BILL NUMBER: AB 238	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Adams

                        FEBRUARY 6, 2009

   An act to amend Section 399.11 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 238, as introduced, Adams. Renewable energy resources.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations,
as defined. The Public Utilities Act imposes various duties and
responsibilities on the commission with respect to the purchase of
electricity and requires the commission to review and adopt a
procurement plan and a renewable energy procurement plan for each
electrical corporation pursuant to the California Renewables
Portfolio Standard Program. The renewables portfolio standard program
requires that a retail seller of electricity purchase a specified
minimum percentage of electricity generated by eligible renewable
energy resources, as defined, in any given year as a specified
percentage of total kilowatthours sold to retail end-use customers
each calendar year. Existing law includes legislative findings and
declarations relative to the program that include a declaration that
new and modified electric transmission facilities may be necessary to
facilitate the state achieving its renewables portfolio standard
targets.
   This bill would revise the legislative findings and declarations
to declare that new and modified electric transmission facilities,
including the employment of smart grid technologies, may be necessary
to facilitate the state achieving its energy efficiency goals and
renewables portfolio standard targets.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 399.11 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   399.11.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) In order to attain a target of generating 20 percent of total
retail sales of electricity in California from eligible renewable
energy resources by December 31, 2010, and for the purposes of
increasing the diversity, reliability, public health  ,  and
environmental benefits of the energy mix, it is the intent of the
Legislature that the commission and the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission implement the California
Renewables Portfolio Standard Program described in this article.
   (b) Increasing California's reliance on eligible renewable energy
resources may promote stable electricity prices, protect public
health, improve environmental quality, stimulate sustainable economic
development, create new employment opportunities, and reduce
reliance on imported fuels.
   (c) The development of eligible renewable energy resources and the
delivery of the electricity generated by those resources to
customers in California may ameliorate air quality problems
throughout the state and improve public health by reducing the
burning of fossil fuels and the associated environmental impacts and
by reducing in-state fossil fuel consumption.
   (d) The California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program is
intended to complement the Renewable Energy Resources Program
administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission and established pursuant to Chapter 8.6
(commencing with Section 25740) of Division 15 of the Public
Resources Code.
   (e) New and modified electric transmission facilities  ,
including the employment of smart grid technologies,  may be
necessary to facilitate the state achieving its  energy
efficiency goals and  renewables portfolio standard targets.