended with a brief recess announcement and a transition to a later presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gen 4 reactors also vary by type of vision I thermal or fast neutron former reactors use moderator were
• Some thermal fast neutron reactors referred to as breeder reactors can actually generate nuclear fuel
• may be better suited large directors for certain applications, such as replacing smaller, retiring coal
• enacted legislation to authorize the permitting and operation of some ours on previously existing coal
• It's projected to be roughly comparable to the water consumption or a coal plant.

Transcript Highlights:

• Although it does allow for some thermal and electrical renewable funding to remain in the DOE, the $4
• Although it does allow for some thermal and electrical renewable funding to remain in the DOE, the $4
• </c><01:59:23.040><c> and</c> energy fund to support thermal and energy fund to support thermal and electrical
• Types than we are on oil, natural gas, and coal.
• If not only we are not doing this with coal or oil, we don't have any coal left, so we don't have to

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason for that high risk is that too many thermal generators are shutting down.
• We have thermal retirements.
• </c> have a table that shows that coal have a table that shows that coal natural<00:51:37.400><c> gas
• </c> if a utility wants to say replace a coal if a utility wants to say replace a coal plant<00:53:47.000
• </c> reliability power plants using coal reliability power plants using coal nuclear<01:03:38.279><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you look at our options there, you're looking at natural gas, you're looking at coal, and you're
• We will build out as much natural gas as we can have pipelines for, and we will build out as much coal
• The nature and the thermal power is involved in the molten chloride reactors.
• And if you look at the chart on the right here, Google and Microsoft are consuming energy and thermal
• And right next to the magnet is the TED, thermal energy distribution, because the heat, and along with

Summary: The meeting was an extended briefing from Idaho National Laboratory officials on the lab’s mission, its role in nuclear energy research, and the federal push to accelerate advanced reactor deployment. Speakers described INL’s size and capabilities, including test reactors, fuel and materials facilities, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure work, and partnerships with DOE, the NRC, the Department of Defense, and private companies. They emphasized that the lab is supporting both commercial nuclear development and national security work, while also training a large intern workforce. A major theme was the current federal effort to streamline nuclear regulation and speed up licensing and demonstration. The speakers said recent executive orders and DOE/NRC coordination are reducing redundant requirements, shortening environmental review timelines, and aiming for three new nuclear systems to reach criticality by July 4, 2026. They argued that regulatory uncertainty has been a major driver of nuclear cost and that the administration’s actions, along with DOE’s pilot and demonstration programs, are intended to rebuild the domestic supply chain and industrial base. The discussion also focused on advanced reactor types, including small modular reactors, microreactors, molten salt concepts, and liquid-metal designs. Officials said these technologies are being developed for data centers, military bases, remote communities, industrial heat, hydrogen production, and other nontraditional uses. They highlighted several projects and companies, including Oklo, Aalo, Radiant, X-energy, TerraPower, Kairos, and DOE’s MARVEL and Project Pele efforts, and said some reactors are expected to reach criticality or operation in the next few years. Questions from attendees covered safety, public health impacts, materials and heat management, waste or used fuel handling, costs, and whether nuclear could remain competitive against other energy sources; the speakers responded that advanced reactors are designed with passive safety features, that used fuel should be viewed as a resource, and that cost remains highly design- and supply-chain-dependent.

Transcript Highlights:

• would cease underwriting new oil and gas exploration and development projects, as well as metallurgic coal
• would cease underwriting new oil and gas exploration and development projects, as well as metallurgic coal
• Discrimination against oil, gas, and coal companies, gun manufacturers and ammunition manufacturers,
• That includes their changing some of the... ...antitrust activities in the coal market.
• part of what has been alleged in the manipulation of BlackRock and others in State Street with the coal

