BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �






           SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE       BILL NO: AB 693
          SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN              AUTHOR:  HUFFMAN
                                                         VERSION: 
          5/30/2012
          Analysis by:  Larry Baskett                    FISCAL:  yes
          Hearing date:  June 19, 2012


           
          SUBJECT:


          Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority


          DESCRIPTION:


          This bill extends authorization for the Sonoma County Regional 
          Climate Protection Authority from 2016 to 2020.


          ANALYSIS:


          AB 881(Huffman), Chapter 375, Statutes of 2009 established  the 
          Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) to  
          coordinate and help implement actions that local Sonoma County 
          agencies take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Authorized 
          activities of RCPA include assisting with the reduction of 
          energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency, increasing 
          water use efficiency, address carbon sequestration, addressing 
          transportation alternatives, and quantifying greenhouse gas 
          reduction.


          The RCPA has the same board membership as the Sonoma County 
          Transportation Authority (SCTA), but is a distinct legal entity. 
           RCPA board members include representatives from the County of 
          Sonoma and from all of that county's nine cities.  The RCPA may 
          receive grants, and it may use SCTA funds identified to assist 
          in greenhouse gas reduction.  The RCPA cannot override the 
          actions of other local agencies.


          Existing law sunsets the RCPA on January 1, 2016.




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           This bill  extends the RCPA's authorization until January 1, 
          2020.


          COMMENTS:


           1.Purpose  . The purpose of this bill is to continue RCPA's 
            authority to assist local agencies in Sonoma County in their 
            efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


            The RCPA is a single-purpose entity that coordinates 
            county-wide efforts on developing efficient buildings, clean 
            energy, alternative transportation, and other efforts to adapt 
            to climate change.  Examples of RPCA-driven activities include 
            implementation of the Energy Upgrade California residential 
            home program with federal American Recovery and Reinvestment 
            Act funds, receipt of grant funds for greenhouse gas reduction 
            planning, partnerships to develop and install new 
            technologies, such as an electric vehicle charging station 
            network, and assisting in the development of transportation 
            and land use plans to further the goals of SB 375 (Steinberg), 
            Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008. 


            The RCPA has adopted a goal of reducing greenhouse gas 
            emissions 25% below the 1990 level by 2015.  Much work remains 
            beyond 2015 to further address climate change issues. 


            Assembly Votes:                                                 
                                                                           
                         Not relevant.           


          POSITIONS:  (Communicated to the Committee before noon on 
          Wednesday,                                                  June 
          13, 2012)


               SUPPORT:       Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection 
                         Authority / Sonoma County Transportation 
                         Authority (sponsor)




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               OPPOSED:  None received.