BILL ANALYSIS �
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 2161|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2161
Author: Achadjian (R)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE ENERGY, UTIL. & COMMUNIC. COMMITTEE : 11-1, 6/19/12
AYES: Padilla, Berryhill, Corbett, De Le�n, DeSaulnier,
Emmerson, Kehoe, Pavley, Rubio, Simitian, Wright
NOES: Fuller
NO VOTE RECORDED: Strickland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 8/16/12
AYES: Kehoe, Walters, Alquist, Dutton, Lieu, Price,
Steinberg
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-3, 5/29/12 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Energy: renewable energy resources
SOURCE : San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors
DIGEST : This bill adds San Luis Obispo to the list of
counties which are eligible for grants from the California
Energy Commission (CEC) for the development or revision of
rules and policies including general plan elements, zoning
ordinances, and natural community conservation plans, that
facilitate the development of renewable energy resources
and associated transmission facilities.
ANALYSIS : Existing law requires CEC to provide up to
CONTINUED
AB 2161
Page
2
seven million dollars in grants to 15 qualified counties
for the development or revision of rules and policies,
including general plan elements, zoning ordinances, and
natural community conservation plans that facilitate the
development of eligible renewable energy resources, and
their associated electric transmission facilities, and the
processing of permits for eligible renewable energy
resources. Funding is to be made available only upon
appropriation by the Legislature.
Comments
According to the author's office, this bill adds San Luis
Obispo County to the current list of counties that are
deemed "qualified" to apply for renewable energy planning
grants (grant) from the CEC. This grant funding allows for
additional opportunities for renewable energy development.
San Luis Obispo County demonstrated its commitment to solar
power by approving two large utility scale solar projects,
and by promoting distributed and rooftop solar. However,
the efficiency at which the County can process solar energy
facility (SEF) projects is hampered by outdated plans,
policies and rules. The County is motivated to update its
regulations and streamline the review process for SEF
projects. As a starting point, the County would like to
pursue customizing the California County Planning Director
Association's Solar Energy Facility Permit Streamlining
Guide and Model SEF Ordinance for local use. The Guide and
Model SEF Ordinance were developed with involvement from a
broad, statewide coalition of stakeholders, over 100
participants strong. The goal of this project was to
assist counties in their effort to provide a streamlined
regulatory climate for the installation of SEF project
while protecting important farmland and sensitive habitat.
The County would like to build upon this model and
facilitate more efficient processing of these projects.
Concurrent to the original intent of AB 13 X1, with its
location on the Central Coast, San Luis Obispo is in a
prime location to continue and expand on its renewable
energy portfolio. When the grant funding is appropriated
through CEC's budget, these counties, with the addition of
San Luis Obispo will be poised to act.
Prior Legislation
CONTINUED
AB 2161
Page
3
AB 13 X1 (V. Manuel Perez, et al.), Chapter 10, Statutes of
2011-12 First Extraordinary Session, expands existing
provisions, enacted to facilitate permitting of solar
energy projects in a specified desert region, to include a
broader range of renewable energy projects in the desert
and, for specified provisions, other regions of the state.
The bill also establishes new provisions to support
planning and permitting of renewable energy projects in the
San Joaquin Valley and desert regions, including directing
the CEC to provide grants for local government
participation, upon appropriation of funds from the
Legislature. Although major solar energy projects have
been proposed in San Luis Obispo, the county was not
included in AB 13 X1's list of eligible counties.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, uncertain
cost pressures, possibly in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars, from the Renewable Resource Trust Fund (General
Fund) beginning in 2012-13 from additional applications for
local assistance grants.
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/17/12)
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors (source)
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-3, 5/29/12
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos,
Carter, Chesbro, Cook, Davis, Dickinson, Eng, Feuer,
Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick,
Gatto, Gordon, Gorell, Grove, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger
Hern�ndez, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones,
Knight, Lara, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor,
Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande,
Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel P�rez,
Portantino, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson,
Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada,
John A. P�rez
CONTINUED
AB 2161
Page
4
NOES: Conway, Donnelly, Halderman
NO VOTE RECORDED: Cedillo, Fletcher, Hagman, Hall
RM:d 8/20/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****
CONTINUED