BILL NUMBER: AB 306	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 13, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 14, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 27, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gatto
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members  Atkins,  Blumenfield,
Galgiani, Gordon, Nestande, Wagner, and Williams)

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2011

   An act to add and repeal Section 25325 of the Public Resources
Code, relating to energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 306, as amended, Gatto. Energy: piezoelectric transducers:
study.
   Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission (Energy Commission), on a biennial basis
beginning in 2003, to adopt an integrated energy policy report
providing information on specified related to energy. 
Existing law creates the Public Interest Research, Development, and
Demonstration Program, to be administered by the Energy Commission,
and requires the Energy Commission to expend the moneys in the Public
Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to implement that program.
  Existing law establishes the Renewable Resources Trust
Fund, a continuously appropriated fund appropriated to the State
Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, for the
purposes of funding programs designed to foster   the
development of new in-state renewable electricity generation
technology facilities. 
   This bill would require the Energy Commission to conduct research
on generating electricity using piezoelectric transducers under
roadways or railways. The bill would require the Energy Commission to
collaborate with the Department of Transportation to establish pilot
projects that would employ piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting
technology, if the Energy Commission determines that the technology
has the potential to generate electricity with performance,
reliability, and cost projections that are comparable to existing
renewable or emerging renewable energy sources.  The bill would
require the Department of Transportation to conduct research on the
piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology prior to the
establishment of a pilot project.  The bill would authorize the
Energy Commission to expend the moneys in the  Public
Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration  
Renewable Resource Trust  Fund  or the Energy Resources
Program Account  , upon appropriation by the Legislature, to
implement this research. The Energy Commission would be required to
report its findings in the integrated energy policy report adopted in
2013. These provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2015.
   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.  Section 25325 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   25325.  (a) The commission shall conduct research on generating
electricity using piezoelectric technology under  roadways
and railways pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 7 (commencing with
Section 25600).   roadways and railways. The commission
shall award the research projects under this section through
competitive   solicitations, interagency agreements, or
agreements with other governmental entities.  

   (b) For purposes of conducting the research required by this
section, the commission shall collaborate with the Department of
Transportation to establish a pilot project or projects that would
employ piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology if the
commission finds, based on initial research, that the technology has
the potential to generate electricity with performance, reliability,
and cost projections that are comparable to existing renewable or
emerging renewable energy sources.
   (c) The commission may expend the moneys in the Public Interest
Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund established pursuant to
Section 384 of the Public Utilities Code or the Energy Resources
Program Account established pursuant to Section 25801, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to implement this section.
 
   (b) (1) If the commission finds, based on initial research, that
the piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology has the
potential to generate electricity with the performance, reliability,
and cost projections that are comparable to existing renewable and
emerging renewable energy sources, then the commission shall
collaborate with the Department of Transportation to establish a
pilot project or projects that would employ piezoelectric-based
energy-harvesting technology.  
   (2) Prior to establishing a pilot project pursuant to paragraph
(1), the Department of Transportation shall conduct research on the
piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology according to its
usual research protocol.  
   (c) The commission may expend the moneys in the Renewable
Resources Trust Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to
implement this section. 
   (d) As a part of the integrated energy policy report that is
adopted in 2013, the commission shall report the findings of the
research performed pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2015, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2015, deletes or extends
that date.