Alternative fuels: infrastructure.

The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and requires the commission to prepare a biennial integrated energy policy report containing an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state, including supply, demand, pricing, reliability, efficiency, and impacts on public health and safety, the economy, resources, and the environment. The commission is required to make recommendations to improve the efficiency of transportation energy use, reduce dependence on petroleum fuels, decrease environmental impacts from transportation energy use, and contribute to reducing congestion, promoting economic development, and enhancing energy diversity and security. Existing law authorizes the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District and specified harbor and port districts, as defined, to jointly, with an electrical corporation, gas corporation, community choice aggregator established on or before July 1, 2013, or publicly owned electric or gas utility serving the district, to prepare one or more energy management plans to reduce air emissions and promote economic development through the addition of new businesses and the retention of existing businesses in the district. Existing law requires that if a district prepares an energy management plan pursuant to these provisions, that the plan include specified provisions. This bill would add a definition of "alternative fuel" and would provide that it is the policy of the state to help accelerate the adoption of vehicles using alternative fuels throughout the state by increasing the amount of charging and refueling options needed to facilitate electric, hydrogen, and natural gas vehicles traveling along all passenger and goods movement corridors on federal and state highways. The bill would require the commission to conduct an assessment and develop an integrated strategy to maximize the benefits and scope of an alternative refueling infrastructure, as defined, to help the state achieve its climate change, air quality, and economic goals and this newly stated policy. The bill would require the commission, as part of this assessment and strategy, to develop a refueling infrastructure plan that identifies specified matter and to provide the infrastructure plan to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2017.