MINUTES
Legislative & Regulatory Committee
of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, August 28, 2024, 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
Clean Power Alliance
Executive Conference Room
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
Los Angeles 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
Chair Deborah Klein Lopez called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and Gabby Monzon, Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
Roll Call
Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Committee Member Absent Carson Cedric Hicks Committee Chair Remote
Los Angeles
County Rita Kampalath Committee Member Remote
Manhattan Beach Amy Howorth Committee Member Remote
West Hollywood Chelsea Byers
Alternate Committee
Member Remote
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from the March 27, 2024, Legislative & Regulatory Committee Meeting
Motion: Committee Member Byers, West Hollywood
Second: Committee Member Howorth, Manhattan Beach
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote.
REGULAR AGENDA
2. Oral Report on the End of the 2024 California Legislative Session Gina Goodhill, Sr. Director, Government Affairs reported on the end of the 2024 California Legislative session, noted that a significant energy affordability package did not materialize yet. In response to Committee Member Howorth’s question, staff clarified that although there were challenges in passing this type of policy in the legislative amendment process, going through the regular policy process can be beneficial for this type of complex legislative bill.
3. Receive Presentation on Proposition 4 – the Safe Drinking Water, Wildlife Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 and Provide Direction
Ms. Goodhill explained that the proposition would authorize $10 billion for a variety of environmental measures, many of which align with CPA’s policy platform.
Because the proposition has long-term impacts on the state’s general fund and establishes legal requirements for public agencies, staff decided to provide the Committee with an opportunity to discuss the proposition in advance of bringing it to the full Board for a vote. Ms. Goodhill noted that a position would put CPA on the record supporting a proposition that allocates funds towards environmental and energy issues but would not allow CPA to advocate for its passage. The proposition addresses affordability, as some of the electricity infrastructure costs could be paid for with the bond rather than placing costs on customer bills. The Committee directed staff to recommend a Support position to the Board of Directors on Proposition 4.
4. Receive Presentation on the South Coast Air Quality Management District Proposed Amended Rules and Provide Direction
Ms. Goodhill, Sr. Director Government Affairs, presented a new regulation being proposed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District that would ban sales of new gas furnaces and gas water heaters upon replacement. Joanne O’Neill, Director of Customer Programs, added that if the regulation is adopted, CPA should prepare to learn how to better assist customers in the implementation phase. AQMD plans to offer a rebate program to support customers with electric appliances. By 2027 and 2028, all residential water and space heating replacements, respectively, must be electric. CPA may engage in several ways regarding this proposed regulation and staff seek feedback on from the committee on the type of engagement CPA staff should engage in in.
Regarding Chair Hicks’ questions about the impact on the low to moderate income communities, Ms. O’Neill explained that there are ways to structure AQMD’s suggested rebate program and a focus would be on coordinating with community organizations that work with those populations. Regarding infrastructure, Ms.
Goodhill noted that CPA is supporting legislation that is focused on reliability, in addition to taking advantage of upgrading current infrastructure, while also building new infrastructure, and regionalization as a long-term option to increase reliability.
Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer, replied to Chair Hicks’ comments about community outreach and engagement, noting that CPA can provide input on the implementation timeline to emphasize outreach strategies for target populations.
In response to Committee Member comments, Ms. O’Neill announced that there is a new CPA energy team service that will help both residential and small business customers navigate the electrification, incentive, and contractor process, etc.
Committee Member Kampalath noted that focusing on how to assist low-income communities in this transition is best done by figuring out how best to include them, not simply delaying or excluding them from the regulations. The Committee agreed that CPA should engage in the rulemaking process, focusing on how this would impact low-income populations, providing input on incentive design, community engagement, and funding for outreach during and after implementation of the regulation.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
ADJOURN
Chair Hicks adjourned the meeting at 10:46 am.