BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1059
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SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1059 (Escutia)
As Amended August 21, 2006
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :34-1
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 11-0 LOCAL
GOVERNMENT 7-0
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|Ayes:|Levine, Blakeslee, Baca, |Ayes:|Salinas, Emmerson, De La |
| |Bogh, Cohn, De La Torre, | |Torre, Houston, Lieber, |
| |Jerome Horton, Keene, | |Berg, Jones |
| |Montanez, Ridley-Thomas, | | |
| |Wyland | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 18-0
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|Ayes:|Chu, Sharon Runner, Bass, | | |
| |Berg, Calderon, De La | | |
| |Torre, Emmerson, Haynes, | | |
| |Karnette, Klehs, Leno, | | |
| |Nakanishi, Nation, Laird, | | |
| | | | |
| |Ridley-Thomas, Saldana, | | |
| |Walters, Yee | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to
designate electric transmission corridor zones (TCZ), according
to a specified process, in which high-voltage electric
transmission lines may be built in the future.
EXISTING LAW requires the California Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) to certify the public convenience and necessity of a
transmission line before an investor-owned utility (IOU) may
begin construction [Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity (CPCN)].
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FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis:
1)CEC indicates a need for eight positions at a cost of about
$900,000 annually for technical and planning staff to develop
the TCZ designations, including California Environmental
Quality Act work and outreach to local entities. [Energy
Resources Programs Account]
2)The state will incur additional unknown costs to the extent
cities and counties seek reimbursement for their costs to
review applications for TCZs designated by the CEC. Costs are
dependent on the number of TCZs and the number of
jurisdictions involved.
COMMENTS : This bill may provide direction on electric
transmission infrastructure and coordinate planning and
permitting transmission projects which is currently divided
between a multitude of federal, state, and local agencies, as
well as private corporations, who either own or manage pieces of
the transmission grid.
The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the secretaries of
federal departments to review, designate, and adopt major energy
corridors across 11 states, and designate power lines in the
national interest, which would allow them to overrule federal
agencies or states or counties that withhold approval for
segments of projects. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
can pre-empt the state and authorize a permit under specified
conditions.
AB 974 (Nu?ez), pending in the Senate, requires
transmission-owning IOUs to send a 10-year transmission forecast
to PUC, and the Independent System Operator to provide a 10-year
transmission forecast to PUC, CEC, and the Electricity Oversight
Board. Requires PUC to send to the Legislature, an annually
updated report that summarizes the status of every application
for transmission line construction, upgrade, or enhancement.
Analysis Prepared by : Gina Adams / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083
FN: 0016688
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