473.7 - DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.
473.7 DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. The office shall: 1. Supply and annually update the following information: a. The historical use and distribution of energy in Iowa. b. The growth rate of energy consumption in Iowa, including rates of growth for each energy source. c. A projection of Iowa's energy needs at a minimum through the year 2025. d. The impact of meeting Iowa's energy needs on the economy of the state, including the impact of energy efficiency and renewable energy on employment and economic development. e. The impact of meeting Iowa's energy needs on the environment of the state, including the impact of energy production and use on greenhouse gas emissions. f. An evaluation of renewable energy sources, including the current and future technological potential for such sources. 2. The office shall collect and analyze data to use in forecasting future energy demand and supply for the state. A supplier is required to provide information pertaining to the supply, storage, distribution, and sale of energy sources in this state when requested by the office. The information shall be of a nature which directly relates to the supply, storage, distribution, and sale of energy sources, and shall not include any records, documents, books, or other data which relate to the financial position of the supplier. The office, prior to requiring any supplier to furnish it with such information, shall make every reasonable effort to determine if such information is available from any other governmental source. If it finds such information is available, the office shall not require submission of the information from a supplier. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 22, information and reports obtained under this section shall be confidential except when used for statistical purposes without identifying a specific supplier and when release of the information will not give an advantage to competitors and serves a public purpose. The office shall use this data to conduct energy forecasts. 3. Develop, recommend, and implement with appropriate agencies public and professional education and communication programs in energy efficiency, energy conservation, and conversion to alternative and renewable energy. 4. When necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter, enter into contracts with state agencies and other qualified contractors. 5. Receive and accept grants made available for programs relating to duties of the office under this chapter. 6. Promulgate rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, subject to review in accordance with chapter 17A. Rules promulgated by the governor pursuant to a proclamation issued under the provisions of section 473.8 shall not be subject to review or a public hearing as required in chapter 17A; however, office rules for implementation of the governor's proclamation are subject to the requirements of chapter 17A. 7. Assist in the implementation of public education and communications programs in energy development, use, and conservation, in cooperation with the department of education, the state university extension services, and other public or private agencies and organizations as deemed appropriate by the office. 8. Develop a program to annually give public recognition to innovative methods of energy conservation, energy management, and alternative and renewable energy production. 9. Administer and coordinate federal funds for energy conservation, energy management, and alternative and renewable energy programs. 10. Administer and coordinate the state building energy management program including projects funded through private financing. 11. Provide information from monthly fuel surveys which establish a statistical average of motor fuel prices for various motor fuels provided throughout the state. Additionally, the office shall provide statewide monthly fuel survey information which establishes a statistical average of motor fuel prices for various motor fuels provided in both metropolitan and rural areas of the state. The survey results shall be publicized in a monthly press release issued by the office. 12. a. Conduct a study on activities related to energy production and use which contribute to global climate change, in conjunction with institutions under the control of the state board of regents. The study shall take the form of a climate change impacts review, to include the following: (1) Performance of an initial review of available climate change impacts studies relevant to this state. (2) Preparation of a summary of available data on recent changes in relevant climate conditions. (3) Identification of climate change impacts issues which require further research and an estimate of their cost. (4) Identification of important public policy issues relevant to climate change impacts. b. In the course of the review, the institutions shall meet at least twice with the Iowa climate change advisory council established in section 455B.851. The office shall submit a report, based upon input from the institutions, containing its findings and recommendations to the governor and general assembly by January 1, 2011.
Section History: Early Form [C75, 77, 79, 81, § 93.7; 82 Acts, ch 1081, § 1, 2, ch 1199, § 92, 96]
Section History: Recent Form 86 Acts, ch 1245, § 1820--1822; 88 Acts, ch 1179, § 2; 88 Acts, ch 1281, § 7; 89 Acts, ch 152, § 1; 89 Acts, ch 297, § 2; 90 Acts, ch 1252, § 7--10 C93, § 473.7 2007 Acts, ch 168, §15, 18; 2008 Acts, ch 1126, §22, 23, 33; 2009 Acts, ch 108, §27, 41 Referred to in § 469.3