BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1253
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1253 (Sher)
As Amended August 16, 1999
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :24-14
NATURAL RESOURCES 7-4 APPROPRIATIONS 14-7
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|Ayes:|Wayne, Jackson, Keeley, |Ayes:|Migden, Cedillo, Davis, |
| |Lowenthal, Machado, | |Hertzberg, Kuehl, Papan, |
| |Migden, Steinberg | |Romero, Shelley, |
| | | |Steinberg, Thomson, |
| | | |Wesson, Wiggins, Wright, |
| | | |Aroner |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Aanestad, Dickerson, |Nays:|Brewer, Ackerman, |
| |Oller, Robert Pacheco | |Ashburn, Campbell, |
| | | |Maldonado, Runner, Zettel |
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SUMMARY : Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission (Energy Commission), in consultation with
the Air Resources Board (ARB), the Department of Forestry, the
Department of Transportation, the State Water Resources Control
Board, and the Integrated Waste Management Board, to undertake a
variety of studies and activities focused on the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, this bill requires the
Energy Commission to:
1)By January 1, 2001, to update its 1998 inventory of greenhouse
gas emissions. Natural sources are to be included to extent
information is available.
2)Include in the inventory update discussions comparing
California's inventory with similar inventories prepared for
the United States, other states, and other countries; and, to
the extent available, include information on relevant energy
and air quality policies and greenhouse gas emission trends
since 1990.
3)Acquire and develop data on global climate change, and provide
government agencies, utilities and business sectors with
information on the costs and technical feasibility of methods
SB 1253
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for reducing greenhouse gases, including the use of natural
forest reservoirs. The bill also requires the Energy
Commission to provide for the exchange of information, and
advise state agencies on methods to reduce and mitigate
greenhouse gases.
4)After conducting at least one public hearing, update the
inventory every five years, and report to the Governor and the
Legislature and post the inventory and the report on the
Internet after each update.
5)Convene an interagency task force to ensure policy
coordination.
6)Establish a climate change advisory committee to make
recommendations regarding the most equitable and efficient
ways to implement international and national climate change
requirements and standards, if the Energy Commission
determines it can do so within existing resources. The
advisory committee shall be chaired by a member of the Energy
Commission and include representation from major industrial
and energy businesses, utilities, forestry, agriculture, local
government, and environmental groups, and shall conduct
meetings open to public participation.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Energy Commission, among other duties, to
analyze the environmental consequences of trends in the
consumption of energy.
2)Requires the Energy Commission (pursuant to an uncodified
section added by Chapter 1506, Statutes of 1988), in
consultation with ARB, the University of California, the
Department of Water Resources, and the Department of Food and
Agriculture, to have conducted a study by June 1, 1990, on how
global warming trends may affect the state's energy supply and
demand, economy, environment, agriculture, and water supplies.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Committee on
Appropriations, moderate costs, about $250,000 in FY 2000-2001
and every five years thereafter, to the Energy Commission to
update and expand its inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, to
develop data on global climate change, and to provide
information to the public.
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COMMENTS :
"Greenhouse gases" is the term given to air emissions that
contribute to global climate change. These emissions are
primarily composed of carbon dioxide, and also include methane,
nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Greenhouse gases are
generated from both natural and human-generated sources,
including combustion of fossil fuels, mining, municipal solid
waste landfills, animal waste, municipal wastewater treatment,
and oil and gas production.
Since the early 1980's, members of the scientific community have
become increasingly concerned about the potential for
human-generated greenhouse gas emissions to alter the earth's
atmosphere and climate. Most scientists agree that a
"greenhouse effect" is caused when human-generated emissions mix
with other naturally occurring gases to "thicken" the earth's
atmospheric "blanket." In 1988, the Legislature passed AB 4420
(Sher) (Chapter 1507, Statutes of 1988), directing the Energy
Commission to study the potential impacts of global climate
change trends on the state. The Energy Commission issued a
report and a greenhouse gas emission inventory in 1991, and
updated it in 1998 under a contract with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
According to the 1998 report, the most significant reductions in
carbon dioxide emissions can be achieved through: 1) continued
energy efficiency programs in all sectors, including electricity
generation; 2) further developing and integrating renewable
energy sources into electricity supplies; and, 3) promoting
transportation energy efficiency strategies. This bill is
intended to build upon these earlier studies, to require that
the inventory be updated every five years, and to include task
force, advisory committee, data gathering, and advisory
requirements, to ensure that the Energy Commission continues to
focus attention on this problem.
Analysis Prepared by : Sally Magnani Knox / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0003178