152.712 Office of Energy Policy -- Duties -- Fees -- Funding -- Partnerships and cooperative research initiatives. (1) The Office of Energy Policy in the Energy and Environment Cabinet shall: (a) Oversee the implementation of Kentucky's comprehensive energy strategy; (b) Provide leadership to enhance the benefits of energy efficiency and alternative energy through supporting awareness, technology development, energy preparedness, partnerships, and resource development; (c) Enhance the economic opportunities and benefits to Kentucky citizens and industry through expansion of current markets and the development of market opportunities for Kentucky coal, natural gas, petroleum, oil shale, tar sands, liquid and gaseous fuels from coal, and chemicals from coal; (d) To the extent funding is available, administer grant programs to support energy-related research, development, and demonstration, including the support of multistate cooperative regional partnerships and research initiatives; (e) Develop and implement programs for the development, conservation, and utilization of energy in a manner to meet essential human needs while maintaining the Kentucky economy at the highest feasible level. The programs shall include: 1. Central access for collection, maintenance, and analysis of data and information on all forms of energy supply, demand, conservation, and related subjects; 2. Formulation of a contingency plan to address any energy shortage which may occur from time to time. The contingency plan shall relate to the curtailment, allocation, planning, and management of all forms of energy; 3. Development and implementation of major energy conservation programs involving all sectors of the Kentucky economy, including energy audits of educational facilities and state-owned buildings; and 4. Provision for the application of appropriate technologies with regard to alternative energy development, including the development of solar and other renewable resources and small-scale hydroelectric plants, and promotion, when feasible, of the production of energy from other resources such as solid waste and biomass; (f) Provide technical assistance to the Finance and Administration Cabinet in implementing the Energy Efficiency in Government Buildings Program; (g) Enter into agreements, administer grant programs, and serve as a liaison with the federal government and other states in matters relating to energy; and (h) Participate in the review of applications and, upon request of the authority, assist the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in monitoring tax incentive agreements as provided in Subchapter 27 of KRS Chapter 154. (2) The office may establish reasonable application fees to offset costs associated with reviewing and processing applications, including costs associated with hiring outside consultants. (3) The office is encouraged to use state funding available to it as a match for federal or private funding to increase the resources available to support energy research and development. (4) The office is encouraged to explore and develop regional partnerships and cooperative research initiatives with other states and governmental entities to enhance resources available for energy research and development. Effective: July 14, 2018 History: Amended 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 29, sec. 51, effective July 14, 2018. -- Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 24, sec. 184, effective July 15, 2010. -- Created 2007 (2d Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 1, sec. 37, effective August 30, 2007. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/14/2018). In codification, the word "department" has been changed to read "office" in subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this statute. In subsection (1) of 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 29, sec. 51, the phrase "Department of Energy Development and Independence" was deleted and the phrase "Office of Energy Policy" was inserted in its place, but corresponding changes were not made elsewhere in the statute. The Reviser of Statutes has corrected this error under the authority of KRS 7.136(1) and (2).