BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                      



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  AB 1150|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  AB 1150
          Author:   V. Manuel Pérez (D)
          Amended:  5/27/11 in Assembly
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE ENERGY, UTILITIES & COMM.COMMITTEE  :  11-0, 7/5/11
          AYES:  Padilla, Fuller, Berryhill, Corbett, De León, 
            DeSaulnier, Pavley, Rubio, Simitian, Strickland, Wright
           
          SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  9-0, 8/25/11
          AYES:  Kehoe, Walters, Alquist, Emmerson, Lieu, Pavley, 
            Price, Runner, Steinberg
           
          ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  52-19, 6/2/11 - See last page for vote


           SUBJECT  :    Self-generation incentive program

           SOURCE  :     Foundation Windpower


           DIGEST  :    This bill authorizes the California Public 
          Utilities Commission to collect funds for an additional $83 
          million in 2012 from gas and electric ratepayers to fund 
          the Self-Generation Incentive Program through December 31, 
          2012.

           ANALYSIS  :    Current law authorizes the California Public 
          Utilities Commission (PUC) to administer the 
          Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) through 2015 and 
          permits the PUC to annually collect $83 million from gas 
          and electric ratepayers to fund the program through 2011.  
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          The program is intended to provide incentive payments for 
          generation on the customer's side of the meter for any 
          distributed generation resources (DG) that the PUC 
          determines will support the state's goals for reduction of 
          emissions of greenhouse gases.

           Background
           
           SGIP History  .  During the 2000-01 energy crisis the PUC was 
          directed by the Legislature to create a program of 
          incentives for renewable and super clean, gas-fired DG to 
          reduce electricity demand.  As a result, the PUC 
          established the SGIP in March 2001 which has offered 
          rebates for installation of technologies such as 
          photovoltaics, wind, fuel cells, waste gas, and ultra-clean 
          and low emission gas-fired DG (combined heat and power 
          ÝCHP]).  Legislation adopted in 2004 eliminated CHP from 
          the program as of January 1, 2008.  In 2006 photovoltaic 
          incentives were moved out of the SGIP to the California 
          Solar Initiative effective January 1, 2007.  Beginning in 
          2008 only fuel cell and wind technologies and storage if 
          coupled with wind or fuel cells were eligible for 
          incentives. 

          In 2009 the Legislature expanded the SGIP to include any DG 
          that help to achieve the state's greenhouse gas reduction 
          goals.  The PUC has not concluded its rulemaking to 
          implement SB 412 (Kehoe), Chapter 182, Statutes of 2009.  
          As a consequence wind and fuel cells continued to be 
          eligible.  In the winter of 2010 it became apparent that 
          program funding could be depleted before the PUC 
          established rules under SB 412 so program applications were 
          suspended January 1, 2011. 

           Comments
           
           Purpose of this bill  .  According to the author's office, 
          this bill will permit the extension of a vital program for 
          incentivizing the development of distributive on-site 
          renewable energy facilities.  These are needed to meet 
          increasing statewide demand for electricity, to reduce peak 
          demand pressures on the grid and help meet California 
          public policy goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 
          and increase the supply of clean renewable energy.

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           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes   
          Local:  Yes

          According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

                         Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions      2011-12     2012-13     2013-14     Fund  

          Program oversight             Absorbable within existing 
          resources                     Special *

          Increases state agency        About $1,000                
                                        Various
          energy costs

          Incentives paid to            Unknown potential revenues  
                              Various
          state agencies

          * Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement 
          Account.

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  8/24/11)

          Foundation Windpower (source)
          A123 Systems, Inc. 
          Associated General Contractors
          California Business Properties Association
          California Energy Storage Alliance 
          California Institute of Technology
          California Large Scale Consumer Association
          California League of Conservation Voters
          California Manufacturers and Technology Association
          California Solar Energy Industries Association
          California Wind Energy Association
          Calmac Manufacturing Corporation 
          Capstone Turbine Corporation
          Center for Sustainable Energy
          Clean Economy Network
          Clean Power Campaign
          Debenham Energy, LLC
          Deeya Energy, Inc. 

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          Distributed Wind Energy Association
          EnerVault Corporation
          Environment California
          Environmental Defense Fund
          Fluidic Energy 
          FuelCell Energy
          Greensmith Energy Management Systems, LLC 
          Ice Energy, Inc. 
          Industrial Environmental Association
          LightSail Energy, Inc. 
          Mitsubishi Cement Corporation
          Mitsubishi Power Systems 
          Pacific Environment 
          Powergetics 
          Prudent Energy Corporation 
          Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Inc. 
          Saft America 
          Samsung SFI America, Inc.  
          Seeo, Inc.
          Sierra Club
          Silent Power, Inc. 
          Solar Turbines, Inc.
          Sonoma County Water Agency (if amended)
          Sumitomo Electric 
          SunEdison 
          Sunverge Energy, LLC 
          SustainX, Inc. 
          TechNet
          Tecogen 
          Teichert Materials 
          Union of Concerned Scientists
          Xtreme Power, Inc. 
          Younicos

           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    Foundation Windpower writes "that 
          distributed generation utilizing 100% renewable energy 
          generation equipment is sound public policy that is 
          consistent with the goals of SB 412 (Kehoe 2009).  Mending 
          and extending the SGIP through AB 1150 will help California 
          meet the goals of AB 32 and the Renewable Portfolio 
          Standard by supporting Governor Brown's goal of 12,000 MW 
          in distributed renewable generation by 2020.  California 
          businesses state that these advantages are material 
          inducements to retain their California presence and 

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          continue to invest in their California-based operations.  
          Given the public policy, employment, and economic 
          development benefits, the SGIP should be extended for a 
          reasonable and predictable period through 2016.  An 
          extension will give businesses in the state of California a 
          stable planning horizon to invest in distributed generation 
          and continue their investments in California."


           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  52-19, 6/2/11
          AYES:  Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, 
            Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, 
            Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter, 
            Cedillo, Davis, Eng, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, 
            Furutani, Galgiani, Gatto, Gordon, Hayashi, Roger 
            Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Lara, Bonnie 
            Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning, Olsen, Pan, 
            Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Smyth, Solorio, 
            Swanson, Torres, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada, John A. 
            Pérez
          NOES:  Conway, Donnelly, Beth Gaines, Garrick, Grove, 
            Hagman, Halderman, Harkey, Jones, Knight, Logue, Mansoor, 
            Miller, Morrell, Nielsen, Norby, Silva, Valadao, Wagner
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Brownley, Chesbro, Cook, Dickinson, 
            Gorell, Hall, Jeffries, Nestande, Skinner


          RM:kc  8/26/11   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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