Calif. bill would boost renewable energy

A bill in California would allow cities to designate areas as renewable energy zones and redirect property taxes to renewable energy projects, its sponsor says.

State Assemblyman Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, said the areas would be required to generate at least 10 megawatts of renewable energy, then the city could create a financing district in the area and use the funds collected "for the purpose of promoting renewable energy projects," the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Such zones would be limited to "an area that is characterized by the proposed development of more than 10 megawatts of renewable energy projects, including, but not limited to, solar, wind, and geothermal projects, as determined by the legislative body," the proposed bill says.

If passed by the state Legislature, the bill would exempt these energy districts from voter approval requirements, allowing city councils to create them with a simple majority vote, the Times reported.