As our political and economic landscape is constantly changing, only by keeping abreast of current Federal and State legislation will we be able to help those most in need. By continually advocating for the low-income community, we can help affect change. These changes come in the form of legislative bills, ballot initiatives, and amendments. As we watch the progress and implementation of agendas and movements of decision-makers, we have the power to educate our elected officials on issues that effect our low-income communities, creating a successful outcome for all.
CALIFORNIA
Cash for Appliances
California has been allocated $35.2 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to participate in the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP). The California Energy Commission is administering the SEEARP and is providing rebates to consumers for purchasing qualified home appliances during the rebate period.
Three residential appliance categories were selected to be eligible to receive rebates: clothes washers (rebate $100), refrigerators (rebate $200), and room/window air conditioners (rebate $50). These rebates are in addition to existing rebates offered by California's utilities or appliance manufacturers.
To qualify, the appliances must be ENERGY STAR-listed, meet CEE tier standards, and certified to the Energy Commission as meeting all state and federal appliance efficiency standards.
The rebate program will:
- Save energy by replacing inefficient appliances with more efficient ones.
- Make rebates for efficient appliances available to residential consumers.
- Leverage the ARRA funds with existing rebate programs and partnerships.
- Keep administrative costs low while meeting the federal monitoring and evaluation requirements.
- Provide state and national rebate tracking and accountability.
- Use current ENERGY STAR® consumer education and outreach materials.
The California Solar Initiative (CSI)
Single Family Low Income Program
On November 17th, 2007, the CPUC adopted the innovative $108 million CSI Single Family Low Income Incentive Program. GRID Alternatives, a non-profit solar organization, manages the Single Family Low Income Program on the Commission's behalf. The CSI Single Family Low Income Program provides fully subsidized 1 kW systems to very low income households, and highly subsidized systems to other low income households.
To qualify for a fully subsidized 1 kW system, homeowners must meet the legal definition of "low-income residential housing" in Public Utilities Code 2852 (see the text of Assembly Bill 2723, which established this definition, above). Eligibility is limited to those households who financed their home through local, state and federal housing assistance programs and whose household income is at or below the 50 percent of the area median income.
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Eligibility for a highly subsidized solar system is determined by housing stock eligibility (P.U. Code 2852 as amended by AB 2723, above), Federal Income Tax liability, and eligibility for the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) Program. Lump-sum incentives will be provided at the following per-watt rates:
Incentive Rates for Highly Subsidized Systems
(shown in $ per watt)
Federal Income Tax Liability CARE Eligible Not CARE Eligible
| $0 |
$7.00 |
$5.75 |
| $1-$1,000 |
$6.50 |
$5.25 |
| $1,001-$2,000 |
$6.00 |
$4.75 |
Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH)
Solar Incentives for Multifamily Affordable Housing Properties are now available!
The Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program provides solar incentives on qualifying affordable housing multifamily dwellings. The MASH program provides two types of incentives-Track 1 incentives and Track 2 incentives. Track 1 incentives provide fixed, up front capacity-based incentives for solar PV systems that offset common area and tenant loads. The MASH Track 1 incentive rate structure is as follows:
MASH Track 1 Incentive Rates
(shown in $ per watt)
Track 1A:
PV System Offsetting
Common Area Load |
Track 1B:
PV System Offsetting
Tenant Load |
| $3.30 |
$4.00 |
Track 2 offers higher incentives to applicants who provide quantifiable "direct tenant benefits" (i.e. any operating costs savings from solar that are shared with their tenants). Track 2 incentives will be accepted every six months through a competitive process. The MASH Program Administrators are currently developing a statewide application and review process for Track 2 incentives.
Also coming soon: Virtual Net Energy Metering, a new electric tariff which will allow MASH program participants to apply the credits from a single solar system to multiple accounts at an eligible low income building.
AB 32: THE GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT OF 2006
AB 32, which passed in 2006 effects us all, and is far from over. The triumphant success of having California pass a progressive environmental bill will only remain a success if the efforts are not lost in the follow-through. Our low-income communities especially are hit the hardest with the consistent and volatile changes of energy rates, from residential to commercial, changing our energy bills to the price of milk in the grocery store, all of these variables are effected by climate change. Read on below to see the climate impacts global warming is causing, the intentions of AB 32, the time line we as Californians have to achieve it, and what you can do to help:
Climate Impacts
• 75% loss in snow pack
• 1-2 foot sea level rise
• 70 more extreme heat days/ year
• 80% more ‘likely ozone’ days
• 55% more large forest fires
• Continued drought conditions
The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
AB 32 established the first economy-wide climate change regulatory program in the United States
California’s leadership will help set direction for a national program
AB 32 sets GHG emissions limit for 2020 at 1990 level
Acknowledges that 2020 is not the endpoint
Points way toward 80% reduction by 2050
ARB adopted a Scoping Plan in December 2008
Plan provides a framework for achieving AB 32’s GHG emissions reduction target
Combination of market mechanisms, other regulations, voluntary measures, and fees
Cap on 85 percent of emissions
Complementary measures:
• Energy efficiency
• Renewable energy
• Targets for transportation emissions (SB 375)
• Existing laws and policies (e.g. Pavley, LCFS)
• Targeted fees
AB 32 Timeline
By Jan 1, 2009 - ARB adopts plan indicating how emission reductions will be achieved from significant sources of GHGs via regulations, market mechanisms and other actions.
