BILL NUMBER: SB 16INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Rubio DECEMBER 6, 2010 An act relating to energy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 16, as introduced, Rubio. Energy: renewable energy and transmission projects: expedited permitting. Existing law requires energy and transmission projects to obtain specified certification or permits or both certification and permits from various state and local agencies. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a new program to ease and expedite the state permitting process for renewable energy and transmission projects within the state. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a new program to ease and expedite the state permitting process for renewable energy projects and transmission projects within the state. (b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that this new program require appropriate state agencies to establish one program under which qualified renewable energy and transmission projects would have expedited, coordinated, and knowledgeable processing of all necessary state permits, and would have a defined timeframe within which all permits would be issued after all documents required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) have been certified.