Today's Law As Amended


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



As Amends the Law Today


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 LOAN Program
25850.
 This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation 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 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 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 applications for eligible electricity generating systems and establish procedures that ensure that the program is efficiently managed.
(2) Evaluate and select eligible electricity generating systems that, based on merit, will receive loans under the program.
25854.
 The program shall provide loans to public education facilities. A loan provided under the program shall benefit an eligible public education facility by directly and exclusively reducing the cost of an eligible 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 to provide loans to eligible public education facilities under their respective jurisdictions
based on the energy consumption at each public education facility.
25856.
 All eligible electricity generating system components shall be new and unused, , 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 under this chapter, if at all.
25859.
 There is hereby established in the State Treasury the Public Education Facilities Renewable Energy Generation 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 Loan Fund for purposes of Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 25850) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code.