California Senate Bill SB1153 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: SB 1153AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 25, 2016 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 7, 2016 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 29, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Senator Cannella FEBRUARY 18, 2016 An act to add Section 38561.5 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1153, as amended, Cannella. Greenhouse gases: scoping plan: biomethane. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act requires the state board to prepare and approve a scoping plan for achieving the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to update the scoping plan at least once every 5 years. This bill would require the state board, as a part of the update to the scoping plan and in consultation with other state entities, to provide a comprehensive overview of state efforts to encourage the development of  instate   in-state  biomethane and renewable natural gas. 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. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) California has enacted numerous policies to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and increase the use of renewable energy resources and renewable fuels. (b) California has numerous programs to incentivize and encourage the development of biogas, biomethane, and renewable natural gas projects. (c) Despite a regulatory environment encouraging renewable energy production and greenhouse gases emissions reductions, the development of biomethane and other renewable natural gas projects continues to lag in the state. (d) Obstacles to increased biomethane and renewable natural gas projects should be identified and addressed. (e) Investments in dairy waste digesters, landfill diversion programs, and anaerobic digesting at wastewater treatment facilities provide significant reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases, including methane, for the state. (f) A coordinated effort by state agencies should be undertaken to address remaining obstacles and identify additional incentive programs, if needed, to encourage the increased development of  instate   in-state  biomethane and renewable natural gas projects. SEC. 2. Section 38561.5 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 38561.5. As a part of the update of the scoping plan required pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 38561, the state board, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, and any other relevant state entity, shall provide a comprehensive overview of state efforts to encourage the development of  instate   in-state  biomethane and renewable natural gas. The overview shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (a) The role of biomethane and renewable natural gas in the state' s efforts to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. (b) The estimated amount of  biomethane and  renewable natural gas that can  cost-effectively   feasibly  be developed from the state's organic waste streams, including the waste, agricultural, dairy, and forestry sectors. (c)  Estimated   The   estimated  cost-effectiveness of the  production of biomethane and renewable natural gas from the  various waste streams. (d)  Analysis   An analysis  of current market conditions for  biomethane and  renewable natural gas in California. (e)  Overview   An overview  of current programs to encourage development of biomethane and renewable natural gas. (f) Identification of obstacles to increased development of  instate   in-state  biomethane and renewable natural gas. (g) Identification of solutions for legislative consideration to address obstacles identified in subdivision (f) and encourage increased  instate   in-state  biomethane and renewable natural gas development, including, but not limited to, incentive programs and grants, preferential loan programs to enhance project financing, and market stabilization programs, such as contracts for differences, tax credits, and biomethane purchase programs.