BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON SENATE BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
Senator Mark Leno, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 1612 Hearing Date: June 27,
2016
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|Author: |Committee on Budget |
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|Version: |June 23, 2016 Amended |
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|Urgency: |Yes |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant|Catherine Freeman |
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Subject: Public resources: energy
Summary: This bill makes various changes to implement the resources and
energy budget actions adopted as part of the 2016-17 Budget
package.
Proposed
Law: This bill includes the following key changes.
Oil Definition. Defines "oil," as currently specified for under
the Elder California Pipeline Safety Act of 1981, to mean
petroleum, petroleum products, anhydrous ammonia, and ethanol.
Pipeline Reporting. Requires the State Fire Marshall to provide
to the Legislature an annual report containing specified
information regarding the inspection of intrastate pipelines
that transport hazardous materials.
Fund Transfer Repeal. Repeals the requirement that $1 million be
transferred annually from the Public Interest Research,
Development, and Demonstration Fund to the Alternative and
Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund.
Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Administrative Fund (OGGAF) Uses.
Authorizes the use of OGGAF for the State Air Resources Control
Board and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment for
their activities related to oil and gas operations that may
affect air quality, public health and public safety.
AB 1612 (Committee on Budget) Page 2
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California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Reporting.
Requires the CPUC to report to the Legislature on options to
locate operations and staff outside the commission's San
Francisco headquarters.
Green Tariff Sunset. Repeals the sunset that would have ended
the requirement that investor-owned utilities offer the Green
Tariff Shared Renewable Program to customers. The program will
now end when the 600 megawatt cap of the program is reached.
Biomethane Injection Study. Requests a study from the California
Council on Science and Technology on technical aspects of
biomethane related to its delivery in common carrier pipelines
and impacts on end uses of biomethane.
Search Warrants for Smart Readers. Clarifies that a search
warrant is not necessary for the collection of data related to
smart meters.
New Solar Homes Partnership Program. Requires that, should the
California Public Utilities Commission order a continuation of
the New Solar Homes Partnership Program and determines that the
California Energy Commission be the third party administrator,
funds should be made available for this purpose.
Bioenergy Project Interconnections (BioMAT). Expedites
transmission interconnections for specified bioenergy or biomass
projects in order to give them first priority to commence
operations over other renewable energy resources.
Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). Doubles, from $80
million to $160 million annually, the amount of ratepayer
subsidy paid to customers who install certain energy storage
systems. These subsidies are intended to increase investments
in energy storage and to provide both customers and energy
storage manufacturers with incentives to purchase and install
the systems.
Net Energy Metering For Fuel Cells (NEM FC). Extends the sunset
from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2022, for the NEM FC program;
increases the overall megawatt cap on the program; and increases
the amount of megawatts eligible for ratepayer subsidy.
AB 1612 (Committee on Budget) Page 3
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Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). Authorizes the Department of
General Services or any other state agency to enter into sole
source, no bid contracts for up to 35 years with qualified
energy service companies to install energy retrofit projects at
state buildings provided the agency has a project labor
agreement and meets other conditions.
Fiscal
Effect: Provides for an appropriation of $275,000 to the California
Energy Commission for appliance efficiency standards compliance
assistance and enforcement.
Support: None received.
Opposed: None received.
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