BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1923
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1923 (Evans)
As Amended April 8, 2010
Majority vote
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 9-2
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| | | | |
|Ayes:|Buchanan, Carter, Fong, | | |
| |Furutani, Huffman, Ma, | | |
| |Skinner, Swanson, Bradford | | |
| | | | |
|-----+------------------------------+-+-------------------------------|
|Nays:|Knight, Villines | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
to use funds dedicated for research and development (R&D) from the
California Solar Initiative (CSI) for antitheft technology to protect
investments in solar energy systems. Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes a number of findings, including:
a) Between June 2008 and September 2009, in Napa County alone,
over 400 solar panels worth more than $400,000 were stolen from
wineries;
b) The state has the ability to provide security for consumers
who have invested in an energy source with public support and
benefit; and,
c) CSI includes $50 million for "Research, Development,
Deployment, and Demonstration" (RD&D) and a portion of the funds
should be invested in theft prevention, tracking, and security
for solar panels.
2)Permits moneys allocated for RD&D to be used for antitheft
technology to protect investments in solar energy systems.
EXISTING LAW creates the CSI, which provides $3.3 billion in
ratepayer-funded incentives for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels,
including $50 million for R&D that explores solar and other
distributed generation technologies.
AB 1923
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FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : This bill would allow the PUC to allocate some of the CSI
funds that were set aside for R&D, for antitheft technology for solar
energy systems.
The Napa County Sheriff's Department noted that in Napa County alone,
more than $400,000 worth of solar panels have been stolen in just over
a year. Wineries, with large ground-level installed arrays, have been
particularly hard hit. Moreover, there have been numerous newspaper
articles highlighting the issue. Thieves steal the solar energy
systems because they are out in fields and not on roof-tops. This is
not a problem exclusively incurred by wineries. Many agricultural
areas have experienced increased rates of theft of solar energy
systems.
Analysis Prepared by : Gina Adams / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083 FN:
0004130