BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1530
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Nancy Skinner, Chair
AB 1530 (Skinner) - As Amended: April 20, 2009
SUBJECT : Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction measures
SUMMARY : Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt
protocols to validate energy efficiency measures claimed as GHG
reductions.
EXISTING LAW requires ARB, pursuant to AB 32, to adopt a
statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to 1990 levels by 2020
and adopt regulations to achieve maximum technologically
feasible and cost-effective GHG emission reductions.
THIS BILL requires ARB to adopt protocols for the evaluation,
measurement and verification of any GHG reduction measure that
relies on energy efficiency, in consultation with the Public
Utilities Commission (PUC), Energy Commission, and energy
efficiency experts.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
California's energy efficiency programs have developed over the
past thirty years through a combination of legislative mandates,
PUC policies and initiatives, and actions of public and
privately owned utilities. While California is currently a
recognized leader in energy efficiency, there is no central
entity or organization within the state that has the mandate,
independence or expertise to develop and implement clear
technical standards for evaluation, measurement and verification
(EM&V) of energy efficiency measures.
It is not easy to implement energy efficiency programs, much
less successful programs that ensure long-term sustained savings
at a reasonable cost. While the PUC has taken the lead in
energy efficiency over the past decades, its fundamental purpose
is to ensure safe and reliable utility services at just and
reasonable rates. The PUC was not designed to implement
long-term, billion dollar programs that rely heavily on specific
expertise in diverse fields, including engineering, behavioral
AB 1530
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science, building construction and management, and economics.
PUC staff positions are largely designated for policy analysts
and the engineering positions are primarily geared towards
utility plant issues.
Because the PUC is not required to publish regulations or
standards, the EM&V process, protocols and methodologies are
unpublished and are therefore difficult to find and understand.
These issues will become even more important as the state
attempts to measure reductions in GHG emissions from policies
and programs, and in attempting to value these emissions
reductions for the purpose of a cap and trade program.
In its AB 32 Scoping Plan, ARB is counting on increased energy
efficiency for over 15% of the GHG reduction measures necessary
to meet the 2020 limit. Most of the tons are expected to come
from additional building and appliance efficiency, to reduce
electricity demand and natural gas use. This will require
further improvements in efficiency standards for both buildings
and appliances, as well as additional spending for rebates and
other incentives.
This bill requires ARB to adopt protocols for EM&V to assure
that energy efficiency measures claimed as GHG reductions are
reliable.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092