BILL NUMBER: SB 440INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Vargas FEBRUARY 16, 2011 An act to add Section 25540.7 to the Public Resources Code, relating to public resources. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 440, as introduced, Vargas. Public resources: power facility and site certification: geothermal powerplants. The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act provides that the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission has the exclusive power to certify all powerplant sites and related facilities in the state. However, that act authorizes the commission, at the petition of a county that has adopted a geothermal element for its general plan, to approve an equivalent certification program that delegates to that county full authority for the certification of all geothermal powerplants and related facilities within that county. This bill would authorize a county, that has in effect an equivalent certification program approved by the commission, to site a geothermal powerplant of up to 100 megawatts under its program. 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. Section 25540.7 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 25540.7. Notwithstanding any contrary law, a county that has in effect an equivalent certification program approved by the commission pursuant to Section 25540.5 may site a geothermal powerplant of up to 100 megawatts and related facilities under its program.