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August 5, 2009

Chambers Support Legislative Water Crisis Solution

California is in its third year of a drought and Southwest California businesses are being asked to reduce water usage as much as possible. There are a number of methods available to businesses to aid efforts to conserve water. However, many conservation efforts do carry a large price tag potential placing businesses at a competitive disadvantage. With such a hefty price tag, businesses are seeking other ways to mitigate its chronic water needs.

As reasonable solution is a legislative proposal supported by the Southwest California Legislative Council. AB 474 will mitigate the initial outlay for any business willing to increase their conservation efforts.

“Our business community is well aware of the need to cut back on water consumption and we are open to new innovated ways to do so,” stated stated Roger Ziemer, Chair of the Southwest California Legislative Council. “AB 474 is a solution in the right direction in which it will give property owners the choice of conserving, while at the same time allowing the economical means to install conservation minded improvements,” continued Ziemer.

The key provision of AB 474 allows commercial and residential property owners to enter into an agreement with public agencies (in this case, water agencies) to receive upfront financing for the installation of permanent water use efficiency improvements. Property owners will then be allowed to pay an annual assessment until all costs associated with the project are repaid to the public agency. Assembly Bill 474 expands upon last year’s AB 811, which authorized the use of voluntary assessment agreements between cities, counties and property owners for financing energy efficiency projects.