Bill Text: CA AB448 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Renewable energy resources.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB448 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB448-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 448	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 19, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Quirk

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2013

   An act to  amend Section 399.11 of the Public Utilities
Code    add Section 25305.7 to the Public Resources Code
 , relating to energy.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 448, as amended, Quirk. Renewable energy resources. 
   Existing law establishes the California Renewables Portfolio
Standard Program, which requires the Public Utilities Commission to
implement annual procurement targets for the procurement of eligible
renewable energy resources, as defined, for all retail sellers, as
defined, to achieve the targets and goals of the program.  
   Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission to adopt, on a biennial basis, an integrated
energy policy report, containing among other things, an overview of
major energy trends and issues facing the state.  
   This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission to include an assessment of various
aspects of the California Renewables Portfolio Standards Program in
its integrated energy policy report.  
   Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to review
and adopt a renewable energy procurement plan for each electrical
corporation, as defined, pursuant to the California Renewables
Portfolio Standard Program.  
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the program's
legislative findings and declarations. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 25305.7 is added to the 
 Public Resources Code   , to read:  
   25305.7.  The commission shall include in its integrated energy
policy report an assessment of all of the following:
   (a) The costs to electrical corporations for compliance with the
requirements of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program
(Article 16 (commencing with Section 399.11) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1
of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code).
   (b) The effect of compliance with the renewables portfolio
standard targets on the price of electricity paid by ratepayers.
   (c) The overall impact on air quality that compliance with the
renewables portfolio standard targets is expected to have by December
31, 2020.
   (d) Whether achieving the renewables portfolio standard target of
generating 33 percent of total retail sales of electricity in
California from eligible renewable energy resources by December 31,
2020, will affect system reliability.
   (e) Potential options for increasing cost effectiveness and system
reliability in regard to achieving the renewables portfolio standard
targets.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 399.11 of the Public
Utilities Code is amended to read:
   399.11.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) In order to attain a target of generating 20 percent of total
retail sales of electricity in California from eligible renewable
energy resources by December 31, 2013, and 33 percent by December 31,
2020, it is the intent of the Legislature that the commission and
the Energy Commission implement the California Renewables Portfolio
Standard Program described in this article.
   (b) Achieving the renewables portfolio standard through the
procurement of various electricity products from eligible renewable
energy resources is intended to provide unique benefits to
California, including all of the following benefits, each of which
independently justifies the program:
   (1) Displacing fossil fuel consumption within the state.
   (2) Adding new electrical generating facilities in the
transmission network within the Western Electricity Coordinating
Council service area.
   (3) Reducing air pollution in the state.
   (4) Meeting the state's climate change goals by reducing emissions
of greenhouse gases associated with electrical generation.
   (5) Promoting stable retail rates for electric service.
   (6) Meeting the state's need for a diversified and balanced energy
generation portfolio.
   (7) Assistance with meeting the state's resource adequacy
requirements.
   (8) Contributing to the safe and reliable operation of the
electrical grid, including the provision of predictable electrical
supply, voltage support, lower line losses, and congestion relief.
   (9) Implementing the state's transmission and land use planning
activities related to development of eligible renewable energy
resources.
   (c) The California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program is
intended to complement the Renewable Energy Resources Program
administered by the Energy Commission and established pursuant to
Chapter 8.6 (commencing with Section 25740) of Division 15 of the
Public Resources Code.
   (d) New and modified electric transmission facilities may be
necessary to facilitate the state achieving its renewables portfolio
standard targets.
   (e) (1) Supplying electricity to California end-use customers that
is generated by eligible renewable energy resources is necessary to
improve California's air quality and public health, and the
commission shall ensure rates are just and reasonable, and are not
significantly affected by the procurement requirements of this
article. This electricity may be generated anywhere in the
interconnected grid that includes many states, and areas of both
Canada and Mexico.
   (2) This article requires that generating resources located
outside of California that are able to supply that electricity to
California end-use customers be treated identically to generating
resources located within the state, without discrimination.
   (3) California electrical corporations have already executed, and
the commission has approved, power purchase agreements with eligible
renewable energy resources located outside of California that will
supply electricity to California end-use customers. These resources
will fully count toward meeting the renewables portfolio standard
procurement requirements. In addition, there are nearly 7,000
megawatts of additional proposed renewable energy resources located
outside of California that are awaiting interconnection approval from
the Independent System Operator. All of these resources, if
procured, will count as eligible renewable energy resources that
satisfy the portfolio content requirements of paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c) of Section 399.16.