BILL NUMBER: SBX2 87 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Costa JUNE 18, 2001 An act to amend, repeal, and add Section 25678 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy resources, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 87, as introduced, Costa. Biomass resources. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to establish a grant program that provides a $0.40 per gallon production incentive for liquid fuels fermented in this state from biomass and biomass-derived resources produced in this state. This bill, until January 1, 2005, would make the $0.40 per gallon production incentive available for an unspecified amount of fuel production and a $0.20 per gallon production incentive for the next unspecified amount of fuel production, up to an unspecified total amount. This bill would appropriate $25,000,000 from the General Fund to the commission for the purpose of funding grants pursuant to the bill. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that ethanol has multiple benefits for the citizens of California, including assisting California in becoming more self-sufficient for fuel, improving air and water quality, turning domestic agricultural crops and byproducts into useable fuel, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, meeting federal mandates, creating in-state jobs, and assisting in strengthening local economies. (b) The Legislature further finds and declares that California is home to over nine million acres of irrigated cropland and over 150 million acres of forest and wildland resources that are available to create indigenous resources for use in ethanol production. SEC. 2. Section 25678 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 25678. (a) (1) The commission shall establish a grant programwhichthat provides a forty cent ($0.40) per gallon production incentive for liquid fuels fermented in this state from biomass and biomass-derived resources produced in this state.Eligible(2) The forty cent ($0.40) per gallon production incentive described in paragraph (1) shall be available for the first ____ million gallons of liquid fuels produced per calendar year at any one facility. An additional twenty cent ($0.20) per gallon production incentive shall be available for the next ____ million gallons produced per year up to a total of ____ million gallons per year. (b) Eligible liquid fuels include, but are not limited to, ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oils. Eligible biomass resources include, but are not limited to, agricultural products and byproducts, forestry products and byproducts, and industrial wastes.The(c) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the program.Prior(d) Prior to determining an applicant eligible for participation in the production incentive program, the commission shall find, among other things, that the production techniques employed will lead to a net increase in the amount of energy available for consumption. (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2005, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2005, deletes or extends that date. SEC. 3. Section 25678 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 25678. (a) The commission shall establish a grant program that provides a forty cent ($0.40) per gallon production incentive for liquid fuels fermented in this state from biomass and biomass-derived resources produced in this state. (b) Eligible liquid fuels include, but are not limited to, ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oils. Eligible biomass resources include, but are not limited to, agricultural products and byproducts, forestry products and byproducts, and industrial wastes. (c) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the program. (d) Prior to determining an applicant eligible for participation in the production incentive program, the commission shall find, among other things, that the production techniques employed will lead to a net increase in the amount of energy available for consumption. (e) This section shall become operative January 1, 2005. SEC. 4. The sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for the purpose of funding grants for the production of liquid fuels derived from biomass and biomass-derived resources pursuant to Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 25678) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code.