CA
CA AB 34: Should Large Hydroelectric Power Count Toward Utilities' Renewable Energy Goals?
AB 34 would change California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) program to allow local publicly owned electric utilities to count large hydroelectric generation as eligible renewable energy when meeting their state-mandated clean energy targets. Under current law, large hydroelectric facilities are generally excluded from RPS eligibility. This bill would create a pathway for publicly owned utilities specifically to include that power source in their renewable energy portfolios. The bill has passed the Assembly and is being prepared for final enrollment.
✓ REASONS TO SUPPORT
- Publicly owned utilities would have more flexibility in how they meet their clean energy requirements, potentially lowering costs for local ratepayers.
- Large hydroelectric plants produce electricity without burning fossil fuels, generating no direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
- Counting existing hydro assets could help smaller public utilities reach renewable energy targets more reliably, reducing the risk of compliance penalties.
- Expanding eligible energy sources may give communities more local control over how they achieve clean energy goals.
✕ REASONS TO OPPOSE
- Large hydroelectric dams can significantly disrupt river ecosystems, fish migration, and water flows, which is why they were originally excluded from the RPS.
- Allowing large hydro to count may reduce pressure on utilities to invest in newer renewable sources like solar or wind, slowing the growth of those industries.
- Critics argue that hydro output can vary greatly with drought conditions, making it a less dependable tool for meeting consistent renewable energy standards.
- Applying this change only to publicly owned utilities creates different rules for different types of utilities, which may be seen as inconsistent or unfair.
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