Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 67
CHAPTER 78
Relative to an energy strategy.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 15, 1992.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 67, Polanco.
Energy strategy: natural gas: fuel cells.
This measure would urge the President and Congress to include, in pending legislation to establish a national energy strategy, provisions for an accelerated research, development, and demonstration program to improve natural gas and fuel cell technologies.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The United States Congress is currently considering legislation which would establish a comprehensive national energy strategy; and
WHEREAS, California and federal energy strategies already recognize and should continue to recognize the legitimate and important role that diverse fuels and energy alternatives will play in meeting California’s and the nation’s energy and environmental needs; and
WHEREAS, Fossil fuel combustion has been and is projected by the United States Department of Energy and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to continue to be a significant energy source for our economy during the next 20 years; and
WHEREAS, The California Legislature, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and other agencies are considering energy strategies which complement federal policy; and
WHEREAS, Efficient use of natural gas, as one strategy, particularly for new end-uses resulting from technological advances, will help improve air quality in California and the rest of the nation; and
WHEREAS, The nation will significantly benefit from increased research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) funding for natural gas end-use technologies for all of the following reasons:
(a)
To achieve federal Clean Air Act standards and further reduce the environmental impacts of using this cleaner domestic fossil fuel.
(b)
To improve the security of our energy supply and reduce our trade deficit by displacing imported oil from other nations with the efficient use of domestically produced natural gas.
(c)
To facilitate economic growth by enabling domestic industry to compete in the global market place more effectively by using lower priced energy sources; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President and the Congress of the United States to include, in the legislation to establish a national energy strategy, provisions for accelerated research, development, and demonstration on all of the following:
(a)
Improved, highly efficient natural gas combustion processes, low NOx burners, engines, and other solutions for stationary sources such as industrial sites and commercial and residential space conditioners and water heaters.
(b)
Dedicated natural gas vehicles that could contribute to the substantial reduction in mobile source emissions that will be required to comply with California fleet vehicle regulations and meet future federal Clean Air Act standards.
(c)
Second and third generation fuel cells which can use electrochemical energy conversion to potentially produce electricity with less than 1 percent of the atmospheric contamination of conventional fossil fuel-based electric generation; and be it further
Resolved, That, in order to make these least cost energy options available for industrial, commercial, and residential natural gas consumers through an accelerated RD&D program, the Legislature urges the President and the Congress of the United States to fund this program for $2.5 billion over 10 years, beginning with $189 million in federal fiscal year 1993; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges the President and the Congress to include in the national energy strategy legislation and subsequent appropriations, a commitment to increased RD&D funding to improve natural gas technologies which produce very few emissions; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.