BILL NUMBER: ABX1 29 ITEM VETO DATE: 04/11/2001 APR 12 To Members of the California State Assembly: I have signed Assembly Bill AB 29X with the following line item vetoes and reductions to more closely align the bill with my expenditure plan and to prioritize conservation measures for this summer. I am eliminating the following: * $25,150,000 million re-appropriation from the Proposition 98 Reversion Account to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges for energy efficient projects and a statewide utility usage database. These funds are already budgeted for other purposes and are required by law to be used by community colleges for educational purposes. * $20 million to the Department of Community Services and Development to supplement the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). $120 million has been provided for this program in SB 5X. * $50 million to the California Energy Commission (CEC) for loans and grants for construction and retrofit projects and $50 million to the CEC for the Small Business Energy Efficiency Refrigeration Loan Program. These new programs require the establishment of administrative procedures and will not deliver peak reduction savings for this summer. * $24 million to the Department of Corrections to install systems to retrofit generating units. These funds would not increase electricity supply or reduce demand. * $15 million to the Public Utilities Commission to fund a study of real-time meters. This bill appropriates funds for the purchase and installation of these meters. In addition, I am reducing the following allocations: * From the funds allocated to the California Conservation Corps, reduce the allocation from $40 million to $20 million for the Mobile Efficiency Brigade. In order to achieve the most effective energy savings by this summer, I am directing the Conservation Corps to use these funds to purchase materials and mobilize crews to deliver high efficiency lighting to low-income residences. While I am signing this bill, it is my understanding that the Legislature will enact subsequent legislation to remove the mandate created by the Statewide Energy Management Program. I am also requesting subsequent legislation to continuously appropriate the Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program. It is standard for loan guarantee programs to be continuously appropriated and not contingent upon the annual budget. As drafted, this bill removes the incentive for banks to participate in this wo rthy program. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS