Renewable energy resources: hydroelectric generation.

Existing law establishes the California renewables portfolio standard program, which requires the Public Utilities Commission to implement annual procurement targets for the procurement of eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, 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 small hydroelectric generation facilities of 30 megawatts or less that meet specified criteria. This bill would revise the definition of an eligible renewable energy resource for the purposes of the California renewables portfolio standard program to include a hydroelectric generation facility of any size, as specified, and make conforming changes. These provisions would become operative 6 months after the date that a certain report is submitted by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to the Legislature.