What Does SB 350 Do?
SB 350 increases California's renewable electricity procurement goal from 33 percent by 2020 to 50 percent by 2030. This objective will increase the use of Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) eligible resources, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and others.
SB 350 also requires the state to double statewide energy efficiency savings in electricity and natural gas end uses by 2030. To help meet these goals and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, large utilities will be required to develop and submit integrated resource plans (IRPs). These plans detail how utilities will meet their customers’ resource needs, reduce GHG emissions, and ramp up the use of clean energy resources.
SB 350 also transforms the California Independent System Operator (ISO), a nonprofit public corporation, into a regional organization, contingent upon approval from the Legislature. The bill also authorizes utilities to undertake transportation electrification.
SB 350 also directs state agencies to undertake various studies to identify and assess:
- Barriers to, and opportunities for, solar photovoltaic energy generation.
- Barriers to, and opportunities for, access to other renewable energy by low-income customers.
- Barriers to contracting opportunities for local small businesses in disadvantaged communities.
- Barriers for low-income customers to energy efficiency and weatherization investments, including those in disadvantaged communities.
- Recommendations on how to increase access to energy efficiency and weatherization investments to low-income customers. The Energy Commission conducted theLow-Income Barriers Study, Part A - Adopted,which was adopted in 2016.
- Barriers for low-income customers to zero-emission and near-zero-emission transportation options, including those in disadvantaged communities.
- Recommendations on how to increase access to zero-emission and near-zero-emission transportation options to low-income customers, including those in disadvantaged communities. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) conducted the study in consultation with the Energy Commission. TheLow-Income Barriers Study, Part B: Overcoming Barriers to Clean Transportation Access for Low-Income Residents - Final Guidance Documentwas released in February 2018.
How Is SB350 Implemented?
The Energy Commission is working with state agencies, including theCalifornia Public Utilities Commission,andCARB, and theCalifornia ISO.The Energy Commission is also coordinating with affected utilities and electrical corporations subject to SB 350.
Moving forward, this coordination will include reviewing IRPs of the 16 largest publicly owned utilities starting in 2019. This review will help ensure the utilities reach the 50 percent RPS target by 2030 and meet their greenhouse gas emission reduction target while maintaining reasonable customer rates and reliable electric service.
The CPUC, along with the CARB and Energy Commission, will support transportation electrification by directing electrical corporations to file applications for programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification. The agencies will also review data regarding the current and future use of charging infrastructure before authorizing the collection of new program costs related to transportation electrification in customer rates.
