SB 23

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law creates the California renewables portfolio standard program (RPS program) and the Renewable Energy Resources Program to increase the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined. Effective on the 91st day after the adjournment of the 2011–12 First Extraordinary Session, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , by June 30, 2011, is required to study and provide a report to the Legislature that analyzes run-of-river hydroelectric generating facilities, as defined, in British Columbia, including whether these facilities are, or should be, included as renewable electrical generation facilities for purposes of the Renewable Energy Resources Program administered by the Energy Commission or eligible renewable energy resources for purposes of the RPS program. Effective on the 91st day after the adjournment of the 2011–12 First Extraordinary Session, the Energy Commission, among other things, is required to adopt regulations specifying procedures for enforcement of the RPS requirements by July 1, 2011. Effective on the 91st day after the adjournment of the 2011–12 First Extraordinary Session, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) , by July 1, 2011, is required to determine the effective load carrying capacity of wind and solar energy resources on the electrical grid. This bill would extend the compliance date for these corresponding reporting and regulatory requirements, as provided. (2) Effective on the 91st day after the adjournment of the 2011–12 First Extraordinary Session,the PUC, in consultation with the Energy Commission, is required to report to the Legislature by January 1 of every even-numbered year on (A) the progress and status of procurement activities by each retail seller, (B) the status of permitting and siting eligible renewable energy resources and transmission facilities necessary to supply electricity generated to load, (C) the projected ability of electrical corporations to meet the RPS program procurement requirements under a cost limitation established by the PUC and any recommendations for revisions to those cost limitations, and (D) barriers to, and policy recommendations for, achieving the renewables portfolio standard established pursuant to the RPS program. This bill would delete the requirement that the PUC report on the projected ability of electrical corporations to meet the RPS program procurement requirements under a cost limitation established by the PUC and any recommendations for revisions to those cost limitations, and would require that the first report be made on January 1, 2014. (3) Effective on the 91st day after the adjournment of the First Extraordinary Session of the 2011–12 Session,the PUC is required to establish the quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, to be procured by each retail seller, as defined, for specified compliance periods, sufficient to ensure that the procurement of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources achieves 20% of retail sales for the period January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2013, 25% of retail sales by December 31, 2016, and 33% of retail sales by December 31, 2020, and in all subsequent years. The PUC is required to establish the quantity of electricity products to be procured by the retail seller for each compliance period by January 1, 2012. The RPS program, consistent with the goals of procuring the least-cost and best-fit eligible renewable energy resources that meet project viability principles, requires that all retail sellers procure a balanced portfolio of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources, as specified. The RPS program requires the PUC to direct each electrical corporation to annually prepare a renewable energy procurement plan containing specified matter and an annual compliance report. This bill would require the PUC to establish the quantity of electricity products to be procured by the retail seller for each compliance period by June 1, 2012, and require that the compliance report be submitted at least annually. (4) Effective on the 91st day after the adjournment of the First Extraordinary Session of the 2011–12 Session,an eligible renewable energy resource is defined for the purposes of the RPS program to include a small hydroelectric generation unit with a nameplate capacity not exceeding 40 megawatts that is operated as part of a water supply or conveyance system, if the retail seller or local publicly owned electric utility procured the electricity from the facility as of December 31, 2005. This bill would instead make a small hydroelectric generation unit with a nameplate capacity not exceeding 40 megawatts an eligible renewable energy resource if a retail seller or local publicly owned electric utility operates the facility to supply or convey water to its customers and procured the electricity from the facility as of December 31, 2005. (5) Effective on the 91st day after the adjournment of the First Extraordinary Session of the 2011–12 Session,the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined, is required to adopt a program for the enforcement of the RPS program on or before January 1, 2012. This bill would extend this deadline until January 1, 2013. (6) The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (the act) , establishes the State Air Resources Board (state board) as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. The act requires the state board to adopt regulations to require the reporting and verification of statewide greenhouse gas emissions and to monitor and enforce compliance with this program. The act requires the state board to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, as defined, to be achieved by 2020, equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions levels in 1990. The state board is required to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions. This bill would prohibit the state board from adopting any requirement for the procurement of eligible renewable energy resources by a retail seller or local publicly owned electric utility. (7) This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 399.30 of the Public Utilities Code, proposed by AB 1391, to be operative only if AB 1391 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2012, and this bill is chaptered last.