BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2685
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Date of Hearing: April 19, 2004
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair
AB 2685 (Oropeza) - As Amended: April 14, 2004
SUBJECT : Energy resources.
SUMMARY : This bill allows the State Clearinghouse (SCH) the
ability to facilitate the development of renewable electricity
generation facilities by coordinating the orderly evaluation of
the impact of public and private actions on the environmental
quality of the state.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) within
the Office of the Governor that serves the Governor and his
cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research and
constitutes the comprehensive state planning agency. In this
capacity, OPR formulates, evaluates, and updates long-range
goals and policies for land use, population growth, urban
expansion, development, open space, resource preservation and
utilization, and air and water quality.
2)Establishes the State Clearinghouse (SCH) within OPR, which
coordinates the state level review of environmental documents
pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
and provides technical assistance on land use planning and
CEQA matters.
3)Grants the California Energy Commission (CEC) exclusive
permitting authority for thermal power plants 50 megawatts
(MW) or greater and related facilities.
4)Grants local agencies permitting authority for thermal power
plants under 50 MW and non-thermal electrical generating
facilities (including renewable electricity generation
facilities).
THIS BILL :
1)Defines renewable electricity generation facilities to include
all renewable energy facilities except geothermal energy
facilities.
AB 2685
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2)Provides that the SCH shall, upon request, facilitate the
development of renewable electricity generation facilities
convene appropriate federal, state, regional, or local
agencies for the purpose of streamlining regulatory
requirements and processes.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS :
1)Background
The CEC has authority to license all thermal powerplants 50 MW
or greater. The CEC acts as a one-stop shop for permitting
these larger thermal projects. Alternatively, proposals to
build generation facilities that do not fall within the CEC's
jurisdiction may require approval and permitting from local city
or county planning agencies. Local agencies generally issue
land use and building permits and will act as the lead agencies
for any work required under the CEQA. Many of these projects
also require approval from the local air board and may require
water discharge permits.
According to the author's office, Californians consume 273,000
gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. The primary consumers
of electricity in California are commercial, residential,
industrial, and agricultural users. Peak electricity demand is
growing at about 2.4% (1,400 MW) per year, primarily driven by
the use of air conditioning and other cooling devices. To meet
this increased demand, the CEC estimates that it will take the
equivalent of three new 500 MW powerplants each year to meet the
growing need.
One of the top three problems identified in the development of
new energy facilities in California is the morass of regulations
at the state and local levels. Under existing law, assistance
is provided to large energy facilities through the CEC and their
permitting process. According to the author's office, this bill
will provide a better-coordinated effort to assist with the
siting and permitting of renewable energy generation facilities
in California while assisting the state in furthering our use of
alternative and renewable sources of energy.
2)Double Referral
AB 2685
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This bill was double referred to this committee and Assembly
Utilities and Commerce Committee. The bill passed out of that
committee on a vote of 12-0.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Kyra Emanuels Ross / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092