BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 1406
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 22, 2013

                    ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON UTILITIES AND COMMERCE
                               Steven Bradford, Chair
                  AB 1406 (Committee) - As Amended:  April 16, 2013
           
          SUBJECT  :   Energy: renewable energy resources.

           SUMMARY  :   This bill would eliminate two obsolete requirements  
          in the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).  Specifically,  this  
          bill  :  

          a)Delete a requirement that the California Energy Commission  
            (CEC) provide a report on run-of-the river hydroelectric  
            generation facilities by June 30, 2011.

          b)Delete a requirement that the RPS is intended to complement  
            the Renewable Energy Resources Program.

           EXISTING LAW  

          1)Requires the CEC to provide a report on run-of the river  
            hydroelectric generation facilities by June 30, 2011.

          2)Requires that the RPS complement the Renewable Energy  
            Resources Program administered by the CEC.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   

          1)At the time the Legislature was deliberating increasing the  
            RPS from 20% to 30% there were questions regarding whether or  
            not run-of-the-river hydroelectric facilities can be operated  
            consistent with air pollutant requirements, water quality,  
            recreation and fishery needs, and any other environmental  
            impacts. The CEC was directed to study the issue and report  
            back to the Legislature. The CEC recently completed this  
            study.

          2)The CEC was charged with administering the Renewable Energy  
            Resources Program. This program was funded via the  
            ratepayer-funded public goods charge. The public goods charge  









                                                                  AB 1406
                                                                  Page  2

            has not yet been reauthorized by the Legislature and the  
            Renewable Energy Resources Program no longer receives these  
            funds and the program has been closed out following the  
            enactment of the State Budget in 2012. 

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Susan Kateley / U. & C. / (916)  
          319-2083