BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 946
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 946
(Ting) - As Amended April 21, 2015
SUBJECT: Electric vehicle charging stations
SUMMARY: Clarifies, pursuant to the Alternative and Renewable
Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP), that alternative
and renewable fueling infrastructure includes electric vehicle
(EV) infrastructure in disadvantaged communities.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB), pursuant to AB 32
(Nunez), Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006, adopt a statewide
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limits equivalent to 1990
levels by 2020 and to adopt regulations to achieve maximum
technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG emission
reductions.
2)Establishes the California Alternative and Renewable Fuel,
Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon Reduction Act of
2007, pursuant to AB 118 (Nunez), Chapter 750, Statutes of
2007, which is funded through temporary increases in vehicle
registration fees, smog abatement fees, boat registration
fees, and special identification plate fees.
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3)Establishes the ARFVTP, administered by California Energy
Commission (Commission) which provides grants and other
financial incentives to accelerate the development and
deployment of clean, efficient, low carbon alternative fuels
and technologies.
4)Extends, until January 1, 2024, the sunset dates of each of
the various fees and surcharges that support AB 118 programs.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: According to the author, EV deployment is critical to
helping California achieve its clean air goals. He notes that
EV deployment is lagging in disadvantaged communities and,
therefore, it is important that the Commission prioritize
installation of EV charging infrastructure in these communities.
To help achieve this, the author has introduced this bill which
would clarify, pursuant to the ARFVTP, that alternative and
renewable fueling infrastructure includes electric vehicle (EV)
infrastructure in disadvantaged communities. According to the
author, this clarifying amendment will ensure that the
Commission prioritizes funding for EV infrastructure in
disadvantaged communities.
The Commission's Investment Plan Update for the ARFVTP describes
the basis for solicitations, agreements, and other funding
opportunities within the identified fiscal year (FY). The staff
report for the FY 2015-16 Investment Plan (Plan) describes $100
million for a portfolio of fuels, technologies and supporting
elements. For electric charging infrastructure specifically,
the Plan describes the need to keep pace with continued plug-in
electric vehicle growth and proposes an $18 million allocation
for various key electric vehicle charging types which includes
disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged communities targeted
in the Commission's long-term expectations for deployment of
other clean air vehicle fueling (such as natural gas).
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Committee concerns: Given that the majority of disadvantaged
communities experience some of the worst air quality in the
state, it is laudable that the author wishes to ensure that EVs
are widely deployed in these areas. It appears, however, that
the Commission's focus for ARFVTP funds in the upcoming year (FY
2015-16) already includes broad support for disadvantaged
communities with respect to EV charging system installation.
This along with the fact that the Commission's overarching
policies already call for optimizing opportunities in
disadvantaged communities, it appears that the bill would not
achieve the author's stated goals and is, therefore,
unnecessary.
Previous legislation: AB 1275 (De Leon) Chapter 530, Statutes
of 2014, created the Charge Ahead Initiative stated the goals of
the initiative are to place in service at least 1,000,000
zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicles by January 1,
2023, and increasing access for disadvantaged, low-income, and
moderate-income communities and consumers to zero-emission and
near-zero-emission vehicles by, among other things, establishing
programs that further increase access to and direct benefits for
disadvantaged, low-income, and moderate-income communities and
consumers from electric transportation.
AB 8 (Perea), Chapter 401, Statutes of 2013, extended, until
January 1, 2024, the sunset dates of each of the various fees
and surcharges that support AB 118.
SB 535 (De Leon), Chapter 830, Statutes of 2012, required the
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund investment plan to allocate a
minimum of 25% of the available moneys to projects that provide
benefits to identified disadvantaged communities and a minimum
of 10% of the available moneys to projects located within
identified disadvantaged communities.
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AB 118 (Nunez), Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007 established the
Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), administered by ARB in
consultation with local air districts, and funded through
surcharges on vehicle and vessel registration fees, smog
abatement fees, and identification plates fees.
AB 32 (Nunez), Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006, created the
California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and required ARB
to adopt GHG reduction measures to ensure that statewide
emissions are reduced to 1990 levels by 2020.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
AB 946
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