BILL ANALYSIS
AB 515
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 515 (Richman)
As Amended May 26, 2005
Majority vote
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 10-0 WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 13-0
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|Ayes:|Levine, Bogh, Baca, |Ayes:|Wolk, Villines, Baca, |
| |Blakeslee, | |Berg, Bermudez, Daucher, |
| |De La Torre, Jones, | |Emmerson, Matthews, Maze, |
| |Keene, Montanez, | |Parra, Pavley, Sharon |
| |Ridley-Thomas, Plescia | |Runner, Saldana |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 18-0
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|Ayes:|Chu, Sharon Runner, Bass, | | |
| |Berg, Calderon, Emmerson, | | |
| |Mullin, Haynes, Karnette, | | |
| |Klehs, Leno, Nakanishi, | | |
| |Nation, Oropeza, | | |
| |Ridley-Thomas, Saldana, | | |
| |Walters, Yee | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes Department of Water Resources (DWR) to
establish a program to permit private entities to install solar
photovoltaic (PV) panels above the State Water Project (SWP) and
generate electricity from those panels. Permits DWR to
negotiate any level of compensation for an agreement for the
installation of solar PV panels and related systems that is
equal to or greater than the cost to the department.
FISCAL EFFECT : About $250,000 one-time costs, and ongoing costs
of at least $125,000 annually.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, the purpose of this
bill is to conserve resources and promote projects that further
AB 515
Page 2
that interest. PV-generated power correlates reasonably well
with the utilities' daily load patterns because the power is
available when it is needed most during the peak demand periods
in the daylight hours. In addition, secondary benefits include
reducing evaporation from the canals and attracting investment
and jobs to California.
SWP extends more than 660 miles and originates on tributaries of
the Feather River and extends down the Sacramento River, through
the Delta and San Joaquin Valley and over the Tehachapi
Mountains into Pyramid and Castaic lakes in Southern California.
DWR has leased space to wind energy producers to install
facilities in the Altamont area. DWR also negotiated an
agreement with a telecommunications company to use SWP
right-of-way to install a fiber optic cable in exchange for
in-kind communications and surveillance services.
Analysis Prepared by : Gina Mandy / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083
FN: 0010824