BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 2543 (Gordon) - State buildings: efficiency and conservation
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|Version: June 20, 2016 |Policy Vote: G.O. 13 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: August 1, 2016 |Consultant: Debra Cooper |
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This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill
Summary: AB 2543 would assign 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.
Fiscal
Impact:
Estimated ongoing costs to CEC of $950,000 per year for
developing and implementing the plan. (GF)
Unknown, but potentially significant costs to CEC for contract
resources that will be needed to fund state building audits
and to identify and evaluate potential energy and water
conservation measures. (GF)
AB 2543 (Gordon) Page 1 of
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Ongoing, minor and absorbable costs for DGS to consult with
the CEC in preparing the biennial energy and water
conservation report and integrating water conservation into
the report. (Service Revolving Fund)
Background: The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy
policy and planning agency. Among its seven core
responsibilities are promoting energy efficiency and
conservation by setting the state's appliance and building
energy efficiency standards.
The Office of Sustainability, within DGS, is committed to
reducing California's environmental footprint by greening the
state's buildings; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and
reducing water use. Among other green responsibilities, DGS
develops the statutorily required multi-year energy efficiency
plan for state buildings and provides a biennial report to the
Governor and Legislature that contains recommendations and
specific information on energy efficiency projects in its
jurisdiction.
This bill would shift the primary responsibility for the
multi-year plan to the CEC. According to the author, this bill
aims to create a stronger investigative partnership between the
CEC and DGS to work toward greater energy efficiency and water
conservation in state buildings, and enable experts in the field
to guide the statewide strategy.
Proposed Law:
This bill would assign CEC lead responsibility in developing a
multi-year energy efficiency plan for state facilities, instead
of DGS, and requires CEC solicit input from both public and
private entities while developing the plan. Water conservation
methods are added to the scope of the plan. This bill specifies
that the plan shall not prohibit, limit, or supersede more
stringent green building requirements for state facilities. This
bill also requires DGS to consult with CEC when making
recommendations to improve energy efficiency and water
conservation in state facilities and to submit a related report
to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2018.
AB 2543 (Gordon) Page 2 of
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Related
Legislation:
AB 850 (Gordon, 2011) would have required the CEC, in
consultation with DGS and other state agencies and
departments, to develop a multi-year plan of energy efficiency
and water conservation in state facilities. That bill was held
in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 527 (Torrico, 2007) would have required DGS, in partnership
with the CEC to adopt a state plan to include new energy
efficient technologies in public buildings and would create
The California Energy Efficient Technology Pooled Investment
Fund to implement the plan. That bill was vetoed by Governor
Schwarzenegger.
Staff
Comments:
The CEC estimates that it would incur costs of $950,000 annually
for 3.25 personnel years. An estimated three new technical staff
at the Energy Commission would be required to: 1) prepare the
multi-year plans, 2) solicit for and manage contract resources,
3) participate in state building audits, 4) identify and
evaluate potential energy and water conservation measures, 5)
collaborate with all affected state agencies, 6) organize and
facilitate public workshops, and 7) track multi-year plan
implementations. The bill does not specify a funding source and
the CEC basic funding source, the Energy Resources Programs
Account, is in deficit so these costs are therefore not
absorbable by that account or any other existing Energy
Commission fund. Either General Fund or some other special fund
would be needed to pay for this bill.
DGS already carries out the proposed provision to include water
conservation in the state's plan to reach efficiency and
conservation goals in state buildings.
AB 2543 (Gordon) Page 3 of
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