California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program: hydroelectric generation.

Assembly Member Tangipa's proposal to expand California's Renewables Portfolio Standard Program would allow all hydroelectric generating facilities to qualify as eligible renewable energy resources, removing the current 30-megawatt capacity limit. The legislation modifies the state's renewable energy procurement framework by revising eligibility criteria while maintaining existing procurement targets for utilities.

The bill requires the Energy Commission to certify hydroelectric facilities of any size that meet renewable energy resource criteria and implement an accounting system to verify compliance. This system would track renewable energy credits, prevent double-counting across states, and validate generation data through independent audits. Local publicly owned utilities must continue meeting established procurement targets - reaching 60% renewable energy by 2030 - but could now count larger hydroelectric projects toward these requirements.

Under the modified program, the Energy Commission retains authority to enforce compliance through a public process that includes issuing violation notices to utilities and referring cases to the State Air Resources Board for penalties. Any collected penalties would fund air pollution and greenhouse gas reduction efforts within the non-compliant utility's service area. The legislation preserves utilities' discretion over their renewable resource mix and reasonable costs while expanding procurement options to include hydroelectric facilities regardless of size.