BILL ANALYSIS
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 84XX
Author: Burton (D)
Amended: 9/6/01
Vote: 27 - Urgency
SENATE ENERGY, U.&C. COMMITTEE : 11-0, 7/10/01
AYES: Bowen, Morrow, Alarcon, Battin, Dunn, Murray,
Poochigian, Sher, Speier, Vasconcellos, Vincent
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 12-0, 7/19/01
(Roll call not available at time of writing)
SENATE FLOOR : 30-1, 7/20/01
AYES: Ackerman, Alarcon, Alpert, Bowen, Brulte, Burton,
Chesbro, Costa, Dunn, Figueroa, Johannessen, Johnson,
Karnette, Machado, Margett, McPherson, Monteith, Morrow,
Murray, O'Connell, Peace, Perata, Polanco, Poochigian,
Romero, Scott, Soto, Speier, Torlakson, Vincent
NOES: McClintock
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not available
SUBJECT : Energy Commission: traffic control signals
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the California Energy
Commission to implement a program to provide battery backup
power for high priority local traffic control signals.
Assembly Amendments add provisions relating to
CONTINUED
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reimbursement for installation of specified backup
batteries and clarify the funding source.
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).
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 authorizes the CEC to reimburse cities or counties
that have installed a backup battery system for light
emitting diode traffic signals between January 1, 2001 and
the date of this bill. They may be reimbursed for up to 30
percent of the cost incurred for the installation. CEC may
not spend more than $1.5 million on such reimbursements.
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.
The bill also specifies that the CEC shall report to the
Legislature and the Governor by June 30, 2004.
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
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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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
Reallocated up to $10 million from existing state funds to
provide these matching grants to cities and counties. CEC
overhead for providing these grants is limited to five
percent of the total funds expended.
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/10/01)
California State Association of Counties
City of Torrance
League of California Cities
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors
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NC:cm 9/10/01 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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