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 945, 946, 2044, 2819, 2403, 2337, and 312, with all bills left pending after testimony. SB 945 would restrict insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage based on oil and gas activity or ESG-related goals, and supporters argued it would protect Texas energy producers from politically motivated shareholder activism and insurance discrimination. SB 946 would bar creditors from using social credit, ESG, DEI, or religious/political affiliation as a basis for denying or limiting credit; witnesses said it would prevent viewpoint-based financial discrimination and protect access to capital for Texas businesses. SB 2337 would require proxy advisory firms to disclose when recommendations are based on non-financial factors or when they give conflicting advice to different clients; supporters said the measure would increase transparency and curb ESG-driven influence over shareholder voting. SB 312 would direct public retirement systems to focus on financial returns rather than social or political objectives, with the author saying the bill responds to activist pressure on pensions and would reinforce fiduciary duty. The committee also took up election and ethics measures. SB 2044 would strengthen electioneering restrictions for publicly funded education institutions and personnel, prohibiting use of official resources to promote political agendas; testimony focused on alleged school district electioneering in bond and tax elections. SB 2819 would prohibit county elections administrators from holding certain officer positions appointed by elected officials, addressing potential conflicts of interest. SB 2403, the Texas Ethics Commission sunset bill, would restructure complaint handling with a three-tier violation system, risk-based complaint prioritization, longer response times, bipartisan preliminary review panels, and expanded hearing options; members discussed amendments aimed at dismissing minor complaints, clarifying categories, and adjusting lobbying and penalty provisions, but the amendments were withdrawn during committee consideration. Across the ESG and finance bills, invited witnesses from the American Energy Institute, Heartland Impact, Consumers Research, ADF Action, Texas Civil Justice League, and related groups generally supported the measures, arguing that banks, insurers, proxy advisors, and asset managers have used ESG or reputational-risk standards to discriminate against energy, agriculture, firearms, and religious organizations. No opposition testimony was presented in the excerpt, and the committee closed public testimony on each bill and left them pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you look at our options there, you're looking at natural gas, you're looking at coal, and you're
• We will build out as much natural gas as we can have pipelines for, and we will build out as much coal
• Advanced Test Reactor, the highest-volume, largest-power—or sorry, highest-power, largest-volume thermal
• you look at the chart on the right, here is Google and Microsoft, how much energy consumption and thermal
• And right next to the magnet is the TED, thermal energy distribution, because the feed, and along with

Summary: The meeting was a presentation and Q&A at Idaho National Laboratory focused on the state of nuclear energy, advanced reactors, and the lab’s role in testing, regulation, and commercialization. Speakers described INL’s broader mission beyond nuclear, including cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, but emphasized its major nuclear capabilities: the Advanced Test Reactor, TREAT, the Materials and Fuels Complex, and other test beds used to accelerate fuel and materials testing. They also highlighted the lab’s size, workforce, internship pipeline, and partnerships with DOE, DHS, DOD, and private companies. A major topic was the federal push to speed up nuclear deployment through executive orders and regulatory reform. Speakers said DOE and the NRC are reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, streamlining environmental reviews, and working toward a goal of having three new nuclear systems achieve criticality by July 4, 2026. They discussed the difference between microreactors, small modular reactors, and traditional gigawatt-scale plants, arguing that advanced reactors can be factory-built, safer, and better suited for data centers, military bases, remote communities, industrial heat, and other nontraditional uses. They also said the U.S. is rebuilding its nuclear supply chain, including enrichment and fuel fabrication, and that states willing to host parts of the fuel cycle could see major economic benefits. The speakers addressed questions about cost, safety, waste, and international competition. They said advanced reactors rely on passive safety features, TRISO fuel, and natural circulation, and that the industry’s challenge is often cost uncertainty rather than a precise fuel or materials limit. They argued used nuclear fuel should be viewed as a resource rather than waste if recycling becomes policy, and said microreactors should produce relatively small amounts of spent fuel. They also noted that China and Russia continue to build aggressively, with China on pace to surpass the U.S. in total nuclear generation, while U.S. projects such as Palisades, Crane Clean Energy Center, Duane Arnold, Oklo, Aalo, MARVEL, and Project Pele are moving forward under DOE and private-sector partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of Senate Bill 4, of course, was to make sure that we get maximum use out of all of our thermal
• They closed down the coal-fired generation plant, and then our people had to pay one big lump sum, or
• it went over a span of years. ...They closed down the coal-fired generation plant, and then our people
• lot<00:19:28.640><c> of</c><00:19:28.799><c> gigawatts</c><00:19:29.919><c> of</c><00:19:30.640><c> thermal
• </c><00:19:31.120><c> generation</c> lot of gigawatts of thermal generation lot of gigawatts of thermal

