Major Energy Issues Facing California Discussed in a New Energy Commission Report
By Commissioner Janea A. Scott
The Energy Commission has just adopted an Integrated Energy Policy Report Update (IEPR) that outlines how the state will transform its transportation system to zero- and near-zero technologies and fuels to meet its climate and clean air goals. With nearly 120,000 plug-in electric vehicles on California’s roads, the plug-in electric vehicle market is growing steadily, and hydrogen fuel cell electric technology is also poised to become a zero-emission option across the transportation sector.
Incentives will play a key role, the report notes, in supporting and encouraging the use of the alternative fuels and vehicle technologies needed to transform California’s transportation market. Investments in a variety of highly efficient vehicle technologies are necessary for a viable transportation system that will use many types of low-carbon fuels.
The Energy Commission is exploring opportunities to leverage funding that may help to achieve deeper benefits on a faster time frame. See Chapter Two in the report. The Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program has achieved important benefits and is finding ways to measure those benefits. See Chapter Four. Join us for the journey that is blazing new ground and attracting 50 foreign delegations a year to the California Energy Commission.
School District Finds Energy Savings Through Proposition 39 Funding
The Pleasant Ridge School District, located in the Sierra Foothills, was one of the first districts to take advantage of new funding to help its schools become more energy efficient. The district overhauled lighting systems and modified heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems at three of its schools. The funding for the improvements came from the voter approved Clean Energy Jobs Act (Proposition 39).
“It is important for school districts to take advantage of the opportunities the state gives us to enhance old technology and equipment,” said Superintendent Rusty Clark. “Lighting has improved leaps and bounds since the school was first built and being able to bring it up to the new standard gives us the ability to utilize funds in another way.”
Proposition 39 altered how corporations calculate their tax loads and then redirects the proceeds to energy efficiency upgrades at schools and other structures. Now, one year after the first applications were accepted by the California Energy Commission, schools have already begun seeing the benefits. The initiative passed in 2012 and the Energy Commission began drafting guidelines in 2013, but Clark said the district was already in motion. The district conducted an energy audit and found the most savings – about $30,000 a year – would come from replacing or upgrading HVAC systems and exterior lights. It submitted an energy expenditure plan in early 2014 and within one month it was reviewed and approved by Energy Commission staff.
“The process was much easier than we anticipated with a new program,” Clark said. “We were able to complete the project and started to see savings on our electric bill right away. More efficient LED lights may not be the kind of investment students see when they walk the halls, but it has already saved the district approximately $8,000 since the July 2014 completion.”
The district applied for a multiple year expenditure plan and will receive about $500,000 over the next five years. Clark said there are more energy improvements they can make to save even more. “Every dollar not being spent on energy can be used elsewhere within the district.”
Over the next five years Proposition 39 will transfer an estimated $2.5 billion in new revenues to create clean energy jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy and costs for schools.
To help schools through the application process, the Energy Commission developed easy-to-use energy savings calculator tools for simple energy projects and has a team of engineers and energy specialists to review and approve expenditure plans. Schools can access these online resources on our website and get advice by calling the toll-free hotline at (855) 380-8722.
Energy Innovations Small Grant Program
The return on investment has been 40 to 1. Here are some of the stories.
Providing small grants for big opportunities, the California Energy Commission along with the San Diego State University Research Foundation successfully provides opportunities for innovators in the field of energy. The Energy Innovations Small Grant Program is helpful because industry can be slow to adopt new technologies and innovators need to prove their ideas are feasible. This program has experienced success.