AB 1953, as introduced, Skinner. Higher Education Energy Efficiency Act: grants.
The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. Under existing law, the commission may apply for and accept grants, contributions, and appropriations, and award grants consistent with the goals and objectives of a program or activity the commission is authorized to implement or administer.
This bill would enact the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Act. The bill would create the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Fund in the State Treasury and would make moneys in the fund available to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, upon appropriation, to make grants to University of California and California State University campuses for building retrofits to reduce the demand for energy. The bill would require the commission, in consultation with the President of the University of California and the Chancellor of the California State University to establish a system to prioritize eligible campuses for grants, as specified. The bill would require grant recipients to report to the commission the annual energy savings achieved from grant-funded projects, as specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
(a) The University of California has committed
2to achieving carbon neutrality through aggressive measures to
3increase energy efficiency and develop renewable energy. The
4University of California’s model should produce substantial
5environmental and economic benefits, leverage current and planned
6investments by the University of California and others, and include
7projects that are immediately ready to commence.
8(b) The California State University has similarly committed to
9lowering annual energy consumption, reducing greenhouse gas
10emissions, and lowering energy-related operating costs. Over a
11five-year period, the California State University expects to decrease
12demand by 5
percent and decrease electrical consumption across
13the California State University system by 10 percent. The
14California State University has committed to incorporate workforce
15development strategies into its energy efficiency model.
16(c) There are opportunities to reduce both the economic cost
17and carbon footprints of campus facilities at the University of
18California and the California State University by having more
19energy-efficient buildings, operations, and maintenance. These
20financial savings could provide flexibility to pay for other upgrades
21to enhance the learning environment and access to higher
22education.
23(d) It is in the best interest of the state to quickly reduce energy
24consumption at university facilities, especially through building
25retrofits that achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency
26improvement.
Article 13 (commencing with Section 16429.40) is
28added to Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the 29Government Code, to read:
This article shall be known, and may be cited, as
4the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Act.
As used in this article:
6(a) “Chancellor” means the Chancellor of the California State
7University.
8(b) “Commission” means the State Energy Resources
9Conservation and Development Commission.
10(c) “Eligible institution” means a campus of the University of
11California or a campus of the California State University.
12(d) “Fund” means the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Fund
13established pursuant to Section 16429.42.
14(e) “President” means the President of the University
of
15California.
(a) The Higher Education Energy Efficiency Fund
17is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury.
18(b) Moneys in the fund shall be available to the commission,
19upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the implementation of
20this article.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
22commission administer the fund and implement this article in
23coordination with the chancellor and the president to provide grants
24to eligible institutions for building retrofits that reduce the demand
25for energy.
26(b) The commission shall award grants pursuant to this article,
27subject to the following:
28(1) The grants shall be awarded only to eligible institutions.
29(2) The commission shall ensure that adequate energy audit,
30measurement, and verification procedures are employed to ensure
31that energy savings occur as a result
of the grants.
32(c) (1) The commission shall adopt any regulations or guidelines
33necessary to implement this article. Notwithstanding any other
34law, regulations pursuant to this section may be adopted as
35emergency regulations pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
36Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3.
37(2) For the purposes of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
3811340) of Part 1 of Division 3, including Section 11349.6, the
39Office of Administrative Law shall consider the adoption of the
40regulations pursuant to this subdivision to be necessary for the
P4 1immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and
2general welfare.
3(d) The commission, to the extent possible, shall utilize existing
4resources and expertise in implementing this article.
5(e) (1) Any eligible institution may submit an application to
6the commission for a grant from the fund for energy efficiency
7improvements. The form of the application shall be established by
8the commission.
9(2) The commission, in consultation with the chancellor and
10the president, shall establish a system to prioritize eligible
11institutions for grants through this article. Prioritization shall take
12into consideration circumstances that shall include, but not be
13limited to, the age of the campus facilities, the proportion of
14students at the campus receiving Cal Grant awards, whether the
15facilities have been recently modernized, the potential for demand
16reduction, and the campus’s score from a recognized energy rating
17system or systems.
18(f) This article shall not affect the eligibility of universities
19
awarded grants pursuant to this article to receive other incentives
20available from federal, state, and local government, or from public
21utilities or other sources, and to leverage the grant with those
22incentives.
23(g) Each year, on a schedule established by the commission,
24each eligible institution that receives a grant pursuant to this article
25shall report to the commission the amount of energy saved. Each
26eligible institution shall compute the cost of energy saved as a
27result of implementing projects funded by the grant. The cost shall
28be calculated in a manner established by the commission.
29(h) The commission shall determine, based on the annual energy
30savings reported by the eligible institutions pursuant to subdivision
31(g), the energy savings achieved pursuant to this article.
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