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AB-497 Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Loan Program.(2001-2002)

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Amended  IN  Assembly  April 16, 2001
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 23, 2001

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2001–2002 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 497

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Robert Pacheco
 (Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Bill Campbell, Cogdill, Cox, Havice, Koretz, Leslie, Rod Pacheco, Wyman)

February 21, 2001

An act to add Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 25850) to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy, and making an appropriation therefor.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 497, as amended, Robert Pacheco. Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Fund Loan Program.
Under existing law, education is provided in this state by, in addition to other entities, school districts, county offices of education, community college districts, the California State University, and the University of California.
This bill would establish the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Loan Program, the purpose of which would be to provide incentives so that eligible electricity generating systems will offset part or all of a public education facility’s own electrical energy demand through facilities utilizing emerging technologies, as defined.
The bill would require the offices of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the Chancellor of the California State University, and the President of the University of California to administer the program by allocating grants providing loans to public education facilities, as defined, to purchase, install, and operate eligible electricity generating systems. The program would benefit a public education facility by reducing the cost of an eligible system.
The bill would require the offices of the chancellors and the president to determine if a program provision limiting the amount of funds available for any single project is warranted, and to determine how federal, state, or other funds or incentives not related to this bill that are already available, or that may become available, for eligible electricity generating systems, may impact the availability of funds allocated under this bill, if at all.
The bill would establish the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Loan Fund in the State Treasury for purposes of the program. The bill would continuously appropriate all moneys deposited in the fund to the Director of Finance for allocation for the purposes of the bill.
The bill would transfer $200,000,000 from the General Fund to the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Loan Fund for purposes of the program.
Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 25850) is added to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
CHAPTER  9.5. Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant LOAN Program

25850.
 This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Loan Program.

25851.
 The definitions set forth in this section govern the construction of this chapter unless the context otherwise requires.
(a) “CCC chancellor” means the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
(b) “Commission” means the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.
(c) “CSU chancellor” means the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University.
(d) “Eligible electricity generating system” means any system utilizing emerging technologies as defined in subdivision (e).
(e) “Emerging technologies” means photovoltaic, solar thermal electric, fuel cell technologies that utilize renewable fuels, combined heat and power technologies, microturbines, and wind turbines, provided that the technologies meet the emerging technology eligibility criteria established by the commission.
(f) “President” means the Office of the President of the University of California.
(g) “Program” means the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Loan Program established pursuant to this chapter.
(h) “Public education facilities” means facilities for community colleges, the California State University, and the University of California.

25852.
 The purpose of the program is to provide incentives so that eligible electricity generating systems will offset part or all of a public education facility’s own electrical energy demand through facilities utilizing emerging technologies.

25853.
 (a) The CCC chancellor, the CSU chancellor, and the president shall administer this chapter by allocating grants providing loans to public education facilities to purchase, install, and operate eligible electricity generating systems.
(b) To ensure the efficient implementation and administration of the program, the CCC chancellor, the CSU chancellor, and the president shall do both of the following:
(1) Within 90 days of the date that the act that adds this chapter becomes operative, develop procedures for the solicitation of award applications for project funding and eligible electricity generating systems and establish procedures that ensure that the program is efficiently managed.
(2) Evaluate and select programs and projects eligible electricity generating systems that, based on merit, will be funded receive loans under the program.

25854.
 The program shall award grants provide loans to public education facilities. A grant awarded loan provided under the program shall benefit an eligible public education facility by directly and exclusively reducing the cost of an eligible system. A grant may electricity generating system. A loan may be used to defray all or a portion of the cost of a proposed system.

25855.
 Funds appropriated for the purposes of the program shall be allocated to the CCC chancellor, the CSU chancellor, and the president for disbursement to provide loans to eligible public education facilities under their respective jurisdictions in accordance with all of the following:

(a)Fifty percent of the appropriated funds shall be allocated to the CCC chancellor.

(b)Thirty percent of the appropriated funds shall be allocated to the CSU chancellor.

(c)Twenty percent of the appropriated funds shall be allocated to the president. based on the energy consumption at each public education facility.

25856.
 All eligible electricity generating system components shall be new and unused, and, shall not have been previously placed in service in any other location or for any other application.

25857.
 All eligible electricity generating systems and their fuel resource shall be located on the premises of the public education facility where the electricity is produced, including premises that are rented or leased by the institution of higher education. All eligible electricity generating systems shall be connected to the utility grid in California.

25858.
 The CCC chancellor, CSU chancellor, and the president shall determine if a program provision limiting the amount of funds available for any single project is warranted, and shall determine how federal, state, or other funds or incentives not related to this chapter that are already available, or that may become available, for eligible electricity generating systems, may impact the availability of funds allocated under this chapter, if at all.

25859.
 There is hereby established in the State Treasury the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Loan Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys deposited in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Director of Finance for allocation for the purposes of this chapter.

25860.
 (a) Limitations on the amount of loans and loan repayments shall be made in accordance with a schedule established by the Director of Finance.
(b) Principal and interest payments on loans under this chapter shall be returned to the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Loan Fund and shall be used to make additional loans pursuant to this chapter.

SEC. 2.

 The sum of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) is hereby transferred from the General Fund to the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation Grant Loan Fund for purposes of Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 25850) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code.