Solar

AB 2188 (Muratsuchi) – Oppose
As Amended July 1, 2014

AB 2188, by Assembly Member Muratsuchi, would create a special class of permit for rooftop solar. Specifically, this bill would require cities and counties to adopt an ordinance to create an expedited permitting for rooftop solar, even if the local jurisdiction has already created a streamlined process. The author accepted amendments in the previous Policy Committee that removed the time limitation on inspections and other problematic portions of the bill. However, AB 2188 still creates essentially an unfunded mandate as fees on solar are capped, and it is an arduous process to increase the cap to cover any additional actual costs. CSAC, along with our local government partners RCRC and the Urban Counties, continue to oppose this bill based on the premise that AB 2188 creates a bad precedent by placing rooftop solar in front of all other permit requests — legislating specific requirements for different types of local permits. This bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriate Committee next week. 

AB 2145 (Bradford) — Neutral
As Amended July 1, 2014

AB 2145, by Assembly Member Bradford, would make changes to the way in which communities can form a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. Recent amendments removed portions of the bill that CSAC strongly opposed, including the requirement that electricity customers opt-in (as opposed to opt-out of) a CCA program. CSAC has strong policy to support a local government’s choice to form a CCA and the previous version of this bill would have presented numerous challenges to that process. In light of recent amendments, CSAC has removed our opposition and are now neutral. The bill does limit a CCA to three contiguous counties after 2015. AB 2145 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee next week. 

Solid Waste

AB 1826 (Chesbro) — Support 
As Amended July 1, 2014

AB 1826, by Assembly Member Chesbro, would establish a commercial organics recycling program in California. CSAC has been working extensively with the author and other stakeholders over the last six months to develop language that will work for local governments. We are in the last stages of finalizing that language to develop a bill that works for industry, local governments and the State. Specifically, this bill would require large generators of organic waste to arrange for recycling services. This bill also requires local governments to develop an organics program, providing outreach and education to effected entities. This bill is expected to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee next week. 

Fire Safe Regulations

The final rule text for §1270 SRA Fire Safe Regulations are available for public comment. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Initial Statement of Reasons, and rule text are available to view on the Board of Forestry’s website. 

As you know, the Board is authorized under the Public Resources Code to adopt regulations for wildfire protection. The statute, among other things, requires minimum wildfire protection standards in conjunction with building, construction and development in State Responsibility Area (SRA). The regulations set standards for future design and construction of structures, subdivisions and developments in SRA and provide for basic emergency access and perimeter wildfire protection. These measures provide for emergency access; signage and building numbering; private water supply reserves for emergency fire use; and vegetation modification. This regulation makes several revisions to the existing regulations for the purpose of improving regulatory clarity and uniform implementation of wildfire protection standards association with residential subdivision development.

Written comments are due by Monday, August 25th. The Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 27, starting at 8:00a.m., at the Resources Building Auditorium, 1st Floor, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California.