BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Senator Wieckowski, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 1030
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|Author: |McGuire |
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|Version: |2/12/2016 |Hearing |4/20/2016 |
| | |Date: | |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Dan Brumbaugh |
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SUBJECT: Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1) Under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB
32, Núñez and Pavley), requires the California Air Resources
Board (ARB) to determine the 1990 statewide greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions level and approve a statewide GHG emissions
limit equivalent to that level, to be achieved by 2020. AB 32
also requires ARB to, among other things, prepare and approve a
scoping plan to achieve the maximum technologically feasible
and cost-effective reduction of GHG emissions by 2020, to be
updated every five years. (Health and Safety Code §38500 et
seq.)
2) Establishes the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection
Authority (RCPA), and authorizes it to perform coordination and
implementation activities within Sonoma County to assist
agencies that choose to participate in meeting their greenhouse
gas emission reduction goals as set forth in resolutions and
adopted plans. The RCPA may also develop, coordinate, and
implement programs and policies to comply with AB 32 and other
state or federal mandates and programs designed to respond to
greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. (Public Utilities
Code §181000 et seq.)
3) Sunsets the RCPA on December 1, 2019. (PUC §181016)
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This bill:
1) Repeals the December 1, 2019 sunset provision for the RCPA,
making it permanently authorized.
Background
1) The Regional Climate Protection Authority is a unique
governance structure, requested by the County of Sonoma County
and statutorily created through AB 881 (Huffman, Chapter 375,
Statutes of 2009) to better address climate change and the
local government response to reducing GHG emissions. Sonoma
County communities had been working on climate change in
various ways since the early 2000s, by adopting GHG reduction
targets, developing municipal climate action plans, and
pursuing individual projects and programs. However, many of
these efforts were being done piecemeal and only as funding
allowed. The idea for the RCPA emerged in the late 2000s, after
the passage of AB 32 and the stimulus funding directed to
energy efficiency and conservation block grants.
As Suzanne Smith, the Executive Director of the RCPA, wrote in
submitted testimony for a Senate Environmental Quality
Committee Informational Hearing in 2015, "it became apparent
that the state and federal landscape for climate policy and
funding was evolving rapidly. It was also apparent that our
jurisdictions could better navigate the challenges created by
climate change by working together. The RCPA was created to
mirror the model of the transportation authority - to pool
resources, maximize the efficiency of programs, and create
structured platforms for collaboration. Our agencies also serve
as a conduit for funding for implementation on a local level
and as a liaison to state and federal agencies."
The RCPA, in cooperation with local agencies that elect to
participate, develops, coordinates, and implements activities
within Sonoma County to comply with local, state, and federal
mandates and programs designed to respond to GHG emissions and
climate change. In addition to the County of Sonoma, the RCPA's
current members include nine cities within Sonoma County. Seven
other local entities - including Sonoma County Water Agency,
Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District, Sonoma
Clean Power, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open
Space District, Sonoma County Energy Independence Program,
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Sonoma County Health Action, and Sonoma County Solid Waste
Management Authority - also serve as partners to support the
RCPA.
AB 881 originally authorized the RCPA until December 1, 2015,
and AB 693 (Huffman, Chapter 599, Statutes of 2012) extended
the sunset date until December 1, 2019. A state-mandated local
government entity, the RCPA is governed and managed by the same
board and executive director as governs and manages the Sonoma
County Transportation Authority, which was created pursuant to
the Local Transportation Authority and Improvement Act (SB 142,
Deddeh, Chapter 786, Statutes of 1987). Nonetheless, the two
authorities are administered separately. AB 881 authorizes
RCPA to apply for grants and receive funds to carry out its
functions, but it prohibits the use of transportation funds by
RCPA other than for transportation activities.
The Public Review Draft Climate Action 2020 Plan, released in
March 2016 by the RCPA on behalf of the ten local government
jurisdictions of Sonoma County, reflects the opportunity for an
efficient regional effort in response to climate change (i.e.,
developing one plan instead of ten), economies of scale
(emphasizing regional programs and consistent policies), and
the importance of RCPA staff support for implementation. The
proposed approach puts the RCPA in charge of implementation
plans, securing funding, community engagement, monitoring and
reporting, and plan updates based on the next State Scoping
Plan.
According to the RCPA's Plan, local climate actions will
account for over 677,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents
(MTCO2e) annually and reach their target of a 25% reduction
below 1990 emission levels by 2020. This compares to
state-level efforts that are expected to generate reductions of
over 750,000 MTCO2e in Sonoma County. Through the RCPA, Sonoma
County will be matching State efforts by approximately 90%.
