(June 29, 2009) A California Chamber of Commerce-supported bill that would provide a pathway for new investment and job creation by allowing conversion at a biorefinery to count toward the state’s renewable portfolio goal will be considered by a Senate committee tomorrow.

The “job creator” bill, AB 222 (Adams; R-Hesperia), encourages new investment and job creation by allowing conversion of solid waste to energy at a biorefinery to count toward meeting the state mandate that 20 percent of energy come from renewable sources by 2010.

While California is aggressively working to meet its ambitious environmental and energy goals, a number of issues are arising that are causing delays in building the infrastructure and system the state needs.

For this reason, it is even more important that the state looks for ways to develop a basket of tools to meet its goals.

AB 222 provides such a path by allowing local governments to count the conversion at biorefineries toward recycling diversion goals. Expanding the use of California’s waste streams through conversion will increase investment in this key technology and would help lessen a number of environmental impacts associated with solid waste.

Key Vote

AB 222 passed the Assembly Floor on June 1 on a bipartisan vote of 54-13.

Ayes: Adams (R-Hesperia), Anderson (R-La Mesa), Arambula (D-Fresno), Bill Berryhill (R-Ceres), Tom Berryhill, (R-Modesto), Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo), Caballero (D-Salinas), Charles Calderon (D-Montebello), Conway (R-Visalia), Cook (R-Yucca Valley), Coto (D-San Jose), Davis (D-Los Angeles), De La Torre (D-South Gate), De Leon (D-Los Angeles), DeVore (R-Irvine), Duvall (R-Yorba Linda), Emmerson (R-Redlands), Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Fletcher (R-San Diego), Fuentes (D-Sylmar), Fuller (R-Bakersfield), Furutani (D-Long Beach), Gaines (R-Roseville), Galgiani (D-Stockton), Garrick (R-Solana Beach), Gilmore (R-Hanford), Hagman (R-Chino Hills), Hall (D-Compton), Harkey (R-Dana Point), Hernandez (D-La Puente), Huber (D-El Dorado Hills), Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore), Knight (R-Palmdale), Logue (R-Chico), Ma (D-San Francisco), Mendoza (D-Artesia), Miller (R-Corona), Nestande (R-Palm Desert), Niello (R-Fair Oaks), Nielsen (R-Gerber), V. Manuel Perez (D-Coachella), Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge), Price (D-Inglewood), Silva (R-Huntington Beach), Smyth (R-Santa Clarita), Solorio (D-Santa Ana), Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark), Torlakson (D-Antioch), Torres (D-Pomona), Torrico (D-Newark), Tran (R-Costa Mesa), Villines (R-Clovis), Yamada (D-Davis), Bass (D-Los Angeles).

Noes: Beall (D-San Jose), Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills), Brownley (D-Santa Monica), Buchanan (D-Alamo), Chesbro (D-Arcata), Feuer (D-Los Angeles), Hayashi (D-Castro Valley), Huffman (D-San Rafael), Jones (D-Sacramento), Ruskin (D-Redwood City), Saldana (D-San Diego), Skinner (D-Berkeley), Swanson (D-Oakland).

Absent, Abstaining, Not Voting: Ammiano (D-San Francisco), Block (D-San Diego), Carter (D-Rialto), Eng (D-Monterey Park), Fong (D-Sunnyvale), Hill (D-San Mateo), Krekorian (D-Burbank), Lieu (D-Torrance), Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), Monning (D-Monterey), Nava (D-Santa Barbara), John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles), Salas (D-Chula Vista).

Action Needed

AB 222 is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee on June 30. Contact your representative in the Assembly and urge support for AB 222.

Staff Contact: Amisha Patel