06 LC 97
0765
House
Resolution 1919
By:
Representatives Reese of the
98th,
Drenner of the
86th,
Thomas of the
100th,
and Geisinger of the
48th
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
support for the development of biomass renewable energy sources; urging electric
utilities to promote the use of renewable biomass energy; urging the Georgia
Public Service Commission to encourage the state's utilities to add biomass
resources to Georgia's fuel and generating assets and to encourage the
development of a renewable fuels industry in Georgia; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
virtually all new power plants built in Georgia in the last 15 years are fueled
by natural gas, which is and will continue to be in short supply in Georgia and
which has exposed electricity consumers to high and volatile electricity prices;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is an extremely biomass rich state with significantly underutilized
agriculture and forestry resources; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia imports the vast majority of its fuels from outside the state, spending
a great deal of money outside of Georgia to meet our population's energy needs;
and
WHEREAS,
biomass is considered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to be a carbon
neutral energy source and will add no greenhouse or other harmful emissions to
Georgia's environment, helping to forge a cleaner and healthier state in which
our citizens can live and prosper; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's biomass resources can and should be utilized to provide
environmentally friendly, affordable, dependable, sustainable, and stable priced
power for the state's ratepayers; and
WHEREAS,
utilizing these resources will create greater fuel diversity and fuel
competition in Georgia and will significantly help create jobs in the state's
rural farm and forestry communities, thus benefiting Georgia's economy;
and
WHEREAS,
the United States Congress passed the 2005 Energy Bill that provides for a
number of incentives encouraging the development of clean, renewable alternative
energy resources, including biomass resources, to reduce dependence on fossil
fuels and energy supplies from unstable parts of the world.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body support the development of biomass renewable energy facilities in the
state and urge electric utilities in Georgia to promote the use of renewable
biomass energy in the state and to include renewable biomass energy as a
meaningful percentage of the state's generation to serve electricity
customers.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body urges the Georgia Public Service Commission
to take appropriate measures to encourage Georgia utilities to appropriately add
biomass resources to Georgia's fuel and generating assets and to encourage the
development of a renewable fuels industry in Georgia.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Georgia
electric utilities and to each member of the Georgia Public Service Commission.