Committee approves deficiency appropriation to cover unspent hydrogen project invoice to EERC

The conference committee approved an amendment that adds a deficiency appropriation from the general fund so the Industrial Commission can pay the remaining balance on an unpaid invoice to EERC tied to a discontinued hydrogen energy research project.

Representative Deb Bosch explained that a hydrogen research project established last session under the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority was partly funded with ARPA dollars but the contractor stopped the work and left unspent funds. Bosch said some invoices arrived after funds had been transferred and that "there was work that hadn't been, basically, there was work that hadn't been paid for yet" and that the amendment would allow the Industrial Commission to cover the remaining invoice.

Adam, a staff member who assisted drafting the amendment, told the committee the change functions like a standard deficiency appropriation: "It would just be essentially a straight up deficiency appropriation from the general fund," to cover costs that were not included earlier in the deficiency bill due to timing.

Representative Bosch moved the amendment; the motion was seconded. The clerk called the roll; the amendment passed with all recorded members voting in favor (Chairman Schauble, Senator Svoborg, Senator Beckettall, Representative Pyle, Representative Bosch and Representative Munson recorded as yes). The committee agreed to carry other carryovers and study sections forward as part of the bill review.