(a)  On or before January 1, 2003, the state board shall adopt a certification program and uniform emission standards for electrical generation technologies that are exempt from district permitting requirements.

(b)  The emission standards for electrical generation technologies shall reflect the best performance achieved in practice by existing electrical generation technologies for the electrical generation technologies referenced in subdivision (a) and, by the earliest practicable date, shall be made equivalent to the level determined by the state board to be the best available control technology for permitted central station powerplants in California. The emission standards for state certified electrical generation technology shall be expressed in pounds per megawatt hour to reflect the expected actual emissions per unit of electricity and heat provided to the consumer from each permitted central powerplant as compared to each state certified electrical generation technology.

(c)  Commencing on January 1, 2003, all electrical generation technologies shall be certified by the state board or permitted by a district prior to use or operation in the state. This section does not preclude a district from establishing more stringent emission standards for electrical generation technologies than those adopted by the state board.

(d)  The state board may establish a schedule of fees for purposes of this section to be assessed on persons seeking certification as a distributed generator. The fees charged, in the aggregate, shall not exceed the reasonable cost to the state board of administering the certification program.

(e)  As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)  “Best available control technology” has the same meaning as defined in Section 40405.

(2)  “Distributed generation” means electric generation located near the place of use.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 741, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)