Can we have a vote already?  SB 838 once again was voted out of the House Energy and Environment committee on Wednesday, and is expected to be on the House floor early next week.  It isn’t too late to lobby your representative, and fend off the actions of the high priced team of corporate lobbyists who are aggressively working to kill this groundbreaking legislation.

On other fronts, HB 2876 requires the Department of Energy to reduce energy consumption in existing public buildings and requires new building projects incorporate energy efficient designs. A hearing and possible work session is scheduled Tuesday, May 22, in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources committee, 3pm in HR B.

Helping promote renewable solar power, HB 2620 provides that public improvement contracts for construction or major renovations of public buildings appropriate at least 1.5 percent of the total contract price for solar energy technology.  HB 2620 passed out of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources committee on Thursday.

SB 375 which establishes minimum efficiency standards for a number of additional home and commercial appliances passed out of the House Energy and Environment committee Wednesday and is headed to the House floor.

Remember HB 2211 and 2212, which amend the Business Energy Tax Credit and Residential Energy Tax Credit to encourage renewable energy projects?  After sailing through the House they have been sitting in the Senate Revenue committee.  On Tuesday they both had a hearing, along with HB 3488 which also amends the Business Energy Tax Credit to help encourage even more investments in solar. We are hoping they all will receive a work session soon and move on to the Senate floor.

One of the green building proposals, SB 576, which requires that major facility projects be planned, designed, constructed and renovated to meet LEED Gold or Silver certification, was amended to remove the LEED requirement by name.  We earlier reported that SB 576 was on the way to the Senate floor but it actually has been sent to Ways and Means.

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