BILL ANALYSIS
SB 84 X2
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Date of Hearing: September 4, 2001
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY COSTS AND AVAILABILITY
Roderick D. Wright, Chair
SB 84 X2 (Burton) - As Amended: July 20, 2001
SENATE VOTE : 30-1
SUBJECT : State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission
SUMMARY : Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission (CEC) to develop and implement a program
to provide battery backup power for traffic control signals that
CEC, in consultation with cities and counties, determines to be
high priority traffic control signals, and specifies that up to
$10 million in existing state funds shall be made available for
the projects. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires CEC to develop and implement a program to provide
battery backup power for those official traffic control
signals that CEC, in consultation with cities, counties, or
cities and counties, determines to be high priority traffic
control signals.
2)Authorizes CEC to grant 70% of the funds to a city, county, or
city and county for backup battery power for traffic control
signals retrofitted with light-emitting diodes.
3)Requires 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.
4)Authorizes the expenditure of up to $10,000,000 from existing
state funds for the purpose of providing matching grants
pursuant to this measure.
EXISTING LAW provides funding to 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).
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS :
SB 84 X2
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LED traffic signals use one-tenth of the electricity of
traditional incandescent traffic signals. Twice within the last
twelve months the Legislature has enacted legislation to provide
funding for cities and counties to transform traffic signal
lights from incandescent lamps to LED. AB 970 (Ducheny),
Chapter 329, Statutes of 2000) appropriated $10 million for
grants to local governments for this purpose. AB X1 29 (Kehoe),
Chapter 8, Statutes of 2001) contained an additional
appropriation for loans to local governments, but the
appropriation was line-item vetoed by the Governor, who
expressed reservations about appropriating monies for
expenditures that would not impact peak demand this summer.
According to the author's office, the existing grant programs
will reduce peak demand by 5.9 megawatts (MW) and result in $4.5
million per year in reduced energy costs for participating
cities and counties.
While LED traffic signals are far more efficient than
traditional incandescent traffic signals, they still require
electricity in order to operate. In the event of a blackout,
the installation of backup battery packs enable the LED traffic
signals to continue to operate. This measure authorizes CEC to
implement a matching grant program to assist local governments
in meeting the cost of supplying back-up battery power at
high-priority LED intersections throughout the state. The $10
million appropriations would come from existing state funds.
According to the author's office, backup battery power for LED
traffic signals cost approximately $5,000 per intersection.
Under this bill, the state would provide 70 percent of the cost
with a 30 percent match by local governments. This would result
in the installation of backup battery power for approximately
2,800 intersections throughout California. By keeping the
traffic signals running during blackouts, this measure will
enhance public safety and reduce automobile accidents at high
priority intersections throughout the state.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California State Association of Counties
California State Automobile Association
SB 84 X2
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City of Huntington Beach
City of Torrance
County of Sacramento
League of California Cities
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Joseph Lyons / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083