BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 551|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 551
Author: Wolk (D)
Introduced:2/26/15
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 8-0, 4/28/15
AYES: Pavley, Stone, Allen, Hertzberg, Hueso, Jackson,
Monning, Wolk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Vidak
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-2, 5/28/15
AYES: Lara, Beall, Hill, Leyva, Mendoza
NOES: Bates, Nielsen
SUBJECT: State water policy: water and energy efficiency
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill declares the state's policy that water use
and water treatment shall be as energy efficient as is feasible
and that energy use and generation shall be as water efficient
as is feasible.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes, under the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources
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Conservation and Development Act, the state's policy to
promote all feasible means of energy and water conservation
and all feasible uses of alternative energy and water supply
sources. (PRC §25008)
2)Contains in the Water Measurement Law similar legislative
findings and declarations that state that the waste or
unreasonable use of water imposes unnecessary and wasteful
consumption of energy to deliver or furnish the water
therefore, water usage should be measured in order to reduce
energy consumption. (WC §522)
This bill:
1)Declares the state's policy that water use and water treatment
shall be as energy efficient as is feasible and that energy
use and generation shall be as water efficient as is feasible.
2)Requires the relevant state agencies to consider this policy
in their policies, regulations, and grant criteria.
Comments
Water/energy nexus. The link between water and energy resources
is known as the water-energy nexus. Advocates for greater
recognition of that nexus note that planning for water use is
often conducted without consideration of energy use or
greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, planning for energy and
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is often conducted without
consideration of water resources. As a result, local and state
agencies may not be identifying projects that best serve water
and energy investments
What would this bill accomplish? According to the author's
office, their expectation is that under this bill, the
water/energy nexus would be taken into considering new projects
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and programs. For example, grant guidelines for water use
efficiency projects would also consider how the grants could
also encourage energy efficiency.
Prior/Related Legislation
The Legislature passed a somewhat similar bill in 2012 (AB 685,
Eng, Chapter 524), which established as "policy of the state
that every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable,
and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking,
and sanitary purposes." Proponents of that bill subsequently
used that bill to argue for the creation of a special office to
focus on improving access to safe drinking water. Partly in
response to that effort, the water package enacted earlier this
year included a measure that established the Office of
Sustainable Water Solutions within the State Water Resources
Control Board. That Office was directed to promote permanent
and sustainable drinking water and wastewater treatment
solutions to ensure effective and efficient provision of safe,
clean, affordable, and reliable drinking water and wastewater
treatment services. (AB 92, Committee on Budget).
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill
creates cost pressures, potentially in the millions of dollars
to the General Fund and various special funds to increase grant
awards, reprioritize programs, and change state operations to
increase electricity and water efficiency
SUPPORT: (Verified5/28/15)
Nexus eWater
Sierra Club California
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OPPOSITION: (Verified5/28/15)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, "Water and
energy are inextricably linked. Energy generation requires
water in many cases. Transportation and treatment of water,
treatment and disposal of wastewater, and the energy used to
heat and consume water account for nearly 20 percent of the
total electricity and 30 percent of non-power plant related
natural gas consumed in California. Demand for water and energy
resources is expected to rise due to population growth and also
as a result of climate change. California must take every
measure to ensure both water and energy efficiencies are
maximized by developing water and energy policies that recognize
the nexus between these two vital resources."
Prepared by:Dennis O'Conner / N.R. & W. / (916) 651-4116
5/30/15 10:20:47
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