3360 Energy Resource Conservation/Dvlmt Comm
Program Descriptions

10 - REGULATORY and PLANNING PROGRAM

The Regulatory and Planning program facilitates markets in providing adequate statewide energy supplies. The program develops long-range projections for future energy supplies and demand, maintains current information on statewide electrical generation, transmission, natural gas, and fuels markets. Additionally, this program certifies power plant sites and designates transmission line corridors, monitors new energy facilities and fuel infrastructure for compliance and for supply and distribution adequacy consistent with state energy policies. Further, the program develops state energy policy based on the economic, financial, security, safety, and environmental implications of supply, demand, and price assessments, and monitors energy markets to ensure competitive prices and to prevent potential market abuses.

10.10 - Power Plant Site Certification and Transmission Line Corridor Designation Program

The Power Plant Site Certification and Transmission Line Corridor Designation program is responsible for: reviewing power plant siting applications; ensuring power plant developers comply with conditions of certification and all applicable laws and regulations during the construction and operation of power plants; reviewing applications for designation as transmission line corridors; evaluating constraints and opportunities for energy resource development; and analyzing reliability, efficiency, and environmental performance issues related to power plants and the state electricity transmission grid.

10.20 - Electricity Resource Planning

The Electricity Resource Planning program is responsible for evaluating current and future electricity supply market trends and infrastructure needs; assessing the adequacy of electricity supplies; and analyzing regulations and environmental issues related to electricity. Additionally this program addresses transmission line planning and permitting barriers and provides information and recommendations to state agencies, electricity market participants, and the public. The natural gas program component is responsible for evaluating current and future natural gas market trends and infrastructure needs, assessing the adequacy of natural gas supplies, analyzing regulations and environmental issues related to natural gas, and leading interagency work groups to monitor short-term natural gas market trends.

20 - ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION PROGRAM

The Energy Resources Conservation program objectives include working to reduce overall energy use and decreasing peak electricity demand by identifying energy efficiency opportunities and developing and implementing programs and standards for efficiently using energy in all sectors.

20.10 - Buildings Program

The Building program objectives include working to reduce consumer and business energy bills and peak demands by developing and implementing strategies and minimum efficiency standards for new and existing residential and nonresidential buildings, appliances, and equipment. The Building program provides technical assistance on building standards and enforcement support to the building industry and building departments. Further, the program maintains a database of energy efficiency appliances and equipment and enforces compliance with the appliance efficiency standards.

20.30 - Energy Projects Evaluation and Assistance Program

This program is responsible for providing technical assistance, grants, and loans to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs of schools, hospitals, local governments, water and water treatment facilities, agricultural facilities, industry and multi-family housing.

20.40 - Demand Side Program Evaluation

The Demand Side Program Evaluation is responsible for collecting and analyzing electricity and natural gas consumption data used to prepare energy demand forecasts, forecasting peak and total energy consumption by sector, and estimating the amount of energy conserved by existing and proposed program activities.

30 - DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Development Program conducts research, development, demonstration, commercialization, and deployment activities on energy efficiency, renewable and advanced energy technologies, and alternative and renewable fuel and advanced vehicle technologies to ensure future energy supplies are cost effective, secure and reliable, enhance environmental quality, and promote state and local economic development. The program provides technical assistance, financial assistance, direct technology research and demonstration, technology forecasting, technology analysis and evaluation, and information transfer. The program also helps energy technology companies export technologies, products, and services to international markets and helps California companies develop international energy projects.

30.20 - Transportation Technology and Fuels

The Transportation Technology and Fuels program provides analyses and recommendations to guide state energy policy and legislation to achieve climate change objectives, reduce petroleum consumption, and promote economic development. The program provides financial incentives for using alternative and renewable fuels and advanced vehicles, alternative fuel infrastructure, and workforce training. The program monitors, analyzes, and reports on transportation fuel supply and production, fuel infrastructure issues, transportation fuel demand trends, and responds to energy and fuel shortages and emergencies. The program assists local and regional agencies reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions through land use planning and community design, provides support to border energy commitments, and facilitates international trade missions and delegation visits.

30.30 - Research and Development

The Research and Development program supports energy research and development projects not adequately addressed by competitive and regulated markets. The program goal is to develop, and help bring to market, energy technologies providing increased environmental benefits, greater system reliability, and lower energy costs, and provide benefits to Californians through investing in research and development of advanced electricity generation and transportation technologies, energy efficiency, and technologies to reduce or eliminate consumption of water and other finite resources, increase use of renewable energy resources, or improve energy transmission or distribution.

30.40 - Technology Evaluation

The Technology Evaluation program fosters growth of the renewable energy market by providing production-based incentives and rebates to purchasers of renewable products, tracking and verifying renewable energy transactions, and educating the public about renewable energy.

99 - LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

The Loan Repayment program consists of Conservation and Development programs loan repayments deposited into the following accounts: State Energy Conservation Assistance Account; Local Jurisdiction Energy Assistance Account; Energy Technologies Research, Development and Demonstration Account; and Local Government Geothermal Resources Revolving Subaccount.