A good place to get more information on these is at

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=California_Proposition_7_(2008)

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=California_Proposition_10_(2008)

Prop 7 does create a fast track permitting process for renewables 30 MW and over. This is where the “solar and clean energy plant” definition occurs. This definition does not, however, apply to eligibility for renewable portfolio standards, as many opponents mistakenly claim.

The mistake arises because many of those reading Prop 7 don’t realize that the fast track permitting process definition does not apply to the earlier part of Prop 7 that makes changes to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (part of the Public Utilities Code). Definitions from one Code will never be applied to another Code unless those definitions are explicitly referenced. This is not the case with Prop 7. Ergo: Prop 7 makes no change to existing eligibility rules – other than the aforementioned fast track permitting process.

Section 25137 of the Public Resources Code is added to read as follows:

“Solar and clean energy plant” means any electrical generating facility using wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass, biogas, geothermal, fuel cells using renewable fuels, digester gas, municipal solid waste conversion, landfill gas, ocean wave, ocean thermal, or tidal current technologies, with a generating capacity of 30 megawatts or more, or small hydroelectric generation of 30 megawatts or less, and any facilities appurtenant thereto.

<>

Stay with me here, the language is no doubt complicated and is easily pliable to make the argument that it will devastate small providers. The important things to note within this block of text are:
1. Section 25137
2. The association of megawatt size with tidal current and small hydroelectric technologies only.

Now, starting with the most obvious, point two. I admit the sentence structure of this definition is poorly crafted and is why there has been such misinformed opposition to Proposition 7. Fortunately however, the authors’ intention is clear, verified both in court and in the entire context of the initiative and is given weight in any judicial proceeding that may arise over language. This means the imprecision of this definition will be amended to accurately reflect the authors’ intention of including all sizes of renewable electrical generating facilities with the only exceptions being: tidal current technologies with a generating capacity of 30 megawatts or more AND small hydroelectric generation of 30 megawatts or less. There is a distinction between small hydroelectric facilities and large hydroelectric facilities with only the former being considered a renewable resource. This is due to the inherent destructive nature of hydroelectric facilities that produce more than 30 megawatts of electricity. They divert too much water from its natural path, causing destruction of natural habitat and water shortages.

Now more importantly, section 25137 is not the section that sets the definition for what sources of renewable energy are eligible in the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Section seven, page eight of the initiative text defines the terms used throughout the law.

“Section 399.12 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read as follows:
For the purpose of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:”
(b) “Eligible renewable energy resource” means a solar and clean energy facility that meets the definition of “in-state renewable electricity generation facility” in Section 25741 of the Public Resources Code…” <<

Section 25741 of the Public Resources Code reads as follows:
(b) “In-state renewable electricity generation facility” means a facility that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The facility uses biomass, solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, fuel cells using renewable fuels, small hydroelectric generation of 30 megawatts or less, digester gas, municipal solid waste conversion, landfill gas, ocean wave, ocean thermal, or tidal, and any additions or enhancements to the facility using that technology. <<

The definition continues to describe requirements about in-state location and distribution but never once makes a size distinction or limitation on which facilities qualify.

Hopefully this helps clear things up.

The links to those sections of code are below:
Section 399.12
http://law.onecle.com/california/utilities/399.12.html

Section 25741
http://law.onecle.com/california/public-resources/25741.html

See these links:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-hunt24-2008sep24,0,1227938.story

http://confusedinsolarcalifornia.blogspot.com/search?q=enviros