BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 489
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 489 (Skinner)
As Introduced February 19, 2013
Majority vote
NATURAL RESORUCES 6-2 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Garcia, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Muratsuchi, Skinner, | |Bradford, |
| |Stone, Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Hall, |
| | | |Ammiano, Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Grove, Bigelow |Nays:|Harkey, Bigelow, |
| | | |Donnelly, Linder, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Repeals the requirement that activities undertaken by
the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop a
comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in
existing residential and nonresidential buildings, formally
known as the AB 758 Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Program for
Existing Buildings (AB 758 Program), be funded by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this bill has no fiscal impact to CEC. This bill
may create unknown cost pressure, potentially in the millions of
dollars, to fund AB 758 efficiency and retrofit projects.
COMMENTS : AB 758 (Skinner), Chapter 470, Statutes of 2009,
established the AB 758 Program. The program has been
successful; it has implemented 11 pilot programs throughout
California to assess and retrofit inefficient buildings.
Benefits from the program are not limited to increased energy
efficiency and reduced electricity costs; the pilot programs
have also created green jobs. For example, one pilot located in
the Sacramento area "will provide Home Energy Rating system
Phase II audits and/or home performance retrofits to 15,150
homes, preserve or create 1,148 jobs, provide high quality
retrofits to 1,050 low-income homes and 100 moderate-income
AB 489
Page 2
foreclosed, purchased, and renovated homes, [and] create
significant demand for building science professionals?"
According to the author, the AB 758 Program was intended to be
an ongoing program funded through any available funding sources.
Assembly Member Skinner submitted a letter to the CEC
clarifying this intent at the time the bill was chaptered.
This bill repeals the requirement that the AB 758 Program be
funded exclusively by ARRA and other non-state funds, which will
allow CEC to pursue all available funding options.
Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0000849