BILL ANALYSIS
SB 730
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Date of Hearing: August 4, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 730 (Wiggins) - As Amended: August 2, 2010
Policy Committee: Utilities and
Commerce Vote: 15-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires local participation in the development of
electrical utility energy efficiency programs. Specifically,
this bill:
1)Specifically refers, by code reference, to the Sonoma County
Regional Climate Protection Authority (SCRCPA) as a regional
interest with whom the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) must
ensure is incorporated into energy efficiency program design.
2)Requires the PUC to seek participation from local governments,
community-based organizations, and energy efficiency service
providers in the design, revision, and implementation of
energy efficiency programs. (Current law only requires the PUC
to ensure that these entities are encouraged to participate in
program implementation.)
3)Requires investor-owned electrical utilities (IOUs), when
developing or revising energy efficiency programs, to
collaborate with county climate protection authorities and
related public agencies.
FISCAL EFFECT
The PUC would incur ongoing special fund costs of around
$225,000 for the equivalent of two positions, including
significant travel expenses, to (a) conduct increased outreach
efforts with local governments, community based organizations,
and energy efficiency service providers for program design,
revision, and implementation and (2) coordinate between these
SB 730
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entities and the IOUs across the broad range of utility energy
efficiency programs. [Public Utilities Reimbursement Account]
COMMENTS
1)Background . The California Air Resources Board's (ARB's)
Scoping Plan, prepared and adopted in response to the Global
Warming Solutions Act (AB 32 of 2006) states that "Local
governments are essential partners in achieving California's
goals to reduce GHG emissions." The ARB is encouraging local
governments to adopt a GHG reduction goal for municipal
operations emissions and move toward establishing similar
goals for community emissions that parallel the state
commitment to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 15% from
current levels by 2020.
Sonoma County, all nine cities within the county, and the
county water agency, transportation authority and agricultural
preservation and open space district have all adopted the most
aggressive emission reduction targets in the United States,
which is 25% below 1990 levels by 2015. To meet this ambitious
goal, the community sponsored legislation (AB 881 Huffman/
Chapter 375 of 2009) creating the nation's first regional
climate protection authority.
2)Purpose . According to the author, this bill is intended to
maximize Sonoma County's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and achieve energy efficiency by requiring utility
companies, such as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), to plan and
coordinate their energy efficiency efforts with the SCRCPA.
The author believes local energy efficiency and climate change
initiatives approved and supported by local communities need
to be harmonized and coordinated with PUC efforts on energy
efficiency and funded by the ratepayer funded
energy-efficiency programs, when appropriate.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081