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:02 HB 398 Discussion 01:01 HB 398 Roll Call Vote 16:09 Chair Comments 18:05, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes the study committee on coal-impacted communities and outlines study committee membership
• and investigate and analyze the social and economic effects on communities heavily reliant on the coal
• particularly in communities experiencing job losses or economic decline due to the transition away from coal
• As many of you know, the Salt River Project, Navajo Generating Station, as well as the two coal mines
• Non-thermal still goes through county zoning.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several appropriation and policy bills. SB 1488 would appropriate $600,000 for a workforce development study on coal-impacted communities in northern Arizona, especially areas affected by the closure of Navajo Generating Station and related coal operations; supporters described it as a needed transition study, and it received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1523 would provide $340,000 to the Navajo Nation for the Ganado waterline pipeline project serving 235 homes; testimony emphasized long-standing lack of safe drinking water, and the bill also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1041 would appropriate $500,000 to the Arizona Trail Fund; supporters highlighted the trail’s statewide recreational and cultural value, and it passed with a do-pass recommendation. SB 1447 would extend the groundwater withdrawal fee moratorium and related Pinal AMA fund provisions through 2033; irrigation district representatives said the extension would help maintain infrastructure amid Colorado River shortages, and it was also recommended do-pass. The committee also considered several regulatory bills. SB 1445 would let smaller cities and towns use approved on-site bacteriological testing equipment and limit required sampling frequency for certain ADEQ permits; the sponsor said it would save small towns money, while some members raised concerns about limiting sampling during discharge events, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1580 would appropriate $2.545 million for a statewide fire incident management platform for fire and law enforcement agencies; supporters said it would improve accountability, information sharing, and interoperability, while one member objected to the targeted funding approach, and the bill passed on a 5-3 vote. SB 1418 would streamline siting and permitting for small modular nuclear reactors in smaller counties, especially when co-located with large industrial users; supporters argued it would help energy reliability and rural economic development, while opponents warned it would weaken local review and environmental safeguards, and it passed 5-3. The committee took up two bills involving consumer protections and access. SB 1419 would add inspection and disclosure requirements for rooftop solar installations and restrict sales claims about estimated savings; supporters said it responded to consumer complaints about roof damage and misleading sales practices, while opponents argued it would burden rooftop solar and restrict speech. After extensive testimony, including from county officials, former ROC leadership, and solar industry representatives, the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 6-2 vote. SB 1363 would create a rural opportunity initiative to issue additional marijuana-related licenses for underserved rural communities; supporters said it would improve access and reduce illicit-market activity, while opponents argued the bill was confusing and could expand licenses too broadly. The committee ultimately recommended the bill do pass on an 8-0 vote, with members noting possible amendments before floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over a 20-year period, the carbon footprint of LNG is one-third larger than coal.
• Over a 20-year period, the carbon footprint of LNG is one-third larger than coal.
• ><c> generation</c> uh modernized thermal generation uh modernized thermal generation and<01:09:11.199
• Um, we've needed modernized thermal generation for some time.
• Um, we've needed modernized thermal generation for some time.

Bills: HB2284

Keywords: energy assistance, low-income households, electricity costs, Hawaii home energy assistance program, energy efficiency, 910, house, all

