New Software to Make Reporting Fuel Data to the State Easier
The California Energy Commission is introducing a new, paperless way for the state’s retail fuel outlets to report their annual retail fuel outlet data that should make the process more efficient and less time consuming.
Beginning January 1, retail fuel outlet owners will be asked to fill out their data reports through the Energy Commission’s website, but can continue to submit them on paper and send them by fax, email, mail or mail. The Petroleum Industry Information Reporting Act requires all retail transportation fueling stations in the state to file a Retail Fuel Outlet Annual Report (CEC-A15) to the Energy Commission. The Energy Commission uses the data to analyze fuel supply changes and sales distribution in California.
The new web-based reporting system provides instant feedback to retailers, ensuring they are entering the data points correctly, automatically fills address information and eliminates the need for follow-up phone calls that can be time consuming.
Energy Commission staff demonstrated how the new website survey works in a November workshop. A video recording of the workshop is available on the website.
Rebates and Financing Available to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Small businesses and apartment owners can get financing and sometimes rebates for installing electric vehicle chargers for use by their customers, employees and tenants through a new program offered by California. The Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) Financing Program is funded by the California Energy Commission and operated by the California Treasurer's Office.
Here's how it works: A business applies for a loan, say $10,000, through a participating lender to install an electric vehicle charging station. The EVCS Program contributes $2,000 to a lender's loan loss reserve to cover any loan defaults. After the lender repays the loan, or after 48 months with no more than one late payment, the borrower is eligible for a rebate of half of the loan loss contribution, in this case a rebate of $1,000.
The rebate can be even larger if the borrower installs an electric vehicle charging station in a multi-unit dwelling, such as an apartment complex, or in a disadvantaged community, either economically distressed or challenged by air pollution. On a $10,000 loan, a borrower can get a $1,500 rebate after repaying the loan or after 48 months of timely payments.
Know someone who may be interested? Find out more about the program here.
Energy Commission Shares Expertise with Countries from Around the World
The California Energy Commission is committed to sharing and exchanging information about California’s pioneering and innovative energy policies with representatives from around the world.
The Energy Commission’s International Visitor Program, which began in 1986, has hosted more than 2,300 delegations. In 2015, the Energy Commission hosted 40 delegations from 42 countries and six continents. The top three countries were China, Japan and South Korea.
Some of the most popular topics during the visits included climate change, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
“California cannot address climate change alone and it’s important that we share our successes of advancing clean energy and reducing air pollution with other countries,” said Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller.
In 2015, Energy Commission representatives were part of California delegations that traveled to China, Germany and Mexico to support Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s initiatives to expand trade and collaborate on efforts to combat climate change and advance clean energy.
U.S. Army Platoons with Energy Commission on Clean Energy Strategy
The California Energy Commission has begun discussions with the U.S. Army’s Office of Energy Initiatives about the Energy Commission’s work with microgrid and energy storage technologies.
The Army is considering installing a microgrid system for its facilities in the Los Angeles area. Army officials are interested in learning more about the Energy Commission’s research into the technology and lessons learned from microgrid and storage projects funded through the Energy Commission.
A microgrid is a small-scale power grid that can provide and manage power independently of the larger power grid, supporting facilities with critical energy needs like military installations, industrial complexes or a university campus. Many incorporate clean energy resources such as solar photovoltaic installations and the ability to store energy using batteries and other technologies.
“The Army’s interest in microgrid and energy storage technology is driven by its need for safe and reliable electric service to meet mission objectives and maintain global readiness,” said Energy Commission Chair Robert Weisenmiller. “They understand that by partnering and leveraging the Energy Commission’s expertise, they can more effectively and efficiently transition their installations and facilities to clean energy technologies.”
The Army is also interested in the Energy Commission's Electric Program Investment Charge program, which funds innovative clean energy technologies and approaches. Army officials plan to reach out to clean tech industries in the state to look into partnering on EPIC funding opportunities.
The Army is considering installing a microgrid system for its facilities in the Los Angeles area. Army officials are interested in learning more about the Energy Commission’s research into the technology and lessons learned from microgrid and storage projects funded through the Energy Commission.
A microgrid is a small-scale power grid that can provide and manage power independently of the larger power grid, supporting facilities with critical energy needs like military installations, industrial complexes or a university campus. Many incorporate clean energy resources such as solar photovoltaic installations and the ability to store energy using batteries and other technologies.
The microgrid at the Santa Rita Jail is an example of a successful clean energy project funded by the Energy Commission. |
The Army is also interested in the Energy Commission's Electric Program Investment Charge program, which funds innovative clean energy technologies and approaches. Army officials plan to reach out to clean tech industries in the state to look into partnering on EPIC funding opportunities.
The Price of Power
What does it cost to build and operate a utility-scale electric power plant? That’s a question that California Energy Commission analysts have been working on answering. Their findings can be found in a report called the Estimated Cost of New Renewable and Fossil Generation in California.
The report looked at natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass systems. Here are some highlights about the different issues affecting costs for each technology:
The report is part of the Energy Commission’s role as California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. The forecast report will help in the development of energy infrastructure planning. For example, the document will help the California Public Utilities Commission plan for power purchases and the California Independent System Operator in preparing for future transmission needs.
The report looked at natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass systems. Here are some highlights about the different issues affecting costs for each technology:
- Natural gas-fired generation remains the backbone of California’s electricity generation. The underlying technologies are mature and the prices are stable. But the lifetime costs for these facilities are expected to rise because of the price of fuel, emission reduction credits and greenhouse gas emission credits.
