Bill Text: CA AB79 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 79 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

Bill Title: Electrical generation: hourly greenhouse gas emissions: electricity from unspecified sources.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2018-01-12 - Stricken from file. [AB79 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB79-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 79

Introduced by Assembly Member Levine

January 04, 2017

An act to add Section 25229 to the Public Resources Code, and to add Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 8400) to Division 4.1 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 79, as introduced, Levine. Electrical generation: coal-fired generation resources.

The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), and requires it to certify sufficient sites and related facilities that are required to provide a supply of electricity sufficient to accommodate projected demand for power statewide.

This bill would require the Energy Commission to ensure that by January 1, 2019, no more than 6%, and by January 1, 2024, no more than 3%, of the electricity consumed in the state is generated from coal-fired generation resources, and to ensure that by January 1, 2026, no electricity consumed in the state is generated from a coal-fired generation resource.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction of their governing boards. The Public Utilities Act requires the PUC to review and approve, modify, or reject a procurement plan for each electrical corporation in accordance with specified elements, incentive mechanisms, and objectives. Existing law prohibits any load-serving entity and any local publicly owned electric utility from entering into a long-term financial commitment for baseload generation, unless that baseload generation complies with a greenhouse gases emission performance standard.

This bill would additionally prohibit any load-serving entity and any local publicly owned electric utility from entering into a financial commitment to procure electricity generated on and after January 1, 2026, from coal-fired generation resources.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 25229 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

25229.

The commission shall ensure that all of the following occur:

(a) By January 1, 2019, no more than 6 percent of the electricity consumed in the state shall be generated from coal-fired generation resources.

(b) By January 1, 2024, no more than 3 percent of the electricity consumed in the state shall be generated from coal-fired generation resources.

SEC. 2.

Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 8400) is added to Division 4.1 of the Public Utilities Code, to read:

CHAPTER 6. Coal-fired Generation Resources

8400.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Baseload generation” means electricity generation from a powerplant that is designed and intended to provide electricity at an annualized plant capacity factor of at least 60 percent.

(b) “Electric service provider” means an “electric service provider” as defined in Section 218.3.

(c) “Load-serving entity” means every electrical corporation, electric service provider, or community choice aggregator serving end-use customers in the state.

(d) “Financial commitment” means either a new ownership investment in baseload generation or a new or renewed contract that includes procurement of baseload generation.

(e) “Powerplant” means a facility for the generation of electricity, and includes one or more generating units at the same location.

8401.

No load-serving entity or local publicly owned electric utility shall enter into a financial commitment to procure electricity generated on and after January 1, 2026, from a coal-fired generation resource.