A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 9 of, and by adding Section 10 to, Article XII thereof, relating to energy.

The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission with jurisdiction over all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. Existing statutory law establishes various programs to encourage the deployment of renewable energy and zero-carbon resources, as defined. One of these programs, the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, requires most retail sellers of electricity to procure a minimum quantity of their electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined. This measure would require that the state's programs relating to renewable energy and climate change include hydroelectric generation facilities as renewable electrical generation facilities, eligible renewable energy resources, and zero-carbon resources, and would require that those programs not differentiate between the electricity generated by hydroelectric facilities and the electricity generated by other renewable electrical generation facilities, eligible renewable energy resources, and zero-carbon resources. The measure would require that hydroelectric generation facilities be considered renewable electrical generation facilities, eligible renewable energy resources, and zero-carbon resources for licensing and certification purposes.