BILL NUMBER: AB 426	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 8, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Richman

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2003

   An act to add Section 139 to the Water Code, relating to the State
Water Project.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 426, as amended, Richman.  State Water Project:  solar panels.
   Under existing law, the Department of Water Resources operates the
State Water Project.
   This bill would require the department to establish a program to
authorize private entities to lease space above appropriate
conveyance facilities of the State Water Project for the purposes of
installing solar panels and generating electricity from those panels.
   The bill would require the department to include certain
conditions in the leases.  The bill would authorize the
department to impose charges, for the purposes of carrying out these
provisions, that reflect only the actual costs incurred by the
department.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the
interest of the state to conserve resources and to promote projects
that further that interest.
  SEC. 2.  Section 139 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   139.  (a) The department shall establish a program to authorize
private entities to lease space above appropriate conveyance
facilities of the State Water Project for the purpose of installing
solar panels and generating electricity from those panels.
   (b)  The department shall include, but is not limited to,  the
following conditions in a lease pursuant to this section:
   (1) The solar panels shall be interconnected to the electric
transmission grid in accordance with applicable rules, orders, or
tariffs of the Public Utilities Commission.
   (2) If the Independent System Operator declares a Stage 3
emergency regarding the electric system, the electricity generated
from the solar panels may not be sold out of state.
   (c)  For the purposes of carrying out subdivision (a), the
department may impose charges that reflect only the actual costs
incurred by the department.