HB 301: Clean Coal Technology – 2
2007 General Session

Sponsor: Rep. Colin Simpson (R-H24, Cody); co-sponsor Sen. Phil Nicholas (R-S10, Laramie)

HB 301 set up a clean coal research task force that will consist of the members of the Wyoming energy resources council. The task force will investigate ways to promote research into clean coal technologies, including the potential for creating a clean coal technology research facility in Wyoming.

By the end of September 2007, the task force will present recommendations to the governor and the Joint Minerals Committee on the best methods to fund clean coal research, and on the siting and administration of a research facility that would emphasize research on burning and gasification of sub-bituminous coal at high altitudes.

As introduced, HB 301 would have appropriated $5 million for the clean coal technology research account, but that money could not be spent without further authorization of the legislature. The bill also appropriated $100,000 for the governor’s office to finance the task force and $15,000 for per diem and traveling expenses for legislators.

The House Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee passed HB 310, 8-1, with Representative William Steward (R-H47, Encampment) casting the single NO vote. The House Appropriations Committee amended the appropriation for the technology research account down to $2.5 million, inserted a requirement that the state money could only be spent upon receipt of equal value matching money from non-state sources, and then unanimously passed the bill.

The House passed HB 310, 58-2, and the Senate passed the bill, 28-1 (1 excused). The votes listed below are the House and Senate third reading (final passage) votes. A YES vote means the legislator wanted to establish and fund a task force to look into ways to promote clean coal technologies in Wyoming. A NO vote means the legislator did not support the task force as proposed.

LINK TO ENROLLED ACT HEA 0121 (ENROLLED VERSION OF HB 301)