Bill Text: CA SB1054 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 1054

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

Bill Title: Natural gas: customer credit.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-06-03 - Referred to Com. on U. & E. [SB1054 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB1054-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1054

Introduced by Senator Rubio

February 08, 2024

An act to add Chapter 8.65 (commencing with Section 25760) to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1054, as introduced, Rubio. Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative: grants.

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to prescribe, by regulation, among other things, lighting, insulation, climate control system, and other building design and construction standards, energy and water conservation design standards, and appliance efficiency standards to reduce the wasteful, uneconomic, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy and to manage energy loads to help maintain electrical grid reliability, as specified.

Upon appropriation by the Legislature, this bill would establish the Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative, which would require the commission, in consultation with the Department of Community Services and Development, to award grants for local service providers, as defined, nonprofit organizations, and regional collections of local governments to provide financial assistance to low-income households for the purchase of zero-carbon-emitting appliances. The initiative would require the commission to develop guidelines for implementation, as specified, and authorize local service providers, nonprofit organizations, and regional collections of local governments to use those grant moneys for outreach and technical assistance, rebates, loans, installation, educational information, and other support services to assist low-income households.

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

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

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The state is a global leader in greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, including establishing state policies to return to 1990 greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2020, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions levels to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

(b) Energy use in buildings is responsible for 25 percent of all emissions of greenhouse gases in the state and contributes to indoor and outdoor air pollution.

(c) Low-income communities across the state have disproportionately shouldered high energy costs and the burdens of poor air quality.

(d) Reducing home energy use through energy efficiency measures and retrofitting appliances simultaneously reduces residential energy expenses and harmful emissions, thereby improving economic security and indoor air quality, particularly in low-income communities.

SEC. 2.

Chapter 8.65 (commencing with Section 25760) is added to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

CHAPTER 8.65. Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative

25760.

(a) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Department” means the Department of Community Services and Development.

(2) “Initiative” means the Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative.

(3) “Local service provider” has the same meaning as defined in Section 16367.5 of the Government Code.

(4) “Low-income household” means a person or family with a household income at or below 60 percent of the area median income, including such a person or family in a multiunit dwelling.

(b) The Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative is hereby established. The initiative shall be administered by the commission, in consultation with the department, to award grants for local service providers, nonprofit organizations, and regional collections of local governments to provide financial assistance to low-income households for the purchase of zero-carbon-emitting appliances.

(1) Provide for the expenditure of grant funds to ensure expeditious delivery of financial assistance to low-income households.

(2) Specify criteria for which appliances, which may include water heaters, stoves and cooking appliances, home heating and cooling systems, refrigerators and freezers, and washers and dryers, are eligible for financial assistance.

(3) Ensure the initiative provides safe and reliable appliances that stabilize the utility bills of low-income households.

(4) Provide funding for single-family and multifamily residential buildings.

(5) Provide preference to projects that are receiving or combining funding from other sources, including, but not limited to, the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program established pursuant to Section 12087.5 of the Government Code.

(6) Provide tenant protections for rental properties, where appropriate.

(7) Maximize community-based outreach and education for the initiative through collaboration with local service providers, nonprofit organizations, or regional collections of local governments that have demonstrated ties to the local community at the neighborhood, city, or county level and have experience delivering energy incentives.

(d) (1) A local service provider, nonprofit organization, or regional collection of local governments may use grant moneys for outreach and technical assistance, rebates, loans, installation, educational information, and other support services to assist low-income households.

(2) A local service provider, nonprofit organization, or regional collection of local governments may authorize up to 20 percent of the financial assistance provided to a low-income household to be used on electrical upgrades to the low-income household’s property to support the installation of a zero-carbon-emitting appliance.

(e) This section shall be implemented upon an appropriation for its purposes by the Legislature.