Energy

AB 2075 (Fong) – Support
As Amended March 29, 2012

AB 2075, by Assembly Member Paul Fong, passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee this week. As previously reported, this bill would repeal the authorization in existing law that allows a person proposing to construct a facility excluded from the commission’s jurisdiction to waive the exclusion by submitting to the commission a notice of intent to file an application for certification. This “grandfathering” language was placed into law originally, per California Energy Commission staff, to allow “pipeline” projects excluded by Sections 25501 and 25501.5 to “opt-in” to the Energy Commission’s licensing process. This authorization is no longer applicable to any facilities. CSAC along with RCRC and LCC support the repeal of this outdated language as doing so will help eliminate confusion relative to the jurisdiction of the California Energy Commission and the jurisdiction of local governments over energy facilities. This bill is currently on the Assembly Third Reading File. 

SB 1222 (Leno) – Oppose
As Amended May 1, 2012

SB 1222, by Senator Leno, will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 14th. As previously reported, this bill would cap the permit fee at $400 that local agencies are allowed to charge on rooftop solar installations. CSAC is attempting to work with the author to discuss several issues with the bill. However, we remain opposed to SB 1222. To view a copy of our letter, visit the CSAC website. 

Williamson Act

SB 618 Scoping Workshop

The Department of Conservation is hosting a Scoping Working to discuss the possible adoption of regulations needed to implement SB 618 (Chapters 596, 2011). As you recall, SB 618 allows owners of property subject to Williamson Act contracts to rescind their contracts immediately in order to enter into a “solar-use easement,” under which the property owner agrees to use the land for solar PV facilities for at least 10 or 20 years. Like a Williamson Act contract, a solar-use easement is automatically renewed annually. A solar-use easement can be terminated by nonrenewal; cancellation, which is subject to paying a fee; or entering into a new Williamson Act contract. The solar-use easement option is available only for land that has significantly reduced agricultural productivity as a result of soil conditions, topography, drainage, or other physical reasons. 

The Workshop will take place Friday, May 18th from 10:00am – 12:00pm at the California Natural Resources Agency Auditorium, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento. For more information, visit the Department of Conservation’s website. 

Solid Waste

AB 341 – 75% Recycling Workshop

CalRecycle will be hosting its first workshop concerning the development of the report to the Legislature required by AB 341 (Chesbro). The purpose of the report is to “provide strategies to achieve the state’s policy goal not less that 75 percent of solid waste generated be source reduced, recycled, or composted by the year 2020…” The workshop will take place in Sacramento on May 14, 2012 at the Cal EPA building, located at 1001 I Street. An additional workshop will be held in Diamond Bar on May 21, 2012. Cal Recycle’s initial ideas for achieving 75% are contained in their paper California’s New Goal: 75 Percent Recycling. For more information, visit the Cal Recycle website. 

Conversion Technology 

This week representative from the County Engineers (CEAC) Conversion Technology Working Group convened a delegation of stakeholders to conduct public education visits with several key agencies in Sacramento on the topic of Conversion Technology. The delegation was made up of representatives from Los Angeles County, Santa Barbara County, Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, the City of San Jose, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, University of California at Riverside, Energy Independence Now, and Rainbow Disposal/CRRC. The group met with Agency heads from the California Energy Commission, Natural Resources Agency, California Air Resources Board and the Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (Cal Recycle).

Solid waste conversion technologies are processes capable of converting residual solid waste into renewable energy, biofuels, and other useful products. Facilities operate successfully around the world in countries like Japan, Germany, Australia, and Israel. Projects are underway throughout the US, and several jurisdictions in California are considering these technologies as a way to reduce the amount of materials sent to landfills, reduce the jurisdiction’s carbon footprint, and produce renewable energy for local consumption. The topic is gaining momentum in Governor Brown’s administration and CEAC has established a group focused on the issue so that we can weigh in on the rulemaking process as it affects our respective jurisdictions. For more information about the group, or conversion technology, please contact Cara Martinson.