Bill Text: CA AB3163 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Energy: biomethane: procurement.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2020-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 358, Statutes of 2020. [AB3163 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB3163-Chaptered.html

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Assembly Bill No. 3163

CHAPTER 358

An act to amend Section 650 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy.

[ Approved by Governor  September 30, 2020. Filed with Secretary of State  September 30, 2020. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 3163, Salas. Energy: biomethane: procurement.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law requires the commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, to consider adopting specific biomethane procurement targets or goals for each gas corporation so that each gas corporation procures a proportionate share, as determined by the commission, of biomethane annually, as specified. Existing law defines “biomethane” for that purpose as biogas that meets specified standards adopted by the commission for injection into a common carrier pipeline.

This bill would instead define “biomethane” for that purpose as methane produced from an organic waste feedstock, rather than biogas, that meets those specified standards and is either produced from the anaerobic decomposition of organic material or produced from the noncombustion thermal conversion of specified materials.

Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.

Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 650 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

650.

 For purposes of this article, “biomethane” means methane produced from an organic waste feedstock that meets the standards adopted pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 25421 of the Health and Safety Code for injection into a common carrier pipeline and that meets either of the following requirements:

(a) The methane is produced from the anaerobic decomposition of organic material, including codigestion.

(b) The methane is produced from the noncombustion thermal conversion of any of the following materials, when separated from other waste:

(1) Agricultural crop residues.

(2) Bark, lawn, yard, and garden clippings.

(3) Leaves, silvicultural residue, and tree and brush prunings.

(4) Wood, wood chips, and wood waste.

(5) Nonrecyclable pulp or nonrecyclable paper materials.

(6) Livestock waste.

(7) Municipal sewage sludge or biosolids.

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.