A SHAMEFUL YEAR OF BLOCKED CLEAN ENERGY LEGISLATION
Recently, the California Energy Commission (CEC) ruled that they will broaden their assessment of energy projects to include environmental and climate justice cost benefits. This is a monumental victory for the energy democracy and environmental justice movement. The basis of environmental justice is premised on taking the historical consequences of industrial pollution into account and then constructing public policy to address and reverse those consequences.
This positive change was carried over to the state capitol, where legislators introduced unprecedented energy democracy legislation advocating for greater transparency and reforming outdated and regressive energy laws.
However, the Monopoly Utilities and their legislative allies unleashed a fury of lobbyists to pressure, cajole, and, in some cases, attempt to isolate legislators and kill their bills.
Now that the 2024 legislative session has concluded, we are provided an update as to which bills the utilities were successful in stopping and the truth is in what looked to be a bellwether year for pro-green energy regulation, every substantive distributive energy bill was killed by the monopoly utilities lobbyist, their political allies, and many were vetoed by Governor Newsom.
However, we remain undeterred in our commitment to energy democracy and a clean, equitable, and affordable Energy transition for California’s working families.
Energy Democracy Bills CEEE Supported.
California rulemaking requires health and environment assessment in energy policy decisions
The California Energy Center must now assess costs and benefits related to health and environmental externalities of energy generation and transmission.
March 13, 2024
PRO-ENERGY DEMOCRACY BILLS KILLED BY THE MONOPOLY UTILITIES OR THEIR ALLIES
VETOED by Governor Newsom.
SB 1374 (Becker)
Restores the right of renters, farmers, and schools to make and consume their own solar energy, which the state took away last year.
Coalition in support of AB 1374
Opponents
DID NOT RECEIVE THE GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
SB 674 (Gonzalez)
Protects California frontline communities from harmful emissions from oil refineries
California bill (AB 1374) would undo rules making it hard for schools to go solar
State regulators slashed solar programs that school districts rely on to cut energy bills and finance sustainability projects. A new bill could fix that.
By Jeff St. John 21 May 2024
DID NOT RECEIVE THE GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
SB 1118 (Eggman)
This bill would reform the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program to allow for full eligibility for those on tribal lands. An anomaly in deed restriction rules currently blocks projects on tribal land from SOMAH eligibility.
AB 1999 (Irwin)
The bill would have stopped the big Utility Tax by capping it at $10/month and prohibiting it from rising faster than inflation. After amendments, the bill was forwarded.
In spite of having 22 legislative co-authors the bill failed to pass in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Thank you to Assemblymember Irwin for her intelligence and courage in standing up for the people against monopoly utility special interests.
AB 1999 was supported by more than 250 climate and environmental justice, renter's, and consumer's rights organizations.
Opposed by the Monopoly Utilities & their Special Interest Allies.
AB 2666 (Boerner-Horvath)
For many years, unchecked monopoly utility spending has caused record utility profits, while rates have soared more than 120% over the last ten years. All while the monopoly utilities have recorded profits. This bill makes the utilities accountable for our out-of-control control that hurts consumers.
Supported by climate justice and consumer advocates.
Opposed by the monopoly utilities.
May be heard in Special Session on Energy.
AB 2256 (Friedman)
Require the CPUC to include all the benefits of rooftop solar when deciding how much credit solar users get.
Coalition in support of AB 2256
Opponents IOU/IOU affiliated-trade organizations
Passed through committee, referred to appropriations.
Amended to NOT include non-energy/public health benefits.
AB 2083 (Berman)
This bill will ensure that California develops a plan to cut air and climate pollution from thousands of industrial facilities that have no clear strategy for transitioning to zero-emission.
Bill suspended and did NOT Move forward.
AB 2054 (Bauer-Kahan)
Another reform will that bans former CPUC commissioners from being employed by the companies they regulate for ten years after their term ends.
Coalition in support of AB 2054 & Opponents
Failed to move forward
SB 1422 (Allen)
This reform bill requires anyone who votes on energy policy to fully disclose junkets, such as legislators and CPUC commissioners.
Coalition in support of AB 1422
Killed in Committee Early
SB 284 (Weiner)
This reform bill specifies that a "public entity" includes an investor-owned utility and that a project contracted by an investor-owned utility is a "public works contract" for purposes of this requirement, thus making the IOU projects more efficient and open to competition among collective bargaining units.
Proponents and Opponents/ None recorded
Bill Dropped by Author
SB 938 (Min)
This reform bill would prohibit private utilities from lobbying with ratepayer funds.
The Braad Coalition in support of AB 938
Opposition IOUs, IOU Unions, Chamber of Commerce
Killed by leadership
