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 to include a hydroelectric generation facility of any size, and remove other restrictions regarding which hydroelectric generation facilities meet the definition of an eligible renewable energy resource. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill would incorporate certain changes in Section 399.12 of the Public Utilities Code, proposed by SB 2 of the First Extraordinary Session, to be operative only if SB 2 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2012, and this bill is chaptered last.