The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) , with jurisdiction over all public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing decisions of the PUC institute an Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) to fund renewable energy and research, development, and demonstration programs. Existing law creates in the State Treasury the Electric Program Investment Charge Fund to be administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and requires the PUC to forward to the Energy Commission, at least quarterly, moneys for those EPIC programs the PUC has determined should be administered by the Energy Commission for deposit in the fund. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, in administering moneys in the fund for research, development, and demonstration programs, to develop and implement the EPIC program for the purpose of awarding funds to projects that may lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome barriers that prevent the achievement of the state's statutory energy goals and that may result in a portfolio of projects that are strategically focused and sufficiently narrow to make advancement on the most significant technological challenges. Existing law, until January 1, 2023, requires the Energy Commission to expend certain percentages of the moneys appropriated from the fund for technology demonstration and deployment at sites that benefit certain communities. This bill would require the Energy Commission to consider, in the investment planning process for the EPIC program, funding for eligible biomass conversion to energy projects, as specified. The bill would require the commission, in determining the appropriate amount of EPIC funding for biomass conversion, to consider the recommendations of the State Air Resources Board and the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, and to coordinate with the Natural Resources Agency, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, and the Department of Food and Agriculture about the need for biomass conversion. The bill would also require the Energy Commission to consider opportunities to reduce short-lived climate pollutant emissions, generate carbon negative emissions, reduce wildfire impacts, and increase energy reliability.
Sponsored bills
This measure would proclaim November 3, 2021, as One Health Day, to celebrate and bring attention to the need for a One Health approach to address shared health threats at the human-animal-environmental interface.
This measure would designate the month of September 2021 as Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Awareness Month and Blood Cancer Awareness Month and the first week of September 2021 as Blood Donation Week.
This measure would declare August 2021 as Valley Fever Awareness Month.
This measure would designate a specified portion of Westside Parkway on State Route 58 in the County of Kern as the Harvey L. Hall Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the costs of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering those costs, erect those signs.
This measure would request that the Congress of the United States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency take all measures necessary to prevent further damage to California's citizens, wildlife, and natural resources by the dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane waste dumped in the waters near Santa Catalina Island.
This measure would proclaim May 2021 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Month in California in order to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and encourage local governments to take action.
This measure would declare the month of September 2021 as California Emergency Preparedness Month.
This measure would designate November 2021 as Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month and recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.
This measure would recognize August 15, 2021, as India's Independence Day, and urge all Californians to join in celebrating India's independence.