Energy efficiency and pollution reduction.

(1) Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to compile and adopt an integrated energy policy report every 2 years and requires the report to include an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state. As part of the 2019 edition of the report, existing law requires the Energy Commission to evaluate the actual energy efficiency savings from negative therm interactive effects generated as a result of electricity efficiency improvements. This bill would additionally require the Energy Commission to include that evaluation in each integrated energy policy report adopted after 2019. (2) Existing law defines "eligible renewable energy resource" for the purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard. Existing law provides that a facility engaged in the combustion of municipal solid waste shall not be considered as an eligible renewable energy resource. Existing law also provides that electricity generated by a facility engaged in the combustion of municipal solid waste shall not result in the creation of a renewable energy credit. However, these provisions do not apply, under specified circumstances, to a facility located in Stanislaus County. This bill would modify the exception for the facility located in Stanislaus County, as specified. (3) Existing law requires each local publicly owned electric utility to adopt and implement a renewable energy resources procurement plan that requires the utility to procure a minimum quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources, with various required percentages applicable over time, as specified. Existing law provides various exemptions from minimum renewable energy resources procurement requirements for certain local publicly owned electric utilities relying on hydroelectric generation. This bill would modify certain exemptions from the minimum renewable energy resources procurement requirements relating to hydroelectric generation, as specified. (4) Existing law requires each local publicly owned electric utility to post notice whenever its governing body will deliberate in public on its renewable energy resources procurement plan, and requires the utility to also notify and provide certain information to the Energy Commission in that regard. This bill would delete this requirement for a local publicly owned electric utility to notify and report to the Energy Commission. (5) Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Commission to review specified programs overseen by the Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Commission and make recommendations to advance state clean energy and pollution reduction objectives and provide benefits to disadvantaged communities. This bill would additionally require the Energy Commission to review programs of the same type overseen by academia and the private and nonprofit sectors. (6) Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to identify a diverse and balanced portfolio of resources needed to ensure a reliable electricity supply that provides optimal integration of renewable energy in a cost-effective manner, and specifies the respective roles of electrical corporations and community choice aggregators in satisfying the portfolio needs for renewable integration. Existing law provides that all costs resulting from nonperformance shall be borne by the electrical corporation or community choice aggregator responsible for them. This bill would require the commission to ensure that all costs resulting from nonperformance to satisfy the need for renewable integration shall be borne by the electrical corporation or community choice aggregator that failed to perform. (7) This bill would make various other changes to provisions relating to energy efficiency and pollution reduction.