Summary: The hearing covered House Bill 2284, which would create the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program in the Department of Human Services to help qualifying households pay energy bills and direct the Public Utilities Commission’s public benefits fee administrator to provide information and assistance to recipients. Testimony from the Division of Consumer Advocacy, DHS, and the Public Utilities Commission was in support. A committee member asked about how the program would interact with existing TANF-related energy assistance and whether rules could be adjusted to avoid duplicative benefits; DHS said logistics would need to be worked out and that the agencies would make the rules. The committees noted the bill’s $1.5 million appropriation and moved it forward with amendments, including blanking out amounts and noting them in the committee report. Both committees voted to pass HB 2284 with amendments, with the recommendation adopted. The committee then heard House Bill 2486, relating to plug-in or balcony solar. DCCA, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, and the Public Utilities Commission stood on prior testimony in support of the bill’s intent. Multiple advocates and organizations, including Carbon Cashback Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Bright Saver, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and others, testified in support, arguing that plug-in solar would lower electricity bills, expand access for renters and condo residents, and reduce emissions. Several speakers urged the committee to remove or avoid registration, reporting, feed-in tariff, interconnection fee, and other requirements they said would create barriers. Bright Saver testified that the systems are safe and would not back-feed during outages. No vote was taken on HB 2486 during the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1568, which would prohibit the importation or storage of LNG in the state and the construction of related infrastructure. State agencies including the Consumer Advocate, Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill, with the Energy Office arguing LNG would perpetuate oil use on Oahu and expose the state to price volatility. Supporters included Life of the Land, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Earthjustice, Our Hawaii, and others, who argued LNG would lock Hawaii into another fossil fuel dependency, create major infrastructure costs and safety risks, and undermine the state’s renewable energy goals. Several testifiers cited climate and affordability concerns and urged the committee to reject LNG. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1568, before any committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of fact, Germany is going away from it again and going back to coal.
• and non-thermal electric generating units, including small modular reactors, and consult with industry
• If you call out individual things like data centers and thermal plants but then block them from looking
• And thermal plants and data centers both take a lot of water, and that's another consideration.
• And thermal plants and data centers both take a lot of water, and that's another consideration.

Bills: HB2150, HB2262, HB2267, HB2268, HB2351, HB2425, HB2426, HB2427, HB2755, HB2781, HB2913, HB2943, HB2956, HB2975, HB2985, HB4009

Keywords: state land department, mineral lease, renewals, indexed royalties, land use planning, auditor general, five-year plans, geospatial data, Arizona Geological Survey, resource analysis, geographic information systems, wildlife protection, public nuisance, renewable energy, wind farm, solar farm, residential property, public health, local regulations, state land

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen four fires, thermal runaway, chemical fires, that have endangered communities in New York.
• technology that is, at best, dangerous to human health, some of the chemicals that come off these thermal
• Yep, there was another one, and that one didn't have thermal runaway. It went out as designed.
• But in this instance, you don’t think if a company has a thermal runaway incident, a battery fire that
• That’s why the state took over permitting gas plants and coal plants and wind and solar a long time ago

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications met under Chair Senator Kevin Parker and considered several bills related to clean energy, transmission, storage, schools, and microgrids. Bill 1456, which would require certain watercraft, aircraft, and trains to be zero-emissions and direct NYSERDA studies and incentives, was discussed as technology-neutral and advanced with one no vote to the Finance Committee. Bill 286, increasing statewide energy storage capacity, drew concerns about battery safety, fire risk, and volunteer fire department training, but was advanced to the floor with two no votes. Bill 2482, the Go Green Schools Act, would let schools convert to renewable energy and keep savings for school operations; it advanced to the floor despite concerns about siting solar on school grounds. Bill 2485 on expanding electric transmission lines and Bill 5510 directing NYSERDA to develop microgrid recommendations were both advanced to the Finance Committee, each with one no vote. The committee then heard testimony from Marguerite Wells, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. She argued that wind, solar, storage, and transmission have made New York a leader in clean energy and said renewable energy is increasingly cost-competitive, with much of recent bill increases driven by grid upgrades and gas prices rather than renewables. She also said clean energy helps hedge against volatile fossil fuel prices, pointed to community solar and offshore wind as savings and reliability tools, and said the state’s permitting and interconnection processes have improved. Members questioned Wells about farmland use, decommissioning, recycling of solar and wind equipment, battery storage safety, local control, and misinformation. Wells said utility-scale projects require decommissioning plans and financial assurances, farmland must be restored under agricultural guidelines, and recycling capacity is developing. On battery storage, she said New York has rigorous codes and monitoring requirements, that not all storage is lithium-ion, and that state-level permitting is appropriate for large facilities. Several senators raised concerns about fires, contamination, winter performance, and siting projects in densely populated areas or on farmland, while others emphasized farmland protections and the value of renewable projects to host communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• specifically related to divestment from specific industries, including private detention facilities and thermal
• coal.
• specifically related to divestment from specific industries, including private detention facilities and thermal
• coal.

Keywords: 904, all