HB3630: Relating to energy; and declaring an emergency.

Legislative Summary

Directs State Department of Energy to establish program to provide assistance related to energy projects and activities to environmental justice communities. Directs State Department of Energy to establish program to provide assistance related to energy projects and activities to environmental justice communities. Requires State Department of Energy to develop comprehensive state energy strategy that identifies optimized pathways to achieving state's energy policy objectives. Requires department to periodically update state energy strategy. Directs department to produce report regarding state energy strategy and submit report to Governor and appropriate interim committees of Legislative Assembly no later than November 1, 2025. Permits county to develop and adopt energy resilience plan and incorporate energy resilience plan into county's applicable natural hazard mitigation plan. Requires public utilities to use reasonable efforts to assist with and comply with requests from county for information regarding energy infrastructure, provided information is exempt from disclosure requirements. Directs State Department of Energy to establish program to award grants to counties to cover costs of developing energy resilience plans that meet certain requirements. Sunsets grant program on January 2, 2026. Requires State Department of Energy, in consultation with Housing and Community Services Department, to establish whole-home energy savings program and high-efficiency electric home rebate program. Requires State Department of Energy to create single resource that provides to interested persons information, technical assistance and assistance identifying contractors and financing options, related to available energy efficiency incentives and programs. Requires department to coordinate information and data exchanges between certain entities. Requires entities to use best practices to maintain confidentiality and security of information and data as required by law. Appropriates moneys from General Fund to State Department of Energy for energy development services and certain expenses. Increases limit on biennial expenditures by State Department of Energy from federal funds. Declares emergency, effective on passage.