In as few as three months, all power decisions in California may be made by a new energy secretary who will consolidate siting authority and market oversight with the work of the Energy Commission and the old California Power Authority.
Speedier site approval would be the most important outcome, says Jan Smutny-Jones, executive director of the Sacramento-Based Independent Energy Producers Association. Today, the process can be time-consuming and costly, but a license has never been overturned so once a producer is through the process, he can bank on it and not be open to litigation.