BILL ANALYSIS
AB 69
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 23, 2001
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON UTILITIES AND COMMERCE
Roderick D. Wright, Chair
AB 69 (Wright) - As Introduced: December 13, 2000
SUBJECT : Environmental Quality.
SUMMARY : This bill augments provisions under Section 12078 with
regard to the Green Team established by the Governor's office to
advise and make recommendations regarding siting, repowering and
other aspects of addressing the generated electricity supply
constraints facing California currently. Specifically, this
bill :
1)Requires the Green Team to make expedited repowering of
existing power plants in the state a top priority consistent
with operation of the plants in a manner that lessens their
impact on the environment.
2)Requires the Green Team to encourage appropriate regulatory
agencies in the state to take all actions within their
authority to promote and accelerate the repowering of existing
powerplants and to do so in a manner lessening their impact on
the environment.
EXISTING LAW establishes the Governor's Green Team, to provide
assistance to persons proposing to construct powerplants.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS : This measure, similar to AB X1 36 (Wright),
introduced in the First Extraordinary Session, focuses attention
on the uncertainty of California's electricity supply outlook
brought to bear by the aging of existing powerplants in the
state. AB 69 targets the nearly 30,000 megawatts (MW) of
generation capacity available through existing powerplants
between 30 and 50 + years of age.
Specifically, this measure requires the Governor's Green Team to
focus much needed attention on the repowering of existing
powerplants. In addition to the numerous other directions given
to the Green Team, AB 69 requires that addressing repowering be
made a priority within the state and requires the Green Team to
encourage regulatory agencies to expedite repowering of existing
AB 69
Page 2
plants consistent with sound environmental policy.
The amount of time and the array of requirements, both
environmental and regulatory, posed for repowering of existing
generating facilities is significantly less than the amount of
time and the number of processes which must be endured before
construction of new powerplants can be effected. More
importantly, there is significant generation capacity to be
realized through the repowering process to more immediately
address California's energy supply crisis than there is through
construction of new generation facilities.
Staff recommends:
This measure adds provisions to existing terms underscoring the
purpose and scope of responsibilities of the Green Team, which
will focus the Green Team on repowering existing generating
facilities. This measure should provide for additional
generating capacity to be brought on line consistent with
environmentally responsible planning, sooner than new generation
facilities could be brought on line and should more immediately
address California's energy supply crisis.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Kelly Boyd / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083