ARC 6492C

ARC 6492C

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY[261]

Adopted and Filed

Rule making related to the Iowa energy center

The Iowa Energy Center Board hereby amends Chapter 403, "Iowa Energy Center," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 15.120.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 15.120 as amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2325.

Purpose and Summary

The purposes of the Iowa Energy Center are listed in Iowa Code section 15.120, which has been amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2325, to add the following purpose: "To support research and development of strategies for carbon management."

These amendments incorporate the additional purpose, change the number of Board members required for a quorum from nine to seven, and clarify that Board meetings may be held electronically.

Public Comment and Changes to Rule Making

Notice of Intended Action for this rule making was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on June 29, 2022, as ARC 6383C. No public comments were received. No changes from the Notice have been made.

Adoption of Rule Making

This rule making was adopted by the Board on August 11, 2022.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 261—Chapter 199.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

This rule making will become effective on October 12, 2022.

The following rule-making actions are adopted:

Item 1. Amend rule 261—403.1(15) as follows:

261—403.1(15) Purpose. The Iowa energy center is established within the authority with the following purposes:

1.To expand workforce and career opportunities for workers in the energy sector to ensure that the state is able to attract and train professionals to meet the state's future energy needs.

2.To support technology-based development by encouraging public-private partnerships and innovative manufacturers to develop and bring to market new energy technologies.

3.To support rural and underserved areas and vulnerable populations by creating opportunities for greater access to energy efficiency expertise, training, programs, and cyber security preparedness for small utilities.

4.To support the expansion of natural gas infrastructure to rural and underserved areas of the state where the absence is a limiting factor to economic development.

5.To promote and fund research, development, and commercialization of biomass technology to benefit the state economically and environmentally by further realizing the value-added attributes of biomass in the development of bioenergy, biofuels, and biochemicals.

6.To encourage growth of the alternative fuel vehicle market, particularly for electric vehicles, and the infrastructure necessary to support the market.

7.To support efforts to modernize the electric grid infrastructure of the state to support increased capacity and new technologies.

8.To support research and development of strategies for carbon management.

Item 2. Amend subrule 403.3(3) as follows:

403.3(3) Quorum and voting requirements. A quorum of the board requires nine Seven or more members of the board constitute a quorum, and any board action requires an affirmative vote by a majority of the members present.

Item 3. Amend paragraph 403.3(5)"a" as follows:

a. Meetings of the board are held at the call of the chairperson or when two members of the board request a meeting. The board generally meets quarterly at the authority's offices or by electronic means. By notice of the regularly published meeting agendas, the board and its committees may hold regular or special meetings at other locations within the state. Meeting agendas are available on the authority's Internet site.

[Filed 8/12/22, effective 10/12/22]

[Published 9/7/22]

Editor's Note: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 9/7/22.