Renewable energy resources: hydroelectric generation facilities.

The existing California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (RPS program) requires the Public Utilities Commission to implement annual procurement targets for the procurement of eligible renewable energy resources for all retail sellers, as defined, to achieve the targets and goals of the program. The existing definition of an eligible renewable energy resource includes certain small hydroelectric generation facilities, conduit hydroelectric facilities, and the incremental increase in electrical generation resulting from efficiency improvements (repowering) of existing larger hydroelectric facilities, subject to the condition that a new small or conduit hydroelectric facility or repowered facility not result in an adverse impact on instream beneficial uses or cause a change in the volume or timing of streamflow. This bill would provide that the new small or conduit hydroelectric facility or repowered facility that is an eligible renewable energy resource as of January 1, 2010, shall not lose eligibility if it causes a change in the volume or timing of streamflow, if those changes are required by license conditions approved, pursuant to the Federal Power Act, on or after January 1, 2010. An additional requirement for eligibility for the incremental increase in electrical generation resulting from repowering of an existing larger hydroelectric facility is that the facility has been certified within the immediately preceding 15 years by the State Water Resources Control Board pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act or by a California regional water quality control board to which the state board has delegated authority. This bill would adopt an alternative to that requirement for the Rock Creek Powerhouse hydroelectric generation facility. The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.