BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1030
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1030 (Blumenfield)
As Amended June 1, 2009
Majority vote
TRANSPORTATION 11-2 APPROPRIATIONS 16-1
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|Ayes:|Eng, Jeffries, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, |
| |Blumenfield, Buchanan, | |Ammiano, Charles |
| |Furutani, Galgiani, | |Calderon, Davis, Duvall, |
| |Bonnie Lowenthal, Niello, | |Fuentes, Hall, Harkey, |
| | | |John A. Perez, Price, |
| |John A. Perez, Solorio, | |Skinner, Solorio, Audra |
| |Torlakson | |Strickland, Torlakson, |
| | | |Krekorian |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Conway, Miller |Nays:|Miller |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), to map the renewable energy development potential of
real property under the direction and control of the Department
of Transportation (Caltrans). Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes findings and declarations regarding the value of solar
and other renewable energy sources, the need to use these
resources wherever feasible, such as open space along
transportation corridors, to help to achieve the state's
climate change goals and the possibility of using
public-private partnerships to use untapped sound walls and
other transit property to generate revenues that could be used
to offset maintenance costs.
2)Requires UCLA's Institute of the Environment, in consultation
with Caltrans, to undertake a project for mapping the
renewable energy development potential of state-owned real
property under Caltrans' direction and control.
3)Requires the mapping project to include, but not be limited
to, global positioning mapping to be available for public use
that indicates the solar and wind renewable energy potential
for state-owned real property owned or controlled by Caltrans.
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4)Makes implementation of 2) and 3) above contingent upon the
UCLA Institute receiving funding for the mapping project.
5)Requires Caltrans to respond within 30 days to any proposal to
develop a renewable energy project as to whether the property
is available for sale, lease, or encroachment permit, and
whether the project would be compatible with the current and
projected use of that property.
EXISTING LAW authorizes Caltrans to purchase and maintain
property for the purpose of constructing and operating
transportation facilities.
FISCAL EFFECT : The Assembly Appropriations Committee cites the
following fiscal impacts:
1)Any costs incurred by Caltrans in regard to the mapping
project would be reimbursed from funds received by the UCLA
Institute.
2)Costs for Caltrans to respond within 30 days to proposals to
develop renewable energy on its property would be absorbable.
COMMENTS : The author contends that much of Caltrans' property -
roadways, soundwalls, real estate, etc., has the potential to
host renewable energy facilities and that the development and
maintenance of an inventory of such assets would "allow
promising renewable energy opportunities and new ventures to be
developed and pursued." He cites the example of the state of
Oregon, where solar generators are being incorporated into
soundwalls, and Great Britain, which is reportedly using
piezoelectric crystals in its roadbeds to generate electricity
when vehicles drive over them.
Rather than requiring Caltrans itself to undertake a
labor-intensive and expensive inventory of its properties that
might be suitable for hosting renewable energy projects, as the
bill originally envisioned, it now takes a lighter approach by
requiring UCLA to map those properties in the event that funding
for such an enterprise becomes available. This bill would also
assure that Caltrans makes timely responses to requests to
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utilize its properties for renewable energy production purposes.
Analysis Prepared by : Howard Posner / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0001206