BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2944
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 8, 2002

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                              Darrell Steinberg, Chair

                    AB 2944 (Kehoe) - As Amended:  April 22, 2002 

          Policy Committee:                              Utilities and  
          Commerce     Vote:                            14-0
                        Natural Resources                     11-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to  
          report to the Legislature by January 2005 on the results of a  
          solar streetlighting pilot program in San Diego  if  the city  
          chooses to conduct the program.  The report is to include an  
          analysis of the costs and benefits of the materials and  
          equipment used in the pilot program and the implications for  
          statewide implementation of the program.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor General Fund costs ($25,000 or less) in 2004-05 for the  
          CEC report.

           COMMENTS 

           1)Purpose  .  According to the author's office, the recent energy  
            crisis demonstrated the hazards of over-reliance on a single  
            power source.  The author's office believes we must  
            immediately decrease reliance on traditional means of power  
            generation by, in part, encouraging the use of alternative  
            energy through demonstration to the public of its reliability.  
             The City of San Diego now has a single solar-powered street  
            light.  This bill is intended to facilitate expansion and  
            further development of solar power by the demonstration  
            program.  The City of San Diego will assist by expanding the  
            use of solar lighting via zoning, permits, and fee waivers.   
            This bill seeks to create an environment in which auxiliary  
            solar power is readily available on a widespread basis and  
            dependence on electric power generated through traditional  








                                                                  AB 2944
                                                                  Page  2

            means is significantly reduced.  

           2)Is a Bill Necessary  ? Currently,  any  community in California  
            may retrofit their streetlights to utilize solar electric  
            power.  In some cases the communities already own their  
            streetlights and can simply undertake the retrofits.  In  
            communities where the streetlight poles are owned by the  
            utility, the community must first get approval from the  
            utility.  While state authorization is not necessary for the  
            City of San Diego to undertake a solar streetlights program,  
            the author believes that this bill will facilitate expansion  
            and further development of solar power in the city and that  
            having the Energy Commission evaluate the program will provide  
            greater statewide visibility for this application of  
            alternative energy development.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081