BILL ANALYSIS Ó ------------------------------------------------------------ |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 2161| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ------------------------------------------------------------ THIRD READING Bill No: AB 2161 Author: Achadjian (R) Amended: As introduced Vote: 21 SENATE ENERGY, UTIL. & COMMUNIC. COMMITTEE : 11-1, 6/19/12 AYES: Padilla, Berryhill, Corbett, De León, DeSaulnier, Emmerson, Kehoe, Pavley, Rubio, Simitian, Wright NOES: Fuller NO VOTE RECORDED: Strickland SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 8/16/12 AYES: Kehoe, Walters, Alquist, Dutton, Lieu, Price, Steinberg ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-3, 5/29/12 - See last page for vote SUBJECT : Energy: renewable energy resources SOURCE : San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors DIGEST : This bill adds San Luis Obispo to the list of counties which are eligible for grants from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for the development or revision of rules and policies including general plan elements, zoning ordinances, and natural community conservation plans, that facilitate the development of renewable energy resources and associated transmission facilities. ANALYSIS : Existing law requires CEC to provide up to CONTINUED AB 2161 Page 2 seven million dollars in grants to 15 qualified counties for the development or revision of rules and policies, including general plan elements, zoning ordinances, and natural community conservation plans that facilitate the development of eligible renewable energy resources, and their associated electric transmission facilities, and the processing of permits for eligible renewable energy resources. Funding is to be made available only upon appropriation by the Legislature. Comments According to the author's office, this bill adds San Luis Obispo County to the current list of counties that are deemed "qualified" to apply for renewable energy planning grants (grant) from the CEC. This grant funding allows 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 However, the efficiency at which the County can process solar energy facility (SEF) projects is hampered by outdated plans, policies and rules.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 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 CEC's budget, these counties, with the addition of San Luis Obispo will be poised to act. Prior Legislation CONTINUED AB 2161 Page 3 AB 13 X1 (V. Manuel Perez, et al.), Chapter 10, Statutes of 2011-12 First Extraordinary Session, expands 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 establishes new provisions to support planning and permitting of renewable energy projects in the San Joaquin 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. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, uncertain cost pressures, possibly in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, from the Renewable Resource Trust Fund (General Fund) beginning in 2012-13 from additional applications for local assistance grants. SUPPORT : (Verified 8/17/12) San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors (source) ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-3, 5/29/12 AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter, Chesbro, Cook, Davis, Dickinson, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Gorell, Grove, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Lara, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez CONTINUED AB 2161 Page 4 NOES: Conway, Donnelly, Halderman NO VOTE RECORDED: Cedillo, Fletcher, Hagman, Hall RM:d 8/20/12 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END **** CONTINUED