Solar Permits

AB 2188 (Muratsuchi) – As Proposed to be Amended

AB 2188, by Assembly Member Al Muratsuchi, would require cities and counties to expedite permitting for rooftop solar of up to 10kW. Specifically, the proposed amendments to the bill would require cities and counties to adopt an ordinance to create an expedited permitting process for rooftop solar that would include a checklist of all requirements in which small rooftop solar energy systems must comply. All applications that meet the requirements in the checklist shall be permitted within 24-hours of application submittal without plan check or other discretionary review in an “over-the-counter” manner. In addition, the proposal would require jurisdictions to complete an inspection within two days of the request. The language does limit the rooftop solar systems to those that are under 10kW, and conform to state fire, structural, electrical and other building codes. 

CSAC, along with RCRC and UCC, is opposing this bill. AB 2188 would create an unfunded mandate and jeopardize city and county building department’s ability to thoroughly review plans to ensure that they do not pose a safety risk to permittees. AB 2188 will be heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee on April 23, 2014. Amendments to the bill should be print early next week. 

Stormwater

SB 985 (Pavley) – Request for Comments
As Amended April 9, 2014

SB 985, by Senator Fran Pavley, would make changes to Stormwater Resource Plans (SRP). SRPs are voluntary plans used to identify, among other things, opportunities to augment local water supply through groundwater recharge or storage for beneficial reuse of stormwater. This bill would require plans to also identify and prioritize stormwater and dry weather runoff capture projects for implementation in a quantative manner, using a metrics-based and integrated evaluation and analysis of multiple benefits to maximize water supply, water quality, flood management, environmental, and other community benefits within the watershed. According to the author, the bill builds on her prior legislation, SB 790 from 2009, by more finely focusing the Stormwater Resources Act on the capture and use of stormwater and dry weather runoff. Stormwater resource plans remain voluntary. The bill now makes clear that the entity creating the plan is responsible for developing the necessary elements, including identifying public lands for potential projects and the development and use of appropriate analytics

This bill will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 22, 2014. 

SB 1168 (Pavley) – Pending
As Amended April 10, 2014

SB 1168, by Senator Fran Pavley, would outline a framework for sustainable groundwater management that was developed by the California Water Foundation. The bill is currently in outline form and states the intent of the Legislature to ensure that all groundwater basins and sub basins shall be managed sustainably by local entities pursuant to an adopted sustainable groundwater management plan. Additional details and more specific language will be included following the first hearing. SB 1168 will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 22, 2014. 

Cap and Trade

Senate Cap and Trade Proposal

On Monday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg unveiled a new proposal for the investment of Cap and Trade revenues. Unlike his last carbon tax proposal, this plan is more in line with the investment plan we saw come out of the Governor’s budget in January with shifts in funding amounts and categories. The plan does include an increase in funding to the sustainable communities category, which would go to support investments in affordable housing, transit-oriented development, land use planning, active transportation and transportation efficiency and demand management projects. CSAC has been advocating with the Transportation Coalition for Livable Communities (TCLC) to increase this funding category, with allocation of funds to flow to the regions for a competitive grant process. Thus, we are pleased to see an increase in funding levels associated with sustainable communities. In addition, we are discussing ways to increase funding to local governments for projects within the energy and resources sector. While the Pro Tem’s proposal doesn’t include a specific local government funding category, we are continuing to work with the Senator on this issue. 

CSAC expressed support for this proposal, with the caveat that more work needs to be done to ensure that the plan contains the right mix of funding opportunities that includes local governments in a meaningful way. We will continue to advocate for a program specific to local governments within the resources/energy sector. Read the full Cap and Trade Proposal from Senator Steinberg. See AB 1970 information below. 

AB 1970 (Gordon) – Support
As Amended April 10, 2014

AB 1970, by Assembly Member Rich Gordon, would create the Community Investment and Innovation Program which will provide cap and trade funding, upon appropriation of the Legislature to local governments in the form of competitive grants and other financial assistance to develop and implement greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction projects. CSAC along with our local government partners are supporting Assembly Member Gordon in his efforts to develop a funding category for local GHG projects. This bill is substantially similar to last year’s AB 416. AB 1970 builds off the current, but expiring, local planning grants administered by the Strategic Growth Council (SGS). SGC used funds from Proposition 84 to award competitive grants to local governments for planning activities associated with reducing GHGs, such as climate action plans. AB 1970 would create the next, natural phase of these grants intended to fund GHG project implementation at the local level. CSAC is organizing a coalition of supporters for AB 1970. If you would like more information, or if you would like to participate in our advocacy efforts, please contact Cara Martinson. This bill will be heard on April 23d in the Assembly Local Government Policy Committee.

State Environmental Goals and Policy Report

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is holding final public workshops on the Environmental Goals and Policy Report (EGPR). OPR is required to prepare the EGPR every four years. The EGPR should take a 20-30 year look into the future, summarize the state’s environmental goals, and identify the programs and policies in place to meet them. 
The current discussion draft of the EGPR looks at the state’s future with a population of 50 million people, a milestone the state is expected to hit by the middle of the century. The state’s future is considered in the context of a changing climate. The report lays out a vision of the state’s future and identifies five cross-cutting goals that are critical for achieving that vision: 

• Decarbonizing the state’s energy and transportation systems
• Conserving and stewarding the state’s natural resources
• Building climate resilience into all policies and investments
• Supporting sustainable regions and communities
• Improving cross-agency coordination and data availability

Workshop dates have been set for the following locations:

Chico: Tuesday, April 22
Bakersfield: Wednesday, April 23
Fresno: Thursday, April 24
Modesto: Friday, April 25
Los Angeles: Tuesday, April 29
Sacramento: Monday, May 5

For details on locations and times, please click here.