BILL 28

Green Energy Security Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1 The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of Renew New Brunswick Inc. (Conseil)

“Committee” means the Advisory Committee of Renew New Brunswick Inc. (Comité)

“Crown corporation” means a wholly owned federal or provincial organization structured like private or independent companies. (société d’État)

“energy efficiency sector” means those enterprises that employ people and apply resources in an effort to reduce the energy consumption of buildings, technologies and transportation. (secteur de l’efficacité énergétique)

“Minister” means the Minister of Energy and Resource Development. (ministre)

“public transportation sector” means those enterprises and organizations which supply the products and services which provide shared passenger transportation services for the public including vans, buses, trams, rail and ferries. (secteur du transport collectif)

“renewable energy” means energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as the sun, biomass, geothermal, flowing water, tides and wind. (énergie renouvelable)

“renewable energy sector” means those enterprises which design, manufacture, install, operate, and service renewable energy technologies and associated hardware, software and transmission infrastructure. (secteur de l’énergie renouvelable)

Establishment of Renew New Brunswick Inc.

2 There is established a Crown corporation, without share capital, to be known as Renew New Brunswick Inc. consisting of those persons who compose the Board referred to in section 4.

Objectives and purposes

3 The objects and purposes of Renew New Brunswick Inc. are as follows:

(a)  to promote and develop jobs in the renewable energy, energy efficiency and public transportation sectors; and

(b)  to invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and public transportation.

Composition of the Board of Directors

4( 1) The Minister shall establish the Renew New Brunswick Inc. Board of Directors.

4( 2) The members of the Board shall be appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council and shall consist of eight individuals, representing:

(a)  the Department of Energy and Resource Development, the representative of which will serve as a chairperson;

(b)  Opportunities NB, the representative of which will serve as a vice-chairperson;

(c)  the Jobs Board;

(d)  the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour;

(e)  the New Brunswick Community College;

(f)  the College Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick;

(g)  the National Research Council; and

(h)  the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation.

Terms of Office

5( 1) A member of the Board referred to in subsection 4(2) shall be appointed for a term not exceeding three years and may be reappointed for one additional term.

5( 2) The members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but each individual shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.

Meetings and Quorum

6( 1) A majority of the members of the Board constitutes a quorum.

6( 2) Decisions of the Board are to be made by majority vote of the members present.

6( 3) The Board shall meet at least four times per year.

Role of the Board of Directors

7 The Board shall have all powers necessary

(a)  for the governance of its affairs and the conduct of its business; and

(b)  to review and recommend changes in legislation, regulation, programs and policies to achieve the purposes of this Act.

Composition of the Advisory Committee

8( 1) The Minister shall establish the Renew New Brunswick Inc. Advisory Committee.

8( 2) The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Minister and shall consist of nine individuals with expertise in the renewable energy, energy efficiency and public transportation sectors.

Role of the Advisory Committee

9 The purpose of the Committee is to provide policy and strategic advice to Renew New Brunswick Inc.

Primary Targets

10 Within 12 months of this Act coming into force, the Board shall, in consultation with the Committee, recommend targets to be adopted by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, in relation to

(a)  retrofitting buildings;

(b)  expanding the use of renewable energy for heating, power generation and transportation fuels; and

(c)  public transportation use.

Regulations

11 The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may make regulations governing:

(a)  the powers and duties of the Board established under section 4;

(b)  the administration and operation of the Committee established under section 8;

(c)  the development of targets under section 10;

(d)  any other matter the Lieutenant-Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable for the purposes of this Act.

Commencement

12 This Act or any provision of it comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.