For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) "Car sharing" means a model of vehicle rental where users can
rent vehicles for short periods of time and users are members that
have been preapproved to drive.
(b) "Disadvantaged community" means a community identified by the
California Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 39711.
(c) "Near-zero-emission vehicle" means a vehicle that utilizes
zero-emission technologies, enables technologies that provide a
pathway to zero-emissions operations, or incorporates other
technologies that significantly reduce criteria pollutants, toxic air
contaminants, and greenhouse gas emissions, as defined by the state
board in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission consistent with meeting the state's mid-
and long-term air quality standards and climate goals.
(d) "Zero-emission vehicle" means a vehicle that produces no
emissions of criteria pollutants, toxic air contaminants, and
greenhouse gases when stationary or operating, as determined by the
state board.
(a) Any moneys utilized by this act from the Greenhouse
Gas Reduction Fund, established pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the
Government Code, shall be consistent with the appropriations
processes and criteria established by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Fund Investment Plan and Communities Revitalization Act (Chapter 4.1
(commencing with Section 39710) of Part 2).
(b) The Charge Ahead California Initiative is hereby established
and shall be administered by the state board. The goals of this
initiative are to place in service at least 1,000,000 zero-emission
and near-zero-emission vehicles by January 1, 2023, to establish a
self-sustaining California market for zero-emission and
near-zero-emission vehicles in which zero-emission and
near-zero-emission vehicles are a viable mainstream option for
individual vehicle purchasers, businesses, and public fleets, to
increase access for disadvantaged, low-income, and moderate-income
communities and consumers to zero-emission and near-zero-emission
vehicles, and to increase the placement of those vehicles in those
communities and with those consumers to enhance the air quality,
lower greenhouse gases, and promote overall benefits for those
communities and consumers.
(c) The state board, in consultation with the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, districts, and the
public, shall do all of the following:
(1) (A) Include, commencing with the Air Quality Improvement
Program funding plan for the 2016-17 fiscal year, a funding plan that
includes the immediate fiscal year and a forecast of estimated
funding needs for the subsequent two fiscal years commensurate with
meeting the goals of this chapter. Funding needs may be described as
a range that identifies the projected high and low funding levels
needed for the two-year forecast period to contribute to technology
advancement, market readiness, and consumer acceptance of zero- and
near-zero-emission vehicle technologies. The funding plan shall
include a market and technology assessment for each funded zero- and
near-zero-emission vehicle technology to inform the appropriate
funding level, incentive type, and incentive amount. The forecast
shall include an assessment of when a self-sustaining market is
expected and how existing incentives may be modified to recognize
expected changes in future market conditions.
(B) Projects included in the forecast may include, but are not
limited to, any of the following:
(i) The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, established pursuant to
Section 44274.
(ii) Light-duty zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicle
deployment projects eligible under the Alternative and Renewable Fuel
and Vehicle Technology Program, established pursuant to Article 2
(commencing with Section 44272) of Chapter 8.9.
(iii) Programs adopted pursuant to paragraph (4).
(2) Update the plan required pursuant to paragraph (1) at least
every three years through January 1, 2023.
(3) No later than June 30, 2015, adopt revisions to the criteria
and other requirements for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project,
established pursuant to Section 44274, to ensure the following:
(A) Rebate levels can be phased down in increments based on
cumulative sales levels as determined by the state board.
(B) Eligibility is limited based on income.
(C) Consideration of the conversion to prequalification and
point-of-sale rebates or other methods to increase participation
rates.
(4) (A) Establish programs that further increase access to and
direct benefits for disadvantaged, low-income, and moderate-income
communities and consumers from electric transportation, including,
but not limited to, any of the following:
(i) Financing mechanisms, including, but not limited to, a loan or
loan-loss reserve credit enhancement program to increase consumer
access to zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicle financing and
leasing options that can help lower expenditures on transportation
and prequalification or point-of-sale rebates or other methods to
increase participation rates among low- and moderate-income
consumers.
(ii) Car sharing programs that serve disadvantaged communities and
utilize zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicles.
(iii) Deployment of charging infrastructure in multiunit dwellings
in disadvantaged communities to remove barriers to zero-emission and
near-zero-emission vehicle adoption by those who do not live in
detached homes. This clause does not preclude the Public Utilities
Commission from acting within the scope of its jurisdiction.
(iv) Additional incentives for zero-emission, near-zero-emission,
or high-efficiency replacement vehicles or a mobility option
available to participants in the enhanced fleet modernization
program, established pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section
44125) of Chapter 5.
(B) Programs implemented pursuant to this paragraph shall provide
adequate outreach to disadvantaged, low-income, and moderate-income
communities and consumers, including partnering with community-based
organizations.
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
mean the following:
(1) "Local publicly owned electric utility" has the same meaning
as defined in Section 224.3 of the Public Utilities Code.
(2) "Retail seller" has the same meaning as set forth in Section
399.12 of the Public Utilities Code.
(3) "Transportation electrification" has the same meaning as set
forth in Section 237.5 of the Public Utilities Code.
(b) The state board shall identify and adopt appropriate policies,
rules, or regulations to remove regulatory disincentives preventing
retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities from
facilitating the achievement of greenhouse gas emission reductions in
other sectors through increased investments in transportation
electrification. Policies to be considered shall include, but are not
limited to, an allocation of greenhouse gas emissions allowances to
retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities, or other
regulatory mechanisms, to account for increased greenhouse gas
emissions in the electric sector from transportation electrification.