ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

 

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT

 

Minutes of the Meeting

Monday, October 19, 2009

9:00 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 1

 

 

Members Present:

Senator Al Melvin, CoChair

Representative David Gowan, CoChair

Senator Barbara Leff

Representative Russ Jones

Senator Thayer Verschoor

 

 

 

Members Excused:

Senator Amanda Aguirre

Representative Robert Meza

 

Representative Franklin Pratt

 

Staff:

Garth Kamp, Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee Analyst

Rene Guillen, House Water and Energy Committee Analyst

 

Chairman Melvin called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m. and discussed the order of the meeting.

 

Energy in Arizona:  Current and Future Energy Portfolios

 

Michael Curtis, Executive Secretary, Arizona Municipal Power Users’ Association, distributed “Power Users’” (Attachment A), “Update of the MIT 2003 Future of Nuclear Power” (Attachment B), “Status and Outlook for Nuclear Energy In the United States” (Attachment C), “The Future of Nuclear Power” (Attachment D) and “Nuclear Power in a Warming World” (Attachment E).  Mr. Curtis described his association, solutions to the power shortage being investigated and the need for legislation for joint action to help fund research and new sources of energy.  He also discussed the goal to reduce greenhouse gases.  He stressed that the committee should keep in mind perception management.

 

Marty Shultz, Arizona Public Service (APS), discussed regulatory and legislative distinctions and introduced Mr. Brad Albert.

 

Brad Albert, Director of Resource Planning, Arizona Public Service (APS), distributed “Arizona’s Energy Future” (Attachment F) and explained Arizona’s current energy supply, renewable energy and future energy needs.

 

 

Tom Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association, distributed “Energy in Arizona: Current and Future Energy Portfolios” (Attachment G).  Mr. Jones described his organization and discussed Arizona’s current energy supply and forecast for the future.

 

David Hutchens, Vice President, UniSource Energy and Tucson Electric Power, distributed “TEP Resources & REST Strategy” (Attachment H).  Mr. Hutchens discussed coal resources and leases, renewable resources and environmental impacts.

 

Russell Smoldon, Salt River Project, briefly discussed coal use and introduced Mr. John Coggins.

 

John Coggins, Manager, Resource Planning and Development, Salt River Project (SRP), distributed “SRP Resource Planning Overview” (Attachment I) and explained how SRP manages its power resources and the money levels involved with different forms of energy.  Mr. Coggins discussed the cap and trade issue and additional resources in the energy mix.

 

Nuclear Programs at Arizona Universities

 

Keith Holbert, Ph.D., P.E., Arizona State University, distributed “School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering” (Attachment J) and discussed the revival of interest in nuclear power and the economic and environmental impacts.

 

Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg, Associate Professor, University of Arizona, distributed an informational packet (Attachment K) and discussed energy initiatives, funding and future employment possibilities.

 

Issues Immediately Facing Arizona's Energy Demands

 

Thomas McCann, Assistant Manager, Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), distributed “Central Arizona Project Energy Issues” (Attachment L) and discussed funding and emission controls.  Mr. McCann explained the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) new rule changes and the cost to achieve new technology.  He explained the importance of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS).

 

Marty Shultz, Arizona Public Service (APS), discussed the Navajo Generating Station, the Four Corners Plant and decisions to be made in regards to the EPA’s new rules.  He discussed the importance of these plants for the Native American people in the region.

 

Closing remarks and plans for next meeting

 

Janet K. Regner, Husk Partners, Inc., representing the Hopi Tribe, explained that the Hopi Tribe is extremely dependent on the Navajo Generating Station and asked to give a presentation at the next meeting.

Nick Dranias, Director, Center for Constitutional Government, Goldwater Institute, discussed the cap and trade issue and the detrimental effects on the people and the economy.

 

Senator Melvin stated that the next meeting will be on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. at the House of Representatives.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Shelley Ponce

                                                                                    Committee Secretary

 

(Audio recordings and attachments on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azsenate.gov)

 

 

 

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AD HOC COMMITTEE ON ENERGY

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Oct. 19, 2009

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