BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1328|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SB 1328
Author: Lowenthal (D)
Amended: 4/12/10
Vote: 21
SENATE ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE : 7-0, 4/19/10
AYES: Simitian, Runner, Corbett, Hancock, Lowenthal,
Pavley, Strickland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Greenhouse gas emissions: motor vehicle cabin
temperature
SOURCE : Exatec, LLC
DIGEST : This bill requires the Air Resources Board to
consider specified matters in developing regulations to
reduce motor vehicle cabin temperature in order to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
ANALYSIS : Existing law , under the California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006:
1. Requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to
determine the 1990 statewide greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions level and approve a statewide GHG emissions
limit that is equivalent to that level, to be achieved
by 2020. ARB must adopt regulations for reporting and
verification of GHG emissions, monitoring and compliance
CONTINUED
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with the program, and achieving GHG emission reductions
from sources or categories of sources by January 1,
2011, to be operative on January 1, 2012, subject to
certain requirements.
2. Requires ARB to prepare and approve a scoping plan for
achieving the maximum technologically feasible and
cost-effective reductions in GHG emissions from sources
or categories of sources of GHGs by 2020. ARB must
evaluate the total potential costs and total potential
economic and noneconomic benefits of the plan for
reducing GHGs to the state's economy, and public health,
using the best economic models, emission estimation
techniques, and other scientific methods. The plan must
be updated at least once every five years.
3. Authorizes the ARB to adopt GHG emission limits or
emission reduction measures prior to January 1, 2011,
imposing those limits or measures prior to January 1,
2012, or providing early reduction credit where
appropriate.
This bill requires the ARB, in developing regulations to
reduce cabin temperatures in vehicles in order to reduce
GHG emissions, to consider the following:
1. Potential reductions in air conditioning use that can be
achieved while a motor vehicle is moving, in addition to
reductions in air conditioning use when a motor vehicle
is parked.
2. Potential conflicts between, and relative benefits of,
motor vehicle cabin temperature reduction requirements
and technologies that provide motor vehicle GHG emission
reductions through various means.
3. The manufacturing flexibility necessary to achieve
overall maximum GHG emission reductions from motor
vehicles.
Comments
Vehicle Cabin Temperature Standard . The concept behind
'cool cars' is to keep cars and light trucks cooler so less
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fuel is needed to keep the cabin temperatures comfortable,
thus reducing fuel consumption and GHG and other
pollutants. In May of 2008 the ARB embarked on a
rulemaking process for cool cars as part of the overall GHG
reduction strategies. On June 25, 2009, ARB adopted the
cool car regulation that required new vehicles starting
with the 2012 model year to be equipped with solar control
windows. These windows limit the amount of solar radiation
entering the vehicle, allowing the air conditioning units
to be downsized or used less frequently. Less air
conditioning use or smaller air conditioning units
translates into less fuel burned and lower GHG emissions
emitted by the vehicle. ARB staff estimated that the
requirements when fully implemented would have prevented
over one-million metric tons of CO2 from being emitted into
the air. The solar controlled windows used a 'glazing'
technology that blocked solar energy and reduced heat build
up in the car.
On March 25, 2010 the ARB withdrew the regulation approved
on June 25, 2009, from the rulemaking process after
determining that insufficient time remained on the
rulemaking calendar to achieve consensus on the rule and
problems with the metallic glazing. The ARB plans to
revisit a different approach to keeping cars cool in the
next phase of motor vehicle regulations, which will be
phased in starting with the 2017 model year.
According to the author's office, this bill will provide
policy guidance to ARB when it resumes its work on a
vehicle cabin temperature standard, to broaden the factors
it considers in how air conditioning based vehicle
emissions are achieved and to consider how it can avoid
potential conflicts between various beneficial new
technologies that will reduce vehicular GHG emissions. It
ensures that the ARB has all of the necessary tools to
provide flexibility to the auto and related industries with
certain regulations in order to achieve the greatest GHG
reductions possible associated with light and medium duty
vehicles.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
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SUPPORT : (Verified 5/4/10)
Exatec, LLC (source)
TSM:do 5/4/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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