BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Isadore Hall, III
Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2543 Hearing Date: 6/28/2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Author: |Gordon |
|-----------+-----------------------------------------------------|
|Version: |6/20/2016 Amended |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Consultant:|Felipe Lopez |
| | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUBJECT: State buildings: efficiency and conservation
DIGEST: This bill assigns primary responsibility for
developing a multi-year energy efficiency plan for state
facilities to the California Energy Commission (CEC), instead of
the Department of General Services (DGS), and expands the scope
of the plan to include water conservation.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Requires DGS, in consultation with other state entities that
include the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, to develop a plan to exploit
cost-effective energy efficiency measures in state facilities.
2)Requires DGS to update the plan biennially, coordinate
implementation efforts, and make recommendations to the
Governor and the Legislature to achieve energy goals for state
facilities.
3)Requires DGS to make these recommendations no later than March
1, 2009, and biennially thereafter.
4)Requires DGS to include all of the following in its report for
projects under its jurisdictions:
AB 2543 (Gordon) Page 2 of ?
a) The progress made toward implementing energy efficiency
measures in state facilities.
b) The most common energy efficiency measures being
implemented.
c) The obstacles preventing further implementation of
energy measures.
d) How current efforts and ideas can be incorporated into
the Governor's five-year infrastructure plan.
This bill:
1)Assigns primary responsibility for developing a multi-year
energy efficiency plan for state facilities to the CEC instead
of DGS.
2)Adds water conservation measures to the scope of the plan.
3)Requires the CEC to solicit input from both public and private
entities.
4)Specifies that the plan shall not prohibit, limit, or
supersede more stringent green building requirements for state
facilities.
5)Defines "state facility" to mean any public building, but does
not include any building leased by the state, unless that
building is financed through the issuance of lease-revenue
bonds.
6)Requires DGS to consult with the CEC when making
recommendations to improve energy and water efficiency in
state facilities and submit a related report to the Governor
and Legislature by January 1, 2018, and biennially thereafter.
Background
Purpose of the bill. According to the author, " the bill would
continue to task DGS to report to the Legislature on the
progress of the implementation of energy efficiency measures in
state facilities, but this bill will include the consultation of
the CEC in that report. By engaging CEC as the lead on the
evaluation of energy efficiency strategies, we are enabling our
own experts in the field to guide our statewide strategy."
AB 2543 (Gordon) Page 3 of ?
California Energy Commission. The CEC is the state's primary
energy policy and planning agency. Established by the
Legislature in 1974, the seven core responsibilities include:
1)Forecasting future energy needs;
2)Promoting energy efficiency and conservation by setting the
state's appliance and building energy efficiency standards;
3)Supporting energy research that advances energy science and
technology through research, development and demonstrations
projects;
4)Developing renewable energy resources;
5)Advancing alternative and renewable transportation fuels and
technologies;
6)Certifying thermal power plants 50 megawatts and larger;
7)Planning for and directing state response to energy
emergencies.
The Governor appoints the five members of the CEC to staggered
five-year terms and selects a chair and vice chair from among
the members every two years. The appointments require Senate
approval. By law, one CEC member must be selected from the
public at large. The remaining commissioners represent the
fields of engineering/physical science, economics, environmental
protection, and law.
Prior/Related Legislation
AB 606 (Levine, Chapter 665, Statutes of 2015) required state
agencies to reduce water consumption and increase water
efficiencies when building on state-owned real property,
purchasing real property, or replacing landscaping or
irrigation, where feasible, and provided an exemption for state
property that is leased to a private party for agricultural
purposes.
SB 553 (Wolk, 2015) would have required DGS to identify each
public property in DGS' state property inventory where it is
feasible for water consumption to be reduced and water
efficiencies to be achieved through implementation of the
relevant recommendations made in the model water efficient
landscape ordinance and would require DGS to implement relevant
recommendations where feasible, except as specified. (Held on
Senate Appropriations Suspense File)
AB 850 (Gordon, 2011) would have required the CEC, in
AB 2543 (Gordon) Page 4 of ?
consultation with DGS and other state agencies and departments,
to develop a multi-year plan of energy efficiency and water
conservation for state facilitates. (Held on Assembly
Appropriations Suspense File)
AB 527 (Torrico, 2007) would have required DGS, in partnership
with the CEC to adopt a state plan to include new, emerging
energy efficient technologies in public buildings. (Vetoed by
Governor Schwarzenegger)
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
California Chapters of the National Electrical Contractors
Association
California Municipal Utilities Association
City of Sacramento
East Bay Municipal Utility District
San Diego County Water Authority
OPPOSITION:
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the California Municipal
Utilities Association, "the CEC has a long history of developing
energy efficiency policies and guidelines, more so than DGS. In
this era where droughts appear to be the new normal, it makes
sense that the CEC take over as lead on developing water
conservation measures for the state's numerous facilities."