Echoing state-wide goals, the Plan also includes targets of
local reductions below 1990 levels of 40% by 2030 and 80% by
2050. In addition to emissions reductions, the Plan also
focuses on "climate readiness" through analysis of economic and
social vulnerabilities and adaptation planning.
In December 2014, 16 local government "Climate Action
Champions" across the U.S. were recognized as leaders in
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climate change by the White House, including two in the Bay
Area: San Francisco for a wide-range of climate and
sustainability targets and goals to measure progress, and RCPA,
as the first local government agency created to specifically
address climate change and in recognition of the successes
achieved via their collaborative model in Sonoma County.
Comments
1) Purpose of Bill.
According to the author, "California's diversity of geography,
infrastructure and resources make it difficult to use a one
size fits all approach to greenhouse gas mitigation. And, while
overarching regulations and guidelines are necessary and serve
the state in developing targets and goals for emissions
reductions, greenhouse gas mitigation strategies must be
implemented at the local level. Local government agencies like
the RCPA have the necessary knowledge to execute climate action
plans provided the uniqueness of differing localities."
"The RCPA has a proven track record of achieving more ambitious
goals than are required by AB 32's Scoping Plan. According to
the climate action strategies set forth by the RCPA, Sonoma
County climate action efforts will complement the State's
efforts to nearly a 1 to 1 match. Their collaborative approach
ensures communities with limited resources are not left out
because of budgets constraints."
2) Why is a bill needed? Although major policies have been
established at the state and federal levels to reduce GHG
emissions, current actions at the local planning and service
levels can also contribute a substantial fraction of GHG
reductions. Arguably in the future, local emissions reductions
may increase even more so to represent a larger share of
overall societal emissions reductions.
Because the RPCA was the first of its kind to be created, the
Legislature placed a sunset date on it to provide an
opportunity to assess its effectiveness before making it
permanent. This sunset date has been extended once in 2012.
However, the author contends that the RCPA now has sufficient
history to demonstrate effectiveness over the longer term.
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SB 1030 repeals the sunset provision to allow RCPA greater
certainty for the long term challenges of climate change
mitigation and adaptation.
3) How is the RPCA funded? The RCPA receives core financial
support from its local government members, and does not receive
any state appropriations. Statute allows the RCPA to also apply
for and receive grants. Designated transportation funds may
only be used for transportation-related climate actions, and
RCPA is prohibited from using local transportation tax revenues
from the 2004 voter approved Traffic Relief Act for Sonoma
County (Measure M).
DOUBLE REFERRAL:
This measure was heard in Senate Transportation and Housing
Committee on
March 29, 2016, and passed out of committee with a vote of 8-2.
SOURCE: Author
SUPPORT:
Bay Area Regional Energy Network
Center for Climate Protection
City of Cloverdale
City of Cotati
City of Petaluma
City of Santa Rosa
City of Sebastopol
Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District
Sierra Club California
Sonoma Clean Power
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Sonoma County Water Agency
The Nature Conservancy
Town of Windsor
OPPOSITION:
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:
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The Center for Climate Protection and multiple cities note that
"Sonoma County communities rely on the RCPA to advance a
countywide long term response to climate change by providing a
regional policy forum, staff level coordination, public education,
program management, grant administration, and reporting. The RCPA
is able to efficiently develop climate action strategies on behalf
of multiple local agencies at once. It also helps to align
projects across entities towards maximum, integrated benefits."
The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) writes that "RCPA
has been a statewide local government leader in the development of
programs like Energy Upgrade California, Pay As You Save?, local
Adaptation Forums, Community Choice Energy, and other innovations
in climate action. The RCPA was instrumental during the creation
of the BayREN, and RCPA staff continue to serve as a leader in the
delivery of BayREN programs."
The Northern Sonoma County Air Protection Control District
(NSCAPCD) writes that it "is a partner of the RCPA and has been a
supporter since its inception. The RCPA assists Sonoma County and
the Bay Area in reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) by coordinating
with climate change organizations to implement best practices and
utilizing available resources most effectively. The NSCAPCD
collaborates with the RCPA on many projects including energy
efficiency rebates and financing, renewable energy implementation,
low carbon transportation planning, electric vehicle
infrastructure planning, public outreach, and planning for climate
resilience."
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space
District writes that "The District is a partner to the RCPA and
collaborates with the RCPA on many projects including the Climate
Action through Conservation initiative, Urban Footprint climate
scenario modeling tool, Climate Action 2020, and climate
adaptation planning. The RCPA is an essential partner as we work
to conserve land and reduce sprawl and associated vehicle
emissions.
Other letters offered similar praise about the vital role of the
RCPA in initiating and supporting local and regional cross-cutting
programs.
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