All the cool states are doing it!
HOUSE BILL No. 6526
September 14, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Moore, Nitz, Baxter, Ball, Proos, Meyer and Stahl and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
A bill to amend 2002 PA 593, entitled
"Michigan next energy authority act,"
by amending section 2 (MCL 207.822).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Advanced battery cell" means a rechargeable battery cell
with a specific energy of not less than 80 watt hours per kilogram.
(b) "Alternative energy marine propulsion system" means an
onboard propulsion system or detachable outboard propulsion system
for a watercraft that is powered by a fuel cell energy system,
photovoltaic energy system, or advanced battery cell energy system
and that is the singular propulsion system for the watercraft.
Alternative energy marine propulsion system does not include
battery powered motors designed to assist in the propulsion of the
watercraft during fishing or other recreational use.
(c) "Alternative energy system" means the small-scale
generation or release of energy from 1 or any combination of the
following types of energy systems:
(i) A fuel cell energy system.
(ii) A photovoltaic energy system.
(iii) A solar-thermal energy system.
(iv) A wind energy system.
(v) A CHP energy system.
(vi) A microturbine energy system.
(vii) A miniturbine energy system.
(viii) A Stirling cycle energy system.
(ix) A battery cell energy system.
(x) A clean fuel energy system.
(xi) An electricity storage system.
(xii) A biomass stove system.
(d) "Alternative energy technology" means equipment, component
parts, materials, electronic devices, testing equipment, and
related systems that are solely related to the following:
(i) The storage or generation of hydrogen for use in an
alternative energy system.
(ii) The process of generating and putting into a usable form
the energy generated by an alternative energy system. Alternative
energy technology does not include those component parts of an
alternative energy system that are required regardless of the
energy source.
(iii) A microgrid. As used in this subparagraph, "microgrid"
means the lines, wires, and controls to connect 2 or more
alternative energy systems.
(e) "Alternative energy technology business" means a business
engaged solely in the research, development, or manufacturing of
alternative energy technology.
(f) "Alternative energy vehicle" means a motor vehicle
manufactured by an original equipment manufacturer that fully
warrants and certifies that the motor vehicle meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards for its class of vehicles as defined by
the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, and
certifies that the motor vehicle meets local emissions standards,
that is propelled by an alternative energy system. Alternative
energy vehicle includes the following:
(i) An alternative fueled vehicle. As used in this
subparagraph, "alternative fueled vehicle" means a motor vehicle
that can only be powered by a clean fuel energy system and can only
be fueled by a clean fuel.
(ii) A fuel cell vehicle. As used in this subparagraph, "fuel
cell vehicle" means a motor vehicle powered solely by a fuel cell
energy system.
(iii) An electric vehicle. As used in this subparagraph,
"electric vehicle" means a motor vehicle powered solely by a
battery cell energy system.
(iv) A hybrid vehicle. As used in this subparagraph, "hybrid
vehicle" means a motor vehicle that can only be powered by 2 or
more alternative energy systems.
(v) A solar vehicle. As used in this subparagraph, "solar
vehicle" means a motor vehicle powered solely by a photovoltaic
energy system.
(vi) A hybrid electric vehicle. As used in this subparagraph,
"hybrid electric vehicle" means a motor vehicle powered by an
integrated propulsion system consisting of an electric motor and
combustion engine. Hybrid electric vehicle does not include a
retrofitted conventional diesel or gasoline engine. A hybrid
electric vehicle obtains the power necessary to propel the motor
vehicle from a combustion engine and 1 of the following:
(A) A battery cell energy system.
(B) A fuel cell energy system.
(C) A photovoltaic energy system.
(g) "Alternative energy zone" means a renaissance zone
designated as an alternative energy zone by the board of the
Michigan strategic fund under section 8a of the Michigan
renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2688a.
(h) "Authority" means the Michigan next energy authority
created under section 3.
(i) "Battery cell" means a closed electrochemical system that
converts chemical energy from oxidation and reduction reactions
directly into electric energy without combustion and without
external fuel and consists of an anode, a cathode, and an
electrolyte.
(j) "Battery cell energy system" means 1 or more battery cells
and an inverter or other power conditioning unit used to perform 1
or more of the following functions:
(i) Propel a motor vehicle or an alternative energy marine
propulsion system.
(ii) Provide electricity that is distributed within a dwelling
or other structure.
