BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1298
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1298 (Bowen)
As Amended August 25, 2000
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :Vote not relevant
NATURAL RESOURCES 11-0 UTILITIES AND COMMERCE 7-0
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|Ayes:|Wayne, Aanestad, |Ayes:|Wright, Pescetti, |
| |Dickerson, Jackson, | |Calderon, Briggs, Cox, |
| |Keeley, Lowenthal, | |Maddox, Mazzoni |
| |Machado, Migden, Oller, | | |
| |Robert Pacheco, Steinberg | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 21-0
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|Ayes:|Migden, Campbell, | | |
| |Ackerman, Alquist, | | |
| |Aroner, Ashburn, Brewer, | | |
| |Cedillo, Corbett, Davis, | | |
| |Kuehl, Maldonado, Papan, | | |
| |Romero, Runner, Shelley, | | |
| |Thomson, Wesson, Wiggins, | | |
| |Wright, Zettel | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : 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. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires ARB, on or before January 1, 2003, to adopt a
certification program and uniform emissions standards for
electrical generation technologies that are exempt from
district permitting requirements.
2)Requires the emissions standards for the above-exempted
electrical generation technologies to reflect the best
performance achieved in practice by existing electrical
SB 1298
Page 2
generation technologies.
3)Requires, commencing on January 1, 2003, all electrical
generation technologies to be certified by the state board or
permitted by an air district prior to use or operation in the
state.
4)Prohibits an air district from authorizing the siting or
operation of any electrical generation technology for which
state emission standards exist unless that technology complies
with the applicable standards.
5)Authorizes an air district to establish emissions standards
regarding distributed generation technology more stringent
than those established by ARB.
6)Authorizes ARB to establish a fee schedule to be assessed
against persons seeking certification as a distributed
generator.
7)Requires ARB, on or before January 1, 2003, to issue guidance
to air districts on the permitting or certification of
electrical generation technologies under the air districts'
regulatory jurisdiction. The guidance shall address best
available control technology determinations for electrical
generation technologies and, by the earliest practicable date,
make those equivalent to the level determined by ARB to be the
best available control technology for permitted central
station powerplants in California. The guidance shall also
address permit streamlining and the potential for
precertification of one or more types of electrical generation
technologies.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Appropriations Committee
analysis, there will be moderate costs, about $300,000 primarily
in fiscal year (FY) 2001-2002, to ARB to adopt regulations for
the emission standards and the certification program. These
costs would eventually be reimbursed by revenue generated from
fees ARB is authorized to impose on distributed generators
certification once the program is put in place. There will also
be moderate costs, about $500,000 annually starting in FY
2002-2003, to ARB to administer the certification program.
These costs are also potentially covered by fee revenue. (Air
Pollution Control Fund.)
SB 1298
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COMMENTS : "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
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.
Analysis Prepared by : Scott H. Valor / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0006380