Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 37–Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

May 9, 2003

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Referred to Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of geoexchange technology. (BDR R‑1287)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Senate Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study of geoexchange technology.

 

    Whereas, The State of Nevada has adopted an energy policy in chapter 701 of NRS that acknowledges, among other findings, that energy is essential to the economy of this state and to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Nevada; and

    Whereas, The State of Nevada has a responsibility to encourage the maintenance of a reliable and economical supply of energy at a level that is consistent with the protection of environmental quality, and a responsibility to encourage the utilization of a wide range of measures that reduce the wasteful use of energy resources; and

    Whereas, Chapter 704 of NRS includes the adoption of one of the most aggressive renewable energy portfolio standards in the nation; and

    Whereas, Nevada has one of the fastest growing populations in the nation and a corresponding increase in public school enrollment that expands at the rate of approximately 11,000 pupils a year in Clark County alone; and

    Whereas, In recent years, Nevada has built, or is in the process of building, over 100 new schools to accommodate the needs of pupils; and

    Whereas, A significant portion of the operational budget for schools and other public buildings is allocated to energy needs, including, without limitation, heating and cooling systems; and

    Whereas, Nevada is facing a budget crisis that makes it imperative that governmental operations of all types find ways to conserve money; and

    Whereas, Any money saved on the heating and cooling of public buildings can be used for other purposes, such as textbooks and computers for pupils, new buildings and other facilities, salaries of teachers and public employees, and funding programs for the public health, welfare and safety of the residents of Nevada; and

1-1  Whereas, The State of Nevada has a vital interest in reducing

1-2  the amount of fossil fuel consumed to produce energy for all

1-3  purposes, including heating and cooling, in order to protect the

1-4  environment and the quality of life in this state; and

1-5  Whereas, Nevada must import virtually all the fuel it uses for

1-6  energy production, and every dollar so spent is a dollar that leaves

1-7  this state’s economy and benefits the economies of other states or

1-8  countries instead of our own; and

1-9  Whereas, Geoexchange heating and cooling systems are

1-10  proven technologies that save 20 to 40 percent on heating and

1-11  cooling costs and have been in use for many years in other states,

1-12  particularly in schools and other public buildings as well as in

1-13  private industry and for private residences; and

1-14      Whereas, Geoexchange technology efficiently utilizes the heat

1-15  of the sun absorbed by the earth and therefore greatly reduces the

1-16  need to purchase or burn fossil fuel for heating and cooling

1-17  purposes, thus protecting the environment and reducing the amount

1-18  of money leaving the State; and

1-19      Whereas, With the use of geoexchange technology, new jobs

1-20  would be created in this state, expensive peak power purchases and

1-21  demands on our already overburdened transmission system would

1-22  be reduced and, at the same time, security would be enhanced

1-23  because of the distributed nature of its deployment; now, therefore,

1-24  be it

1-25      Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

1-26  Assembly Concurring, That the Legislative Commission is

1-27  hereby directed to appoint an interim committee to conduct a study

1-28  of the feasibility and desirability of using geoexchange technology

1-29  in public facilities, including, without limitation, schools, prisons

1-30  and other public buildings in this state as well as in the private

1-31  sector; and be it further

1-32      Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

1-33      1.  An examination of suitable applications of geoexchange

1-34  technology in Nevada’s public buildings and facilities, both in new

1-35  construction and in retrofitting projects, as well as in the private

1-36  sector;

2-1  2.  Consideration of potential demonstration projects and

2-2  funding sources for such projects;

2-3  3.  Integration of geoexchange technology with other forms of

2-4  renewable energy, including, without limitation, solar, wind,

2-5  geothermal and biomass energy;

2-6  4.  The potential for securing renewable energy trading credits

2-7  and other incentives for the installation of geoexchange technology;

2-8  and

2-9  5.  Financing options, including, without limitation, programs

2-10  through existing utilities and other businesses utilizing shared

2-11  savings programs; and be it further

2-12      Resolved, That any recommended legislation proposed by the

2-13  committee must be approved by a majority of the members of the

2-14  Senate and a majority of the members of the Assembly appointed to

2-15  the committee; and be it further

2-16      Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall submit a

2-17  report of the results of the study and any recommendations for

2-18  legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.

 

2-19  H