WHEREAS, long-term energy supplies are critical to the well-being and future of Idaho; and

        WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of state government to explore energy production and employ measures to reduce wasteful, uneconomical and unnecessary uses of energy, which diminish Idaho’s energy resources; and

        WHEREAS, the Division of Energy was previously assigned to the Idaho Department of Water Resources under Executive Order 2001-06, which expired;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Idaho do hereby order:

    1. Creation of the “Office of Energy Resources” within the Office of the Governor.

    2. The Governor shall appoint an administrator (hereafter “Administrator”) to lead the Office of
        Energy Resources (Office). The Administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and
        shall be subject to confirmation by the Idaho Senate. The Administrator shall be the official in
        Idaho designated to oversee energy planning, policy and coordination, and to fulfill the duties
        provided in this Executive Order.

    3. Employees who previously worked for the Division of Energy, within the Department of Water
        Resources and are employed by the Office shall retain the employment status they enjoyed prior
        to the promulgation of this Executive Order. The aforementioned employees shall retain their status
        until they accept promotion or a new job title at which time their status shall change to non-classified.
        Employees of the Office hired after the effective date of this Executive Order, who did not previously
        work for the Division of Energy, shall be non-classified for the purposes of Chapter 53, Title 67 of
        the Idaho Code.

    4. The duties, powers and authorities of the Office of Energy Resources shall include:

        a) Advising the Governor, the Legislature and other public officials of the State’s energy
            requirements, supply, transmission, management, conservation and efficiency efforts;
        b) Coordinating and cooperating with federal and state agencies, departments and divisions, and
            local governments on issues concerning the State’s energy requirements, supply, transmission,
            management, conservation and efficiency efforts;
        c) Pursuing and accepting federal delegation of responsibility and authority for matters that affect the
            energy supply, transmission, management, consumption and conservation by the citizens of Idaho
            other than energy codes and standards for buildings and those matters under the jurisdiction of the
            Idaho Public Utilities Commission;
        d) Preparing and, as necessary, implementing contingency plans for the conservation and allocation
            of energy supplies not otherwise regulated by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission during
            periods of shortages and supply interruptions;
        e) Provide technical assistance to all state agencies, departments, divisions and local governments
            for energy conservation projects and renewable energy resource opportunities, and help those
            entities secure funding where available for energy conservation projects and renewable energy
            resource opportunities;
         f) Assisting local governments, school districts and public institutions by providing technical
            assistance and funding for programs to improve energy management and reduce energy
            consumption;
        g) Providing public information and data on energy supplies, transmission, delivery, demands,
            technologies, efficiency measures and conservation;
        h) Promoting energy conservation through research, public information, education, training,
            technical assistance, funding assistance and other activities;
         i) Promoting the utilization of renewable energy resources through funding and technical assistance,
            research and public information;
         j) Assisting in the development of energy-efficient technologies;
        k) Entering into other agreements or contracts and do that which is necessary to carry out the
            provisions of this Executive Order and in the performance of other duties as may be directed by
            the Governor.

    5. The Office of Energy Resources may accept private contributions, state or federal funds, funds
        from other public agencies or any other source. The moneys shall be expended solely for the
         purposes provided in this Executive Order and accounted for as provided by law.

    6. All orders, regulations, contracts and licenses which are in effect at the time this
        Executive Order is signed shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified or
        terminated.

    7. The duties, responsibilities and authority of this Executive Order shall not alter any existing
        responsibilities, jurisdiction or planning functions of state agencies established by state or
        federal law; nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to provide or imply
        any regulatory authority by the Office of Energy Resources over public utilities
        that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

This Executive Order shall cease to be effective four years after its entry into force.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho in Boise on this 19th day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eighteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE