BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1881|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 445-6614 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1881
Author: Pescetti (R), et al
Amended: 6/28/02 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE : 12-0, 6/11/02
AYES: Johnson, Brulte, Chesbro, Dunn, Johannessen,
Karnette, Knight, Machado, Morrow, O'Connell, Perata,
Soto
SENATE ENERGY, U.&C. COMMITTEE : 8-0, 6/25/02
AYES: Bowen, Morrow, Alarcon, Battin, Dunn, Murray, Sher,
Vasconcellos
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 67-0, 5/2/02 (Passed on Consent) - See
last page for vote
SUBJECT : Solar energy systems: solar thermal energy
SOURCE : California Solar Energy Industries Association
DIGEST : This bill revises the definitions of feasible,
cost-effective, and solar energy equipment, as specified,
in Chapter 10, Statutes of 2001, which will become
effective 91 days after the close of the 2001-02 Second
Extraordinary Session.
ANALYSIS : Existing law, SB 82XX (Murray), Chapter 10 of
the Statutes of the 2001-02, Second Extraordinary Session,
CONTINUED
AB 1881
Page
2
which will become operative 91 days following the
adjournment of that session (Adjournment Sine Die May 9,
2002), requires the State Department of General Services
(DGS), in consultation with the State Energy Commission, to
ensure that solar equipment (that produces electric energy)
is installed, no later than January 1, 2007, on all state
buildings and state parking facilities, where feasible.
Existing law also mandates that solar energy equipment be
installed where feasible as part of the construction of all
state buildings and state parking facilities that commences
after December 31, 2002.
For purposes of Chapter 10, it is feasible to install solar
energy equipment if adequate space on a building is
available and if the solar energy equipment is
cost-effective. Chapter 10 also defines "cost-effective,"
"local publicly owned electric utility," and "solar energy
equipment."
This bill makes solar "thermal" technologies eligible for
certain requirements that mandate the installation of solar
energy equipment on all new state buildings and parking
facilities. This bill makes the following changes to
Chapter 10, Statutes of the 2001-02, Second Extraordinary
Session:
1. Modifies the definition of feasible to require
installation of solar energy equipment if there is
adequate space "adjacent" to a building in addition to
on a building.
2. Requires that the "value of stable energy costs" be
considered when evaluating cost effectiveness of
proposed projects.
3. Expands the definition of solar energy equipment to
include "solar thermal technologies."
4. Declares that this bill will not be operative until SB
82XX becomes operative, to avoid any chaptering out
issues.
5. Requires any solar energy equipment installed to meet
AB 1881
Page
3
applicable standards and requirements imposed by state
and local permitting authorities, including
certification by the Solar Rating Certification
Corporation and other applicable safety and performance
standards.
The author's office indicates that in the past year,
California has been very aggressive in promoting renewable
energy through a number of energy programs administered by
the California Energy Commission. Solar electric systems
have received special attention because of their clean
energy appeal with virtually no operating costs.
SB 82XX (Murray), mandated that, where, feasible, solar
energy equipment must be installed on state buildings and
parking facilities beginning December 31, 2002. According
to the author's office, SB 82XX failed to include "solar
thermal technologies" within the definition of solar energy
equipment. This bill is intended to include solar thermal
technologies in the definition of eligible technologies for
use on state-owned buildings. In addition, this measure
adds language to SB 82XX to allow solar equipment to be
installed "adjacent" to a state building, not just "on" a
state building.
The author's office notes that solar technologies for
heating water and state-operated swimming pools are
cost-effective in virtually every application - frequently
returning the initial investment from energy savings in
from two to four years. The author's office emphasis that
this measure will ensure that state investment in solar
energy technologies can include highly cost-effective solar
thermal technologies in addition to photovoltaic systems.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/8/02)
California Solar Energy Industries Association (source)
Sierra Club California
Clean Power Campaign
Offline Independent Energy Systems
Gray Panthers California
AB 1881
Page
4
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Aanestad, Alquist, Aroner, Bates, Bogh, Calderon,
Bill Campbell, John Campbell, Canciamilla, Cardenas,
Cardoza, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cogdill, Corbett, Correa,
Cox, Daucher, Diaz, Dickerson, Dutra, Firebaugh, Frommer,
Goldberg, Harman, Havice, Hollingsworth, Horton, Jackson,
Kehoe, Kelley, Koretz, La Suer, Leach, Leonard, Leslie,
Liu, Longville, Lowenthal, Maddox, Maldonado, Matthews,
Migden, Mountjoy, Nakano, Nation, Negrete McLeod,
Oropeza, Papan, Pescetti, Richman, Salinas, Shelley,
Simitian, Steinberg, Strom-Martin, Thomson, Vargas,
Washington, Wayne, Wiggins, Wright, Wyland, Wyman,
Zettel, Wesson
TSM:cm 8/5/02 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****