SB 106-16: Energy Cost Reduction Act of 2021 (Failed)

[Joseph Cao]

AN ACT
To reduce energy costs for the average Atlasian

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

Energy Cost Reduction Act of 2021

Section 1. Purpose

1. This bill is to provide for a less costly energy grid because many areas of Atlasia precluded from benefiting from earlier efforts made by the federal government to invest in rural electrification throughout regions.

a) This bill will provide for interconnection of regional electrical grids are not interconnected to those in other states or territories, and many communities in the state have isolated microgrids.

b) This bill will fix the isolation of many electric systems throughout the regions. This means that consumers in communities served by those systems cannot benefit from a reduction in energy bills by utilizing lower-cost power from other areas of the state;

c) This bill is intended to lower the average retail price of electricity where in rural communities this is the highest. The average cost of electricity per capita is $3,891.

d) The bill, through the energy authority, will reduce high energy costs for heating, electricity, and transportation that have a multiplying effect, which increases the cost of all goods and services in rural communities.

e) Many residents in communities with the highest power costs are unable to shoulder the financial burden of developing large-scale power infrastructure without significant government investment;

d) The bill will establish for lower carbon emissions through the development of economically feasible renewable energy projects and investment in an electric vehicle charging network.

Section 2. Implementation

a. BE IT RESOLVED that the Congress of the Republic requests a creation of a regional Energy Authority, in coordination with utilities throughout the regions and with statewide power and electrical organizations.

b. This energy authority will develop a comprehensive 10-year infrastructure plan to reduce power costs by 25% in areas of the regions that endure extremely high electric and heating costs.

c. Be it FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress requests that the regional Energy Authority deliver a plan for the reduction of power costs in the region to the Senate by May 31, 2022, and notify the legislature that the plan is available.

d. The Congress hereby establishes a energy sustainability fund, this fund will be appropriated by  taxation on electric vehicles and tolls from federal highways to the amount of $50,000,000.

Section 3. Grant criteria

a. A "grant" shall be defined as a sum of money awarded for an energy related project in any of Atlasia's regions.

b. These grants shall be categorical in nature by funding upgrades to Atlasia's regional energy grids, for projects to reduce carbon emissions, increase electrical grid inter-connectivity.

b. Grants can only be made available for energy-related projects that will have substantial impact or effect upon the electrical grid in each region.

c. Eligible entities: Grants can be allotted for subsidies or incentives to regional energy companies, nonprofits, or independent contractors

Section 4. Funding

a. The Congress of the Republic of Atlasia will appropriate $25,000,000 in grants to each region for the establishment of a regional energy authority; these grants shall be up for renewal every 5 years.

b. Hereafter, the Congress shall appropriate monies to the amount of an additional $20,000,000 to establish electrical vehicle charging stations across Atlasia's regions.

Sponsor: Spark
Status: Debating

72 hours to debate.

[Joseph Cao]

This is better than most past Spark bills, but is still poorly written and does not pass the smell test.

Well, if you'd like to see better written bills, the least you could do is point out the objectionable parts so Spark can take them into consideration.

I’d like WD to justify his motion too.

[Joseph Cao]

This is better than most past Spark bills, but is still poorly written and does not pass the smell test.

Well, if you'd like to see better written bills, the least you could do is point out the objectionable parts so Spark can take them into consideration.

I’d like WD to justify his motion too.

Spark never provides these details when asked for. I’ve tried it numerous times and too many of his bills are beyond saving. I’d rather not waste the Senate’s time further.

The details that you find objectionable, Senator. Surely Spark's feedback is not necessary for that?

I Object.

We should actually give people some sort of a break during the holidays.

Unfortunately we are going to be moving to a vote either way, in this case a vote on whether to end debate and move to tabling. The vote is open for 72 hours, and since we have not passed the minimum debate period, this vote will require a three-fourths supermajority to pass. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Joseph Cao]

Nay.

[Joseph Cao]

With a margin of 9-3-2-4, the three-fourths threshold is not attained, cloture fails, and debate resumes.

[Joseph Cao]

This is better than most past Spark bills, but is still poorly written and does not pass the smell test.

Well, if you'd like to see better written bills, the least you could do is point out the objectionable parts so Spark can take them into consideration.

I’d like WD to justify his motion too.

Spark never provides these details when asked for. I’ve tried it numerous times and too many of his bills are beyond saving. I’d rather not waste the Senate’s time further.

Still waiting on an answer for this, S019. I hardly think Spark's feedback is necessary when my question was about the parts you find objectionable.

