Bill Text: CA AB2831 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 2831 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Small business customers: demand-side energy management programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-20 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 590, Statutes of 2018. [AB2831 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2831-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly March 22, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2831

Introduced by Assembly Member Limón

February 16, 2018

An act to add Section 25711.9 to the Public Resources Code, relating to ~~business.~~ renewable energy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2831, as amended, Limón. ~~Small business sustainability practices.~~ Renewable energy: small and micro businesses.

The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), with jurisdiction over all public utilities, as defined. Existing decisions of the PUC institute an Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) to fund renewable energy and research, development, and demonstration programs.
Existing law creates in the State Treasury the Electric Program Investment Charge Fund to be administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and requires the PUC to forward to the Energy Commission at least quarterly moneys for those EPIC programs the PUC has determined should be administered by the Energy Commission for deposit in the fund.
Existing law requires the Energy Commission, in administering moneys in the fund for research, development, and demonstration programs, to develop and implement the EPIC program for the purpose of awarding funds to projects that lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome barriers that prevent the achievement of the state’s statutory energy goals and that result in a portfolio of projects that are strategically focused and sufficiently narrow to make advancement on the most significant technological challenges.
Existing law requires the Energy Commission, until July 1, 2023, to allocate at least 25% of the moneys in the fund for technology demonstration and deployment at sites located in, and benefiting, disadvantaged communities, as defined. Existing law also requires the Energy Commission to allocate at least an additional 10% of the moneys in the fund for technology demonstration and deployment at sites located in, and benefiting, low-income communities, as defined.
Existing law authorizes the Department of Toxic Substances Control, as part of implementing a program to provide pollution prevention training and resources to, among other entities, small business development corporations, to develop a California Green Business Program that provides support and assistance to local government programs that provide for the voluntary certification of small businesses that adopt environmentally preferable business practices, including, but not limited to, increased energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, promotion of water conservation, and reduced waste generation.
This bill would require the Energy Commission to work with green business certification organizations to assess how the benefits of the EPIC program may better serve small and micro business, as defined, while accommodating existing requirements for technology demonstration and deployment funding, and for funding preference for clean energy projects that benefit low-income or disadvantaged communities. The bill would also require the commission to more actively allocate benefits of the EPIC program to small and micro businesses.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would establish a microloan program to provide low interest loans to small businesses that make a contractual commitment to embrace sustainable business practices, including, but not limited to, low-flow toilets, energy-efficient lighting, and waste reduction.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 25711.9 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

25711.9.
(a) The commission shall work with green business certification organizations to assess how the benefits of the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program may better serve small and micro businesses, consistent with Section 25711.6.
(b) Subject to subdivision (a), the commission shall more actively allocate benefits of the EPIC program to small and micro businesses.
(c) For purposes of this section, “small business” means a business that has less than 100 employees and “micro business” is a business that has less than 25 employees.

SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would establish a microloan program to provide low interest loans to small businesses that make a contractual commitment to embrace sustainable business practices, including, but not limited to, low-flow toilets, energy-efficient lighting, and waste reduction.