(iii) Provide electricity to operate a portable electronic
device including, but not limited to, a laptop computer, a personal
digital assistant, or a cell phone. For purposes of this
subparagraph only, a battery cell energy system shall only use
advanced battery cells.
(k) "Board" means the governing body of an authority under
section 4.
(l) "CHP energy system" means an integrated unit that generates
power and either cools, heats, or controls humidity in a building
or provides heating, drying, or chilling for an industrial process
that includes and is limited to both of the following:
(i) An absorption chiller, a desiccant dehumidifier, or heat
recovery equipment.
(ii) One of the following:
(A) An internal combustion engine, an external combustion
engine, a microturbine, or a miniturbine, fueled solely by a clean
fuel.
(B) A fuel cell energy system.
(m) "Clean fuel" means 1 or more of the following:
(i) Methane.
(ii) Natural gas.
(iii) Methanol neat or methanol blends containing at least 85%
methanol.
(iv) Denatured ethanol neat or ethanol blends containing at
least 85% ethanol.
(v) Compressed natural gas.
(vi) Liquefied natural gas.
(vii) Liquefied petroleum gas.
(viii) Hydrogen.
(n) "Clean fuel energy system" means a device that is designed
and used solely for the purpose of generating power from a clean
fuel. Clean fuel energy system does not include a conventional
gasoline or diesel fuel engine or a retrofitted conventional diesel
or gasoline engine.
(o) "Department" means the department of management and
budget.
(p) "Electricity storage device" means a device, including a
capacitor, that directly stores electrical energy without
conversion to an intermediary medium.
(q) "Electricity storage system" means 1 or more electricity
storage devices and inverters or other power conditioning
equipment.
(r) "Fuel cell energy system" means 1 or more fuel cells or
fuel cell stacks and an inverter or other power conditioning unit.
A fuel cell energy system may also include a fuel processor. As
used in this subdivision:
(i) "Fuel cell" means an electrochemical device that uses an
external fuel and continuously converts the energy released from
the oxidation of fuel by oxygen directly into electricity without
combustion and consists of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte.
(ii) "Fuel cell stack" means an assembly of fuel cells.
(iii) "Fuel processor" means a device that converts a fuel,
including, but not limited to, methanol, natural gas, or gasoline,
into a hydrogen rich gas, without combustion for use in a fuel
cell.
(s) "Microturbine energy system" means a system that generates
electricity, composed of a compressor, combustor, turbine, and
generator, fueled solely by a clean fuel with a capacity of not
more than 250 kilowatts. A microturbine energy system may include
an alternator and shall include a recuperator if the use of the
recuperator increases the efficiency of the energy system.
(t) "Miniturbine energy system" means a system that generates
electricity, composed of a compressor, combustor, turbine, and
generator, fueled solely by a clean fuel with a capacity of not
more than 2 megawatts. A miniturbine energy system may also include
an alternator and a recuperator.
(u) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, association, governmental entity, or
other legal entity.
(v) "Photovoltaic energy system" means a solar energy device
composed of 1 or more photovoltaic cells or photovoltaic modules
and an inverter or other power conditioning unit. A photovoltaic
system may also include batteries for power storage or an
electricity storage device. As used in this subdivision:
(i) "Photovoltaic cell" means an integrated device consisting
of layers of semiconductor materials and electrical contacts
capable of converting incident light directly into electricity.
(ii) "Photovoltaic module" means an assembly of photovoltaic
cells.
(w) "Small-scale" means a single energy system with a
generating capacity of not more than 2 megawatts or an integrated
energy system with a generating capacity of not more than 10
megawatts.
(x) "Solar thermal energy system" means an integrated unit
consisting of a sunlight collection device, a system containing a
heat transfer fluid to receive the collected sunlight, and heat
exchangers to transfer the solar energy to a thermal storage tank
to heat or cool spaces or water or to generate electricity.
(y) "Stirling cycle energy system" means a closed-cycle,
regenerative heat engine that is fueled solely by a clean fuel and
uses an external combustion process, heat exchangers, pistons, a
regenerator, and a confined working gas, such as hydrogen or
helium, to convert heat into mechanical energy. A Stirling cycle
energy system may also include a generator to generate electricity.
(z) "Wind energy system" means an integrated unit consisting
of a wind turbine composed of a rotor, an electrical generator, a
control system, an inverter or other power conditioning unit, and a
tower, which uses moving air to produce power.