BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 84XX|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 84XX
Author: Burton (D)
Amended: 7/19/01
Vote: 27 - Urgency
SENATE ENERGY, U. & C. COMMITTEE : 11-0, 7/10/01
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Not available
SUBJECT : Energy Commission: traffic control signals
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the California Energy
Commission (CEC) to develop and implement a program to
provide battery backup power for those official traffic
control signals that the CEC, in consultation with cities,
counties, or cities and counties, determines to be high
priority traffic control signals. The bill authorizes the
CEC to grant 70 percent of the funds to a city, county, or
city and county for backup batter power for traffic control
signals retrofitted with light-emitting diodes. The bill
requires the CEC to give priority to a city, county, or
city and county that did not receive a grant from the state
for the installation of light-emitting diode traffic
control signals.
The bill specifies that up to $10 million in existing State
funds shall be made available for the projects. The
administrative costs of the CEC may not exceed five percent
of the program funding.
CONTINUED
SB 84XX
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The bill also specifies that the CEC shall report to the
Legislature and the Governor by June 30, 2004.
ANALYSIS : Current law provides funding to the CEC to
award loans and grants to local governments to help them
replace traditional incandescent traffic signals with
signals lighted by light-emitting diodes (LED).
Background
LED traffic signals reduce energy consumption by 90%
compared to incandescent traffic signals. Cities from San
Diego to Eureka have obtained grants from the CEC's current
pot of $10 million to install these signals, and they
estimate they'll save $4.5 million each year in energy
costs and and reduce peak demand by 5.9 megawatts (MW).
That grant money, authorized in AB 970 (Ducheny), Chapter
329, Statutes of 1999, has been exhausted. Additional
funding for LED traffic signal loans was provided in AB 29X
(Kehoe), Chapter 8, Statutes of 2001.
While LED traffic signals are energy efficient, they still
require electricity, so when blackouts occur, LED traffic
signals fail the same way incandescent traffic signals
fail. However, because LED traffic signals are far more
energy efficient, relatively small battery backup power
devices can be used. The City of Walnut Creek is planning
to spend $230,000 to provide battery backup to 28 LED
traffic signals along major streets, while City of Laguna
Niguel has done the same for its intersections. Local
governments believe battery backup systems will enhance
public safety by keeping traffic signals functioning during
blackouts.
According to information provided by the author, battery
backup for LED traffic signals costs about $5,000 per
intersection. Using the 70/30 matching criteria in the
bill, the $10 million appropriated by this measure should
result allow about 2,800 intersections to have battery
backup devices installed in them. This is about nine
percent of the LED traffic signal controlled intersections
that are projected to be in place by 2002.
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FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/19/01)
California State Association of Counties
City of Torrance
League of California Cities
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors
DLW:cm 7/19/01 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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