California Assembly Bill AB306 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 306AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 13, 2011 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 14, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 27, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gatto (Coauthors: Assembly Members  Atkins,  Blumenfield, Galgiani, Gordon, Nestande, Wagner, and Williams) FEBRUARY 9, 2011 An act to add and repeal Section 25325 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 306, as amended, Gatto. Energy: piezoelectric transducers: study. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), on a biennial basis beginning in 2003, to adopt an integrated energy policy report providing information on specified related to energy.  Existing law creates the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Program, to be administered by the Energy Commission, and requires the Energy Commission to expend the moneys in the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to implement that program.   Existing law establishes the Renewable Resources Trust Fund, a continuously appropriated fund appropriated to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, for the purposes of funding programs designed to foster   the development of new in-state renewable electricity generation technology facilities.  This bill would require the Energy Commission to conduct research on generating electricity using piezoelectric transducers under roadways or railways. The bill would require the Energy Commission to collaborate with the Department of Transportation to establish pilot projects that would employ piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology, if the Energy Commission determines that the technology has the potential to generate electricity with performance, reliability, and cost projections that are comparable to existing renewable or emerging renewable energy sources.  The bill would require the Department of Transportation to conduct research on the piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology prior to the establishment of a pilot project.  The bill would authorize the Energy Commission to expend the moneys in the  Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration   Renewable Resource Trust  Fund  or the Energy Resources Program Account  , upon appropriation by the Legislature, to implement this research. The Energy Commission would be required to report its findings in the integrated energy policy report adopted in 2013. These provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2015. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 25325 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 25325. (a) The commission shall conduct research on generating electricity using piezoelectric technology under  roadways and railways pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 25600).   roadways and railways. The commission shall award the research projects under this section through competitive   solicitations, interagency agreements, or agreements with other governmental entities.   (b) For purposes of conducting the research required by this section, the commission shall collaborate with the Department of Transportation to establish a pilot project or projects that would employ piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology if the commission finds, based on initial research, that the technology has the potential to generate electricity with performance, reliability, and cost projections that are comparable to existing renewable or emerging renewable energy sources. (c) The commission may expend the moneys in the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund established pursuant to Section 384 of the Public Utilities Code or the Energy Resources Program Account established pursuant to Section 25801, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to implement this section.   (b) (1) If the commission finds, based on initial research, that the piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology has the potential to generate electricity with the performance, reliability, and cost projections that are comparable to existing renewable and emerging renewable energy sources, then the commission shall collaborate with the Department of Transportation to establish a pilot project or projects that would employ piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology.   (2) Prior to establishing a pilot project pursuant to paragraph (1), the Department of Transportation shall conduct research on the piezoelectric-based energy-harvesting technology according to its usual research protocol.   (c) The commission may expend the moneys in the Renewable Resources Trust Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to implement this section.  (d) As a part of the integrated energy policy report that is adopted in 2013, the commission shall report the findings of the research performed pursuant to subdivision (a). (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2015, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2015, deletes or extends that date.