BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1612|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1612
Author: Committee on Budget
Amended: 6/27/16 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: 12-5, 8/17/16
AYES: Leno, Allen, Beall, Block, Glazer, Hancock, Mitchell,
Monning, Pan, Pavley, Roth, Wolk
NOES: Nielsen, Anderson, Moorlach, Nguyen, Stone
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Not relevant
SUBJECT: Public resources: energy
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill makes various changes to implement the
resources and energy budget actions adopted as part of the
2016-17 Budget package.
ANALYSIS: This bill includes the following key changes:
1) 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.
2) Pipeline Reporting. Requires the State Fire Marshal to
provide to the Legislature an annual report containing
specified information regarding the inspection of intrastate
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pipelines that transport hazardous materials.
3) 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.
4) Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Administrative Fund (OGGAF) Uses.
Authorizes the use of OGGAF for the State Air Resources 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.
5) 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.
6) 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.
7) 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.
8) Search Warrants for Smart Readers. Clarifies that a search
warrant is not necessary for the collection of data related
to smart meters.
9) New Solar Homes Partnership Program. Requires that, should
the CPUC 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.
10)Bioenergy Project Interconnections. Expedites transmission
interconnections for specified bioenergy or biomass projects
in order to give them first priority to commence operations
over other renewable energy resources.
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11) Self-Generation Incentive Program. 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.
12) 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.
13) Energy Service Companies. 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: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: Yes
According to the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee,
provides for an appropriation of $275,000 to the California
Energy Commission for appliance efficiency standards compliance
assistance and enforcement.
SUPPORT: (Verified6/24/16)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified6/24/16)
None received
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Prepared by:Catherine Freeman / B. & F.R. / (916) 651-4103
8/19/16 18:55:47
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