BILL NUMBER: AB 2339	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 2, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 19, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Williams and V. Manuel Pérez

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

    An act to add Section 740.5 to the Public Utilities Code,
relating to energy.   An act to add Section 25228 to
the Public Resources Code, relating to energy. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2339, as amended, Williams. Energy: geothermal  heat
pump.   technologies.  
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law requires
the PUC, in cooperation with specified entities, to evaluate and
implement policies to promote the development of specified
technologies.  
   The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and requires the
Energy Commission to, among other things, serve as a central
repository within the state government for the collection, storage,
retrieval, and dissemination of data and information on all forms of
energy supply, demand, conservation, public safety, research, and
related subjects. 
   This bill would require the  PUC, in consultation with the
State  Energy  Resources Conservation and
Development  Commission,  by July 1, 2013, in
consultation w   ith the Public Utilities Commission, 
State Air Resources Board,  electrical corporations, and the
geothermal heat pump and distributed solar thermal heating and
cooling industries   and other stakeholders,  to
evaluate policies  sufficient  to overcome barriers
to the widespread deployment and use of geothermal  and solar
heating and cooling   heat pump and geothermal ground
loop  technologies.  The bill would require the PUC, by
July 1, 2013, to adopt rules addressing specified issues regarding
geothermal and solar heating and cooling technologies. 
   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 25228 is added to the 
 Public Resources Code   , to read:  
   25228.  On or before July 1, 2013, the commission, in consultation
with the Public Utilities Commission, State Air Resources Board, and
other stakeholders, shall evaluate policies to overcome barriers to
the widespread deployment and use of geothermal heat pump and
geothermal ground loop technologies. In evaluating these polices, the
commission shall consider all of the following:
    (a) The benefits and costs to ratepayers specific to safer, more
reliable, or less costly gas or electrical service and through
greater energy efficiency, reduction of health and environmental
impacts from air pollution, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
related to electricity and natural gas production and use, through
the use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop
technologies.
    (b) The existing statutory and permit requirements that impact
the widespread use of geothermal heat pumps and geothermal ground
loop technologies and any other existing legal impediments to the
widespread use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop
technologies.
   (c) The impact of widespread use of the geothermal heat pump and
geothermal ground loop technologies on achieving the state's goals
pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
(Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and
Safety Code) and achieving the state's energy efficiency goals. 

  SECTION 1.    Section 740.5 is added to the Public
Utilities Code, to read:
   740.5.  (a) The commission, in consultation with the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, State Air
Resources Board, electrical corporations, and the geothermal heat
pump and distributed solar thermal heating and cooling industries,
shall evaluate policies sufficient to overcome barriers to the
widespread deployment and use of geothermal and solar heating and
cooling technologies.
   (b) By July 1, 2013, the commission shall adopt rules addressing
all of the following:
   (1) The technological advances that are needed to ensure the
consideration of geothermal heat pumps and solar thermal heating and
cooling in state policy and what role the state should take to
support the development of these technologies.
   (2) The benefits and costs to ratepayers specific to safer, more
reliable, or less costly gas or electrical service and through
greater energy efficiency, reduction of health and environmental
impacts from air pollution, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
related to electricity and natural gas production and use, through
the use of geothermal heat pump and solar thermal heating and cooling
technologies.
   (3) The existing statutory and permit requirements that will
impact the widespread use of geothermal heat pumps and solar thermal
heating and cooling technologies and any recommended changes to
existing legal impediments to the widespread use of geothermal heat
pumps and solar thermal heating and cooling technologies.
   (4) The impact of widespread use of the geothermal heat pump and
solar thermal heating and cooling technologies on achieving the state'
s goals pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and
Safety Code) and the renewables portfolio standard program pursuant
to Section 399.12.