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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
HOUSE BILL 1815 By: McBride of the House
and
David of the Senate
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to renewable gas energy; making
certain declaration; declaring legislative intent;
defining terms; requiring the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission to issue a report and recommendations to
the Legislature by a certain date ; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 801.8 of Title 17, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The Legislature declares that renewable natural gas is a
complement to our state's vast natural gas and renewable ener gy
resources that can be carbon neutral or carbon negative.
B. It is further declared the intent of the Legislature to
ensure renewable natural gas is allowable in the portfolio of
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natural gas utilities on behalf of Oklahoma energy consumers for
their fueling, heating and power needs, and that natural gas
utilities play a unique and necessary role in procuring,
transporting and delivering gas, including renewable natural gas, to
Oklahoma energy consumers.
C. For purposes of this section:
1. "Biogas" means a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons,
primarily methane gas, released from the biological decomposition of
waste, including, but not limited to, animal manure, wastewater,
municipal solid waste, landfilled waste, fats, oils and greases and
food waste; and
2. "Renewable natural gas" means:
a. biogas-derived methane gas that is interchangeable
with geologic natural gas,
b. hydrogen gas or carbon oxides derived from renewable
energy sources, or
c. methane gas derived from any combination of hydrogen
gas or carbon oxides derived from renewable energy
sources, biogas and waste carbon dioxide.
D. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission shall, no later than
December 1, 2021, issue a report and recommendations to the
Legislature regarding the ability and appropriateness of natural gas
utilities to procure, transport and deliver renewable natural gas to
customers. The report shall address a recom mendation for the
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state's renewable fuel standard or goal to more proactively promote
biogas, renewable natural gas and hydrogen as solutions for reducing
methane emissions and other environmental problems. The report
shall also discuss the methods for re covery of associated costs from
ratepayers, such as transport infrastructure and commodity costs.
The report shall also address the production of educational
materials to provide Oklahoma residents with information regarding
renewable natural gas and its positive environmental impacts and
benefits. The report shall also discuss future reporting
requirements for all producers so the Commission can report progress
annually to the Legislature. The report shall be due to the
Legislature no later than Decembe r 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021 .
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES,
dated 02/18/2021 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.