[Joseph Cao]

Having some trouble following the back-and-forth here to the detail needed, so for now I’ll just have Spark confirm that the text in his post is the amendment he wishes to offer. Assuming that, 24 hours to object to the amendment as it currently stands.

[Joseph Cao]

Section 2. Implementation, Costs & Appropriations

a. BE IT RESOLVED that the Congress of the Republic requests a creation of a regional Energy Authority, in coordination with utilities throughout the regions and with statewide power and electrical organizations.

b. This energy authority will develop a comprehensive 10-year infrastructure plan to reduce power costs by 25% in areas of the regions that endure extremely high electric and heating costs.

c. Be it FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress requests that the regional Energy Authority deliver a plan for the reduction of power costs in the region to the Senate by May 31, 2022, and notify the legislature that the plan is available.

d. The Congress hereby establishes a energy sustainability fund, this fund will be appropriated by  taxation on electric vehicles and tolls from federal highways to the amount of $50,000,000. Congress shall raise the gasoline tax at a rate of 0.01% to raise revenue for this initiative. This is projected to raise an additional $5,000,000,000 in revenue.

To incentivize production, with the average cost of production for electric vehicles being $19,000, the federal government shall subsidize electric vehicles at a rate of 1.7%, or $323 per unit, for the total cost of production. The total cost of the subsidies shall be $4,845,000,000.

Spark's amendment, as above, is adopted.

[Joseph Cao]

24 hours to object to the motion.

[Joseph Cao]

A final vote is now open on the following:

AN ACT
To reduce energy costs for the average Atlasian

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ATLASIA

Energy Cost Reduction Act of 2021

Section 1. Purpose

1. This bill is to provide for a less costly energy grid because many areas of Atlasia precluded from benefiting from earlier efforts made by the federal government to invest in rural electrification throughout regions.

a) This bill will provide for interconnection of regional electrical grids are not interconnected to those in other states or territories, and many communities in the state have isolated microgrids.

b) This bill will fix the isolation of many electric systems throughout the regions. This means that consumers in communities served by those systems cannot benefit from a reduction in energy bills by utilizing lower-cost power from other areas of the state;

c) This bill is intended to lower the average retail price of electricity where in rural communities this is the highest. The average cost of electricity per capita is $3,891.

d) The bill, through the energy authority, will reduce high energy costs for heating, electricity, and transportation that have a multiplying effect, which increases the cost of all goods and services in rural communities.

e) Many residents in communities with the highest power costs are unable to shoulder the financial burden of developing large-scale power infrastructure without significant government investment;

d) The bill will establish for lower carbon emissions through the development of economically feasible renewable energy projects and investment in an electric vehicle charging network.

Section 2. Implementation, Costs, and Appropriations

a. BE IT RESOLVED that the Congress of the Republic requests a creation of a regional Energy Authority, in coordination with utilities throughout the regions and with statewide power and electrical organizations.

b. This energy authority will develop a comprehensive 10-year infrastructure plan to reduce power costs by 25% in areas of the regions that endure extremely high electric and heating costs.

c. Be it FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress requests that the regional Energy Authority deliver a plan for the reduction of power costs in the region to the Senate by May 31, 2022, and notify the legislature that the plan is available.

d. The Congress hereby establishes a energy sustainability fund. Congress shall raise the gasoline tax at a rate of 0.01% to raise revenue for this initiative. This is projected to raise an additional $5,000,000,000 in revenue.

To incentivize production, with the average cost of production for electric vehicles being $19,000, the federal government shall subsidize electric vehicles at a rate of 1.7%, or $323 per unit, for the total cost of production. The total cost of the subsidies shall be $4,845,000,000.

Section 3. Grant Criteria

a. A "grant" shall be defined as a sum of money awarded for an energy related project in any of Atlasia's regions.

b. These grants shall be categorical in nature by funding upgrades to Atlasia's regional energy grids, for projects to reduce carbon emissions, increase electrical grid inter-connectivity.

b. Grants can only be made available for energy-related projects that will have substantial impact or effect upon the electrical grid in each region.

c. Eligible entities: Grants can be allotted for subsidies or incentives to regional energy companies, nonprofits, or independent contractors

Section 4. Funding

a. The Congress of the Republic of Atlasia will appropriate $25,000,000 in grants to each region for the establishment of a regional energy authority; these grants shall be up for renewal every 5 years.

b. Hereafter, the Congress shall appropriate monies to the amount of an additional $20,000,000 to establish electrical vehicle charging stations across Atlasia's regions.

Senators, you know the drill. 72 hours to vote. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.