- The cost of solar photovoltaic power plants has declined in recent years because of the dramatically lower costs for photovoltaic modules.
- Technology advances, such as improved inverters, and a change in focus to maximizing energy output over peak generation capacity are expected to increase overall production and decrease costs.
- Overall costs for geothermal facilities are expected to increase slightly. The major factors are the highly variable costs of drilling and well development.
- Biomass facilities depend on nearby fuel. If fuel is not close by, the cost of transporting the fuel to the generation site can add significant cost to a project’s viability.
The report is part of the Energy Commission’s role as California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. The forecast report will help in the development of energy infrastructure planning. For example, the document will help the California Public Utilities Commission plan for power purchases and the California Independent System Operator in preparing for future transmission needs.
California Leads the United States in Pioneering Low Emission Trucks
Executives of seven growing California high tech companies revealed some secrets to their success at a recent workshop at the California Energy Commission on zero- and near-zero emission medium and heavy duty trucks.
Although some proprietary information was withheld, the entrepreneurs disclosed how they cut costs, steered around roadblocks and ramped up manufacturing. The companies are committed to building cleaner-fueled vehicles and helping grow California’s economy.
All of them got started with grants from the Energy Commission, which provides up to $100,000 annually for innovative technology in alternative fuels to help the state reach its clean air and climate change goals.
“The Energy Commission took a chance on us,” said Mike Simon, CEO of Transportation Power Inc. (TransPower) who received a grant in 2011. “No venture capitalist would have done that, I know because I tried to find one. It was a very embryonic concept.”
Cummins Westport Inc. started taking orders nationwide for its very low nitrogen oxide ISL G natural gas engine truck. The company brought a refuse truck to the Energy Commission headquarters for the December 2 workshop.
Manufacturing of the truck will begin in April. It is rated at .02 grams per brake horsepower an hour, 90 percent lower exhaust emissions than the current limit and equal to 1,080 diesel buses. The engine meets the California Air Resources Board’s certification eight years in advance of the 2023 near zero nitrogen oxide schedule.
“We kept getting feedback in 2010 from people saying you can’t get below .2 in this industry,” said Tom Hodek, Cummins’ general manager of new product development.
Hodek said The company received orders for 66 units, even before prices were set. Much of the interest for the trucks comes from North America, Europe and China, he said.
Another grantee, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), is working with Siemens and other partners on a catenary line that would allow large cargo trucks to run at 55 miles per hour on overhead electric wires, transporting cargo to and from the Port of Long Beach. The project would provide zero to near-zero emission transportation in an area significantly challenged by air pollution.
Four different types of all-electric or hybrid trucks are being built to run on the catenary. They will have batteries that are charged by the electric wires to allow them to run off the catenary.
Implementation of the catenary system on a larger scale would require cost reductions for both the catenary and the trucks, said Joe Impullitti, Technology Advancement Office Program Supervisor for SCAQMD.
Since starting a manufacturing line for Wrightspeed’s range-extended electric hybrid powertrain in Alameda earlier this year, the company has a backlog of 42 truck powertrain orders, said Wrightspeed CEO Ian Wright, who co-founded Tesla.
The company started making delivery trucks, but realized the better market was electric-hybrid powertrains for refuse trucks. The trucks can handle 40 to 50 percent grades like those found in San Francisco, Wright said.
He said some of the lessons learned were designing and making nearly every component themselves to reduce costs, listening to customers, staying focused on their goals, and not compromising their business model to get grant funding.
TransPower, which makes an electric drive system for trucks and buses, including two for the catenary project, has used several Energy Commission grants to build systems for seven cargo trucks, a yard tractor for IKEA, a vehicle-to-grid school bus, an on-road truck, and a lift truck.
This year, TransPower has contracts for drive systems at a U.S. Naval base, the New York Subway, and for 15 fleet operators.
One of the lessons that TransPower learned was employing a vertically integrated manufacturing process. Common components were used to build subsystems that can be used in a variety of ways, helping to keep costs down, Simon said.
Motiv Power Systems, Inc. partners with original equipment manufacturers to make all-electric shuttle buses, refuse trucks, school buses and work trucks. Using grants from the Energy Commission, Motiv took a concept and built it into a commercial manufacturing line.
Motiv CEO Jim Castelaz said its trucks not only offer substantially reduced emissions compared with diesel engines, but also makes driving easier.
“One driver said it changed his life,” Castelaz said. ”He sits all day in the delivery truck, one foot away from the engine. It’s not noisy, it doesn’t smell like diesel, it doesn’t shake, and his back feels much better because he doesn’t brake as much.”
Proterra Inc., which makes all-electric public transit buses, has announced plans to build a second plant in the City of Industry, Calif., to handle new orders.
“The California Energy Commission is why we got there so quickly,” said Kent Leacock, director of government relations for Proterra, who cited battery development as one reason for moving to California.
Proterra is making one bus a week in South Carolina and plans to duplicate its efforts in California. The buses don’t rust, are “dead quiet,” faster, and the brakes don’t wear out nearly as fast as diesel buses because they don’t require much braking, Leacock said.
The company added 15 to 20 jobs in the Bay Area where they moved their corporate headquarters and intends to add 70 to 80 jobs in Southern California. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development helped find the Industry location, which was key to the project getting off the ground, he said.