MINUTES
Legislative & Regulatory Committee
of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
Meeting videos are available on CPA's YouTube Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/@CPApublicmeetings
Committee Members participated in this meeting from the following locations:
Agoura Hills City Hall
Planning Conference Room
30001 Ladyface Court
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
CPA Office
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Carson City Hall
Executive Conference Room
701 East Carson Street
Carson, CA 90745
Manhattan Beach City Hall
City Manager Conference Room
1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
L.A. County Hall of Administration
Sybil Brand Conference Room, Room 372
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
City of West Hollywood
3rd Floor City Manager’s Conference Room
8300 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Committee Member Hicks, acting as Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and Gabriela Monzon, Board Clerk, conducted roll call.
Roll Call
Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Committee Chair Absent* Carson Cedric Hicks Committee Member Remote
Los Angeles
County Lindsey Horvath Committee Member Remote
Manhattan Beach Amy Howorth Committee Member Remote
West Hollywood Chelsea Byers
Alternate Committee
Member Remote
*Committee Chair Klein Lopez joined as a meeting participant but did not count for quorum.
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from May 24, 2023, Legislative & Regulatory Committee Meeting Clean Power Alliance Legislative & Regulatory Committee June 28, 2023 Minutes Page 2 of 3
Motion: Committee Member Howorth, Manhattan Beach
Second: Committee Member Horvath, Los Angeles County
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote.
REGULAR AGENDA
2. Recommend that the Board of Directors Approve Positions on Two Bills in the 2023/2024 Legislative Session Related to Changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Ms. Goodhill briefly discussed a budget deal that excluded legislation potentially harmful to local energy providers; thanked the Committee for their engagement in the matter. Ms. Goodhill noted that the proposed central procurement entity is likely to move forward in the legislative process; noted that it is important to ensure there are sufficient guardrails to avoid market disruption and that CCAs can still procure resources for their customers. Bills presented by staff for committee consideration aim to get transmission built faster.
a. SB 420 - Recommended Position: Support
SB 420 extends the permit exemptions by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for subtransmission projects. SB 420 allows all projects under 138 kilovolts to go through the typical CEQA application process without a CPUC permit. The bill has wide support and no opposition.
Committee Members asked about the difference between distribution and subtransmission, placement of subtransmission, and the impact of SB 420 on existing local municipal policies for utility undergrounding. Staff indicated that the differences are mainly in kilovolts, speed, and frequency of energy.
Subtransmission and distribution are often placed together in areas already developed. With regard to the impact on local policies, the bill makes no mention of undergrounding and staff will conduct further research. Committee Member Horvath emphasized that the bill should not impact local municipal decisions regarding undergrounding. Committee Member Hicks expressed concern with the placement of subtransmission in densely populated areas that may cause harm to residents. Ted Bardacke, CEO, explained that the negative impacts of installation would emerge during the CEQA process and the bill specifies that subtransmission projects still need to complete the CEQA process.
Motion: Committee Member Howorth, Manhattan Beach
Second: Committee Member Horvath, Los Angeles County
Vote: Item 2a was approved by a roll call vote.
b. AB 914 - Recommended Position: Support
AB 914 aims to establish a 2-year time limit for state agencies to complete the CEQA review and either approve or deny applications for electrical infrastructure projects. If the 2-year timeline is exceeded, the bill mandates that a state agency must submit a report to the legislature detailing the reasons for the delay.
Committee Member Howorth inquired about language in the bill that prevents purposeful delays. Ms. Goodhill clarified that the 2-year timeline starts when the state agency receives a completed application.
Clean Power Alliance Legislative & Regulatory Committee June 28, 2023 Minutes Page 3 of 3
Motion: Committee Member Horvath, Los Angeles County
Second: Committee Member Howorth, Manhattan Beach
Vote: Item 2b was approved by a roll call vote.
Committee Member Horvath asked several questions about Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) and their involvement in the centralized procurement entity. Ms.
Goodhill clarified that the Department of Water Resources is an ideal neutral candidate for the central procurement entity. Staff will recommend adequate guardrails regarding energy resources and time constraints. Staff explained that the decision makers over the matter are fluid, but the matter is currently with the Senate Energy Committee. Committee Member Horvath asked various questions about existing transmission infrastructure and ways to expedite development. Matt Langer, Chief Operating Officer, explained that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) governs all transmission infrastructure and requires equal access to existing infrastructure. The FERC established an order that introduced competition for certain transmission projects, but those projects are usually aimed at expanding access to transmission. The CAISO is also investing in transmission infrastructure. Committee Member Horvath noted that the Committee should act promptly on policies prioritizing the growth of transmission infrastructure.
3. Receive Presentation on Resource Adequacy Rulemaking CC Song, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, provided a presentation on the Resource Adequacy (RA) rulemaking. In May, the CPUC issued a proposed decision that requires CCAs to comply with both Year-Ahead and Month-Ahead RA requirements for two consecutive years to be eligible for expansion. The revised timeline states that CPA must be compliant with the 2024 Year-Ahead and all 2024 Month-Ahead RA requirements in order to submit an implementation plan in 2025. The CPUC’s rationale for limiting expansion is that it can result in a cost shift, and non-compliance with RA demonstrates a cost shift. CPA and Peninsula Clean Energy jointly submitted comments urging the CPUC to adopt the original proposal of disallowing expansion based on Month Ahead non-compliance. Ms.
Song discussed additional RA requirements proposed by the CPUC and outlined next steps. Mr. Bardacke added that once all 2024 Month Ahead and Year Ahead RA requirements are met, CPA can proceed with expansion.
Chair Klein Lopez inquired about the Committee’s leverage to achieve favorable results for CPA. Staff will continue to monitor the decision and the positions of other CCAs to determine how to move forward.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Committee Member Howorth thanked staff for explaining the legislative issues thoroughly.
ADJOURN
Acting Chair Hicks adjourned the meeting at 11:02 a.m.