41-1291.01. Powers and duties; review; staff

A. Within sixty days after the director of environmental quality transmits a proposed state plan to the joint legislative review committee on state plans relating to carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants pursuant to section 49-459, the committee shall review the proposed state plan developed pursuant to section 49-459 in compliance with rules adopted by the administrator of the environmental protection agency under section 111(d) of the clean air act as defined in section 49-401.01.

B. The committee may meet before receiving the proposed state plan for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the development of the state plan and shall meet to develop factors that may be considered by the committee in reviewing the plan. The factors shall include consideration of the following:

1. The security of the electrical power grid in this state and in this region.

2. The availability of natural gas and access to natural gas infrastructure in this state.

3. The effects of improved technologies and efficiencies in power generation for this state.

4. The effects of exempting existing electric generating plants from further measures.

5. The role of stranded costs in the operation of existing or new electric generating plants.

6. The effects on local economies and the economy of this state, including impacts on new and existing jobs, housing affordability and income and employment levels.

7. The impact on this state's ability to attract capital investment and new businesses and to develop and expand existing businesses.

8. The relative costs and benefits of the plan.

9. The unique challenges faced by small utilities and electrical cooperative associations.

10. The effects on local ratepayers, including ratepayers in electrical cooperative associations.

11. The effects on the customs, culture, history and heritage of this state and its communities.

12. Any other factors the committee deems appropriate.

C. On receipt of the proposed state plan, the committee shall review the plan based on the factors it has developed, take public comment, and consider whether submission of the plan to the administrator, as defined in section 49-401.01, is in the public interest. For the purposes of this subsection, the review shall include adoption of comments by the committee by a vote of a majority of a quorum of the members.

D. The committee has the powers conferred by law on legislative committees.

E. The legislature shall provide staff assistance to the committee as directed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.