BILL NUMBER: AB 234	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 14, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Huffman

                        FEBRUARY 5, 2009

   An act to add Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 25460) to
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 234, as amended, Huffman. Energy: water use and energy
efficiency projects: federal stimulus funds.
   Existing law establishes various programs to provide financial
assistance to public and private entities to improve their energy
efficiency.
   This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission, as a part of the implementation of
funding received  pursuant to   under  the
federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009  pursuant
the federal State Energy Program and the federal Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Block Grant Program  , to coordinate with the
State Water Resources Control Board and local water suppliers on the
planning and implementation of energy efficiency actions that can
also result in water use savings. The bill would require that water
and energy conservation programs and projects proceed only to the
extent they do  no   not  impair the
commission's ability to meet the federal deadlines for expenditure of
federal stimulus funds provided by the act  pursuant to the 2
specified federal programs  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 25460) is added to
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 5.6.  WATER USE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSISTANCE


   25460.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) The commission is expected to receive hundreds of millions of
dollars from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (Public Law 111-5) for energy related activities including
energy efficiency programs and projects.
   (b) Water use requires significant amounts of energy.
Approximately one-fifth of the electricity and one-third of the
nonpower plant natural gas consumed in the state are associated with
water delivery, treatment, and use.
   (c) Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced if we move, treat, and
use water more efficiently.
   (d) The Public Utilities Commission and the commission have
researched the energy saving potential associated with water use
efficiency programs and with water management changes. Those studies
can inform the administration and the Legislature on how state
agencies can partner and cost share, and how local water 
suppliers   suppliers'  funding can be leveraged to
maximize water and energy efficiency.
   25460.5.  For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
have the following meaning:
   (a) "Board" means the State Water Resources Control Board.
   (b) "Federal act" means the federal American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
   (c) "Water supplier" means a local public agency or private
company supplying or storing water, or a mutual water company.
   25461.  (a) As part of the implementation of the funding received
by the commission under the federal act  pursuant to the federal
State Energy Program and the federal Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant Program  , the commission shall
coordinate with the board and local water suppliers on the planning
and implementation of energy efficiency actions that can also result
in water use savings. Coordination  can  may
 include, but is not limited to, sharing information on areas to
target, prioritizing actions, and coordinating implementation and
cost sharing.
   (b) As a part of the guidelines otherwise developed by the
commission for administering energy and water efficiency actions
funded under the federal act  pursuant to the federal State
Energy Program and the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Block Grant Program  , the commission, in consultation with the
board, shall establish criteria and priorities for partnering on
programs and projects that have both water and energy efficiency
benefits.
   (c) Water use efficiency programs and projects that provide
sufficient energy savings to justify being funded under the federal
act  pursuant to the federal State Energy Program and the federal
Energy   Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
 from moneys allocated to the commission shall be eligible to
receive that funding.
   (d) Water use efficiency programs and projects may also be funded
under the federal act  pursuant to the federal State Energy
Program and the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grant Program  from moneys allocated to the board, and moneys
from local water agencies.
   (e) Water and energy conservation programs and projects shall
proceed only to the extent they do not impair the commission's
ability to meet the federal deadlines for expenditure of stimulus
funds from the federal act  pursuant to the federal State Energy
Program and   the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Block Grant Program  . 
   (f) This section applies only to stimulus funds received under the
federal act pursuant to the federal State Energy Program and the
federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. 

   25462.  This chapter does not imply that spending energy
efficiency funds on water efficiency programs should be done with
nonstimulus, ratepayer funds.