During 2009 - ARB staff drafts rule language to implement its plan and holds a series of public workshop on each measure (including market mechanisms).
By Jan 1, 2010 - Early action measures take effect.
During 2010 - ARB conducts series of rulemakings, after workshops and public hearings, to adopt GHG regulations including rules governing market mechanisms.
By Jan 1, 2011 - ARB completes major rulemakings for reducing GHGs including market mechanisms. ARB may revise the rules and adopt new ones after 1/1/2011 in furtherance of the 2020 cap.
By Jan 1, 2012 - GHG rules and market mechanisms adopted by ARB take effect and are legally enforceable.
December 31, 2020 - Deadline for achieving 2020 GHG emissions cap.
Helpful Equivalents
1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (1MMTCO2e)
• 1.5 million less efficient refrigerators
• 13 million bulbs with CFLs for one year
• 200,000 cars not driven for one year
• 193,000 CA homes electricity use for one year
• 556,000 tons being recycled
• 500 Empire State Buildings
• 200,000 hot air balloons
Green Technology and Workforce Development
The this climate bill helps multiple sectors of our economy, it is a major economic driver in our current recession state. To ensure the outcome of this bill will mandate Federal, state, local government funds, obtain Venture capital for job growth, and further establish, with AB 3018 – Green Collar Jobs Council. The efforts to see the intentions of AB 32 through seek an Integrated approach – K- 12 curriculum, High Schools, Community colleges, CSU, UC, Unions, Trades, Private, EDD, LWIB, BTH, economic development corps., chambers. Only through the united cooperation and coordinated efforts of all participants will AB 32 be successful.
Health Reform
How Health Insurance Reform Will Expand and Strengthen coverage
http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/timeline
IMMEDIATE CHANGES Active Now!
1) Small Business Tax Credits
Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning calendar year 2010.
2) No Discrimination Against Children with Pre-Existing Conditions
Prohibits new health plans in all markets plus grandfathered group health plans from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Effective 6 months after enactment.
3) Help for Uninsured American with Pre-Existing Conditions until Exchange is Available (Interim High-Risk Pool)
Provides access to affordable insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool. Effective in 2010.
4) Ends Rescissions
Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Effective 6 months after enactment.
5) Begins to Close the Medicare Part D Donut Hole
Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. Effective for calendar year 2010.
7) Extends Coverage for Young People up to 26th Birthday through Parents' Insurance
Requires new health plans and certain grandfathered plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice. Effective 6 months after enactment.
8) Help for Early Retirees
Creates a temporary re-insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees for health benefits for retirees age 55-64. Effective in 2010.
9) Bans Lifetime Limits on Coverage
Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage. Effective 6 months after enactment.
10) Bans Restrictive Annual Limits on Coverage
Tightly restricts the use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care in all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.
11) Free Preventive Care under New Private Plans
Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co-payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles. Effective 6 months after enactment.
12) New, Independent Appeals Process
Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan. Effective 6 months after enactment.
16) Prohibits Discrimination Based on Salary
Prohibits new group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees. Effective 6 months after enactment.
17) Health Insurance Consumer Information
Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
CHANGES EFFECTIVE 2011 & 2014
1) Small Business Tax Credits(Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.)
2) No Discrimination Against Children with Pre-Existing Conditions (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.)
5) Begins to Close the Medicare Part D Donut Hole (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs in the donut hole; also completely closes the donut hole by 2020.)
6) Free Preventive Care under Medicare
Eliminates co-payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program. Effective beginning January 1, 2011.
10) Bans Restrictive Annual Limits on Coverage (Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.)
13) Ensures Value for Premium Payments
Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent. Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders. Effective on January 1, 2011.
14) Community Health Centers
Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2011.
15) Increases the Number of Primary Care Practitioners
Provides new investments to increase the number of primary care practitioners, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2011.
18) Holds Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes
Creates a grant program to support States in requiring health insurance companies to submit justification for all requested premium increases, and insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium exchanges may not be able to participate in the new Health Insurance Exchanges. Starting in plan year 2011.
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