BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 2161
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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          AB 2161 (Achadjian)
          As Introduced  February 23, 2012
          Majority vote 

           NATURAL RESOURCES   8-1         APPROPRIATIONS      17-0        
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Chesbro, Knight,          |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey,          |
          |     |Brownley, Dickinson,      |     |Blumenfield, Bradford,    |
          |     |Grove, Huffman, Monning,  |     |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
          |     |Skinner                   |     |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto,   |
          |     |                          |     |Ammiano, Hill, Lara,      |
          |     |                          |     |Mitchell, Nielsen, Norby, |
          |     |                          |     |Solorio, Wagner           |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |Nays:|Halderman                 |     |                          |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           SUMMARY  :  Adds San Luis Obispo to the list of counties eligible 
          to receive renewable energy planning grants from the California 
          Energy Commission (CEC).

           EXISTING LAW  requires the CEC to provide, upon appropriation by 
          the Legislature, up to $7 million in grants to 15 qualified 
          counties in the San Joaquin Valley and desert regions to revise 
          rules and policies, including general plans, zoning ordinances, 
          and conservation plans, to facilitate renewable energy 
          development on "disturbed lands," as defined.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations 
          Committee, no direct state costs, but cost pressure of an 
          unknown amount, but potentially in the hundreds of thousands of 
          dollars, to make renewable energy grants to San Luis Obispo 
          County (special fund).

           COMMENTS  :  In 2011, AB 13 X1 (V. Manuel Perez, et al.), Chapter 
          10, Statutes of 2011-12 First Extraordinary Session, expanded 
          existing provisions, enacted to facilitate permitting of solar 
          energy projects in a specified desert region, to include a 
          broader range of renewable energy projects in the desert and, 
          for specified provisions, other regions of the state.  The bill 
          also established new provisions to support planning and 
          permitting of renewable energy projects in the San Joaquin 








                                                                  AB 2161
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          Valley and desert regions, including directing the CEC to 
          provide grants for local government participation, upon 
          appropriation of funds from the Legislature.  Although major 
          solar energy projects have been proposed in San Luis Obispo, the 
          county was not included in AB 13 X1's list of eligible counties.

          According to the author:

               AB 2161 would add San Luis Obispo County to the current 
               list of counties that would be deemed "qualified" to apply 
               for this grant funding to allow for additional 
               opportunities for renewable energy development?San Luis 
               Obispo County demonstrated its commitment to solar power by 
               approving two large utility scale solar projects?and by 
               promoting distributed and rooftop solar.  However, the 
               efficiency at which the County can process solar energy 
               facility (SEF) projects is hampered by outdated plans, 
               policies and rules.  The County is motivated to update its 
               regulations and streamline the review process for SEF 
               projects.  As a starting point, the County would like to 
               pursue customizing the California County Planning Director 
               Association's Solar Energy Facility (SEF) Permit 
               Streamlining Guide and Model SEF Ordinance for local use.  
               The Guide and Model SEF Ordinance were developed with 
               involvement from a broad, statewide coalition of 
               stakeholders, over 100 participants strong.  The goal of 
               this project was to assist counties in their effort to 
               provide a streamlined regulatory climate for the 
               installation of SEF project while protecting important 
               farmland and sensitive habitat.  The County would like to 
               build upon this model and facilitate more efficient 
               processing of these projects.  Concurrent to the original 
               intent of AB 13 X1, with its location on the Central Coast, 
               San Luis Obispo is in a prime location to continue and 
               expand on its renewable energy portfolio.  When the grant 
               funding is appropriated through the Energy Commission's 
               budget, these counties, with the addition of San Luis 
               Obispo will be poised to act.

           
          Analysis Prepared by  :  Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916) 
          319-2092 










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