newsminer.com

The House Energy Committee wants to pull myriad state energy efforts — including two board-governed authorities — into one Alaska Department of Energy.

The department would be led by a cabinet-level person.

Rep. Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, announced the plan to file the legislation at a Monday morning House Majority press conference — less than two days after the four-hour Saturday "round table" meeting that she said generated the idea.

Millett and Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillngham, chair the committee.

The bill, which will be introduced today, will bring the Alaska Energy Authority and Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority under the new department. Home energy and weatherization programs now managed by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation would also be transferred, as well as other state energy programs and loans.

The bill would also allow the department to accept federal energy money, which is now routed through AHFC.

Millett said the committee is working with the administration and the House Finance Committee to iron out any wrinkles through the interim.

The Senate Energy Committee, chaired by Sens. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, and Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, was scheduled to hold a joint round table with the house.

Millett said Palin was "cautiously optimistic" about the plan.