Bill Text: CA SB1074 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Energy: Federal Trust Fund: geothermal projects.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-09-23 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 539, Statutes of 2016. [SB1074 Detail]
Download: California-2015-SB1074-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 1074 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 539
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 31, 2016
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 20, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 1, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 31, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 28, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Senator Hueso
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia)
FEBRUARY 16, 2016
An act to amend Sections 3823 and 25463 of the Public Resources
Code, relating to energy, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1074, Hueso. Energy: Federal Trust Fund: geothermal projects.
Existing law requires that all revenues received by the state
pursuant to specified federal laws be deposited in the Geothermal
Resources Development Account and continuously appropriated as
specified. Existing law requires some of those revenues to be
disbursed to counties in which the federal government has leased land
for geothermal development and another portion of those revenues to
be available for distribution by the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) as grants
or loans made to local jurisdictions or private entities. Existing
law specifies purposes primarily relating to geothermal energy
development and mitigation for which recipients may expend these
moneys.
This bill would additionally authorize those recipients to expend
those revenues to undertake projects to recover lithium, metals,
agricultural products, and other beneficial minerals from highly
mineralized geothermal brines at existing geothermal facilities that
are in disadvantaged communities and provide local employment
opportunities.
Existing law authorizes the Energy Commission to administer funds
appropriated by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (federal act) for the federal Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant Program to award contracts, grants, and
loans for energy-related projects.
This bill would, of the moneys appropriated to the commission in
the 2016-17 fiscal year from the moneys derived from the federal act
in the Federal Trust Fund for the purposes specified in existing law
for funds derived from the federal act, allocate $2,500,000 to the
commission for the geothermal brine treatment projects that would be
authorized by this bill. The bill would, for the 2017-18 fiscal year
and each fiscal year thereafter, continuously appropriate $2,500,000
annually to the commission from the moneys derived from the federal
act in the Federal Trust Fund for the above purposes specified in
existing law until all of those moneys are encumbered or expended.
Appropriation: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 3823 of the Public Resources Code is amended to
read:
3823. Revenues disbursed to counties of origin pursuant to
Section 3821 and grants or loans made to local jurisdictions or
private entities pursuant to Section 3822 shall be expended by the
recipient for the following purposes:
(a) Undertaking research and development projects relating to
geothermal resource assessment and exploration, and direct-use and
electric generation technology.
(b) Local and regional planning and policy development and
implementation necessary for compliance with programs required by
local, state, or federal laws and regulations.
(c) Identification of feasible measures that will mitigate the
adverse impacts of the development of geothermal resources and the
adoption of ordinances, regulations, and guidelines to implement
those measures.
(d) Collecting baseline data and conducting environmental
monitoring.
(e) Preparation or revision of geothermal resource elements, or
geothermal components of energy elements, for inclusion in the local
general plan, zoning and other ordinances, and related planning and
environmental documents.
(f) Administrative costs incurred by the local jurisdiction that
are attributable to the development or production of geothermal
resources.
(g) Monitoring and inspecting geothermal facilities and related
activities to assure compliance with applicable laws, regulations,
and ordinances.
(h) Identifying, researching, and implementing feasible measures
that will mitigate the adverse impacts of that development or
production.
(i) Planning, constructing, providing, operating, and maintaining
those public services and facilities that are necessitated by, and
result from, the development or production.
(j) Undertaking projects demonstrating the technical and economic
feasibility of geothermal direct heat and electrical generation
applications.
(k) Undertaking projects for the enhancement, restoration, or
preservation of natural resources, including, but not limited to,
water development, water quality improvement, fisheries enhancement,
and park and recreation facilities and areas.
( l ) In furtherance of the state's zero-emission
vehicle and energy storage objectives, undertaking projects to
recover lithium, metals, agricultural products, and other beneficial
minerals from highly mineralized geothermal brines at a geothermal
facility in existence on January 1, 2017, that is in a disadvantaged
community and provides local employment opportunities.
SEC. 2. Section 25463 of the Public Resources Code is amended to
read:
25463. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division,
federal funds available to the commission pursuant to this chapter
may be used by the commission to augment funding for any programs or
measures authorized by this division unless otherwise prohibited by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law
111-5). The commission may administer any funds used to augment other
programs using the procedures of the augmented program consistent
with applicable federal law.
(b) This section shall be liberally construed to maximize the
commission's ability to utilize and award federal funds expeditiously
and in accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 or federal acts related to the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009.
(c) (1) Of the moneys appropriated to the commission in the
2016-17 fiscal year from the moneys derived from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in the Federal Trust Fund for
purposes authorized by Section 25461, the sum of two million five
hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) is hereby allocated for
purposes consistent with subdivision (l) of Section 3823. No later
than February 1, 2017, the commission shall issue a competitive
solicitation for projects pursuant to subdivision (l) of Section 3823
to be funded from this allocation.
(2) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, for the
2017-18 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter until all moneys
in the Federal Trust Fund derived from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 have been encumbered or expended, the sum of
two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) annually is
hereby continuously appropriated to the commission for the purposes
authorized by Section 25461.
