The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee Thursday approved a motion to authorize a new study of the financial impact and effectiveness of state grants, in particular state grants for solar and wind energy projects were mentioned during the discussion.

Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), who serves on the Committee and will no doubt return to serve as Majority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, expressed a concern the state is giving out too much grant money in this current budgetary climate.

He suggested looking at whether all the state grants are still worth giving out and specifically mentioned grants for solar and wind energy projects that may be undercutting the nuclear energy industry.

Almost all state grants are authorized by statutes passed by the General Assembly.

Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery), Chair of the Joint Committee, recommended expanding the grant study to include lookback provisions and the regional distribution of grants.

There was also a concern expressed about how the grants and given out and who makes those decisions.

Sen. Mensch said the grant study should be made a top priority of the Committee, but there was no timeline for completion.

For more information on the Committee, visit the Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee website.

[Posted Dec. 16, 2016]

12/19/2016