BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1298
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 7, 2000
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Howard Wayne, Chair
SB 1298 (Bowen) - As Amended: August 7, 2000
SENATE VOTE : Not relevant.
SUBJECT : Air pollution.
SUMMARY : This bill requires the State Air Resource Board (ARB)
to adopt emissions standards for distributed generation
technologies determined to have significant potential for market
penetration in the state.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the ARB to establish emissions standards for
stationary sources of air pollution, including refineries and
power plants.
1)Requires the ARB to establish the best available control
technology (BACT) as a means by which sources of air pollution
can comply with air emissions standards. The BACT standard is
not a recommendation for a particular pollution control
device. Rather, it is a recognition of limits achievable by
currently available and economically viable pollution control
devices.
THIS BILL :
1)Requires the ARB, on or before January 1, 2003, to adopt
emissions standards for distributed generation technologies
that reflect the BACT and that the ARB, in cooperation with
the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission (Commission), determines to have a significant
potential for market penetration in the state. The emissions
standards shall be updated as needed.
1)Requires the ARB, to the extent practicable, to establish
standards for distributed generation that control emissions to
the level determined to be the BACT for permitted central
power stations in California.
1)Authorizes the ARB to establish less stringent emission
SB 1298
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standards for a distributed generation technology if the ARB
determines that:
a) An alternative emission level is the most stringent
feasible level for the specified distributed generation
technology;
b) There are compelling reasons related to electrical
system peak load reliability to allow such a distributed
generation technology; and
c) The air quality impacts of increased emissions
associated with the deployment of that distributed
generation technology are minor.
1)Prohibits an air district from authorizing the siting or
operation of any distributed generation technology for which
state standards exist unless that technology complies with the
emissions performance standards adopted by the ARB.
1)Authorizes an air district to establish emissions standards
regarding distributed generation technology more stringent
than those established by the ARB
1)Requires the ARB to develop a certification program for
distributed generators for verifying that applicable
distributed generation units meet the emission performance
standards established by the board. The program shall, at a
minimum, apply to distributed generation units that are exempt
from district permitting requirements.
1)Authorizes the ARB to establish a fee schedule to be assessed
against persons seeking certification as a distributed
generator.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS :
Background
"Distributed generation" is defined in this bill as "electrical
generation located near the place of use." Examples of
distributed generation include large cogeneration facilities,
located adjacent to a hospital, providing all electricity
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demands or those required during a power failure, as well as a
simple solar array atop a residential home, used for various
home electrical demands.
The author's office states that while distributed generation
technologies are likely to play an important role in supplying
power to the state in the future, the application of existing
air quality standards to them is either unclear or insufficient.
This bill would charge the appropriate enforcement agency with
establishing these standards in as proactive a manner as
possible.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Scott H. Valor / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092