General Provisions - Clean Energy Programs - Public Resources - CA

Section § 25660

This law section provides definitions for terms related to clean energy and emergency programs in California. Specifically, it defines 'clean energy programs' as those in Section 25660.4 and describes the 'Emergency Load Reduction Program' as one managed by the Public Utilities Commission to handle extreme weather events. It also explains that 'financial incentive' includes various funding mechanisms like contracts and grants. Lastly, it clarifies that 'under-resourced community' refers to a definition given in another section.

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Clean energy programs” means the programs described in Section 25660.4.

(b) “Emergency Load Reduction Program” means the Emergency Load Reduction Program established by the Public Utilities Commission in Decision 21-03-056 (March 25, 2021), Decision Directing Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company to Take Actions to Prepare for Potential Extreme Weather in the Summers of 2021 and 2022.

(c) “Financial incentive” includes a contract, grant, loan, rebate, block grant, or other appropriate funding mechanism.

(d) “Under-resourced community” has the same meaning as defined in Section 71130.

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Section § 25660.2

By March 1, 2024, and every year after until all funds are used up, a commission must report on its website and to legislative committees about the details of each clean energy program. This includes how much money was spent and where, expenses for administrative or technical services, and how well the money is achieving program goals.

The report also needs to estimate the extra electricity generation capacity and any reductions in greenhouse gas emissions due to the program, as well as detail how the funds were used and which industries benefited from them.

On or before March 1 , 2024, and annually thereafter by that date until all funds appropriated for purposes of this chapter have been encumbered, the commission shall publish on its internet website and report, as applicable, to the budget and relevant policy committees of the Legislature all of the following for each clean energy program:

(a) The amount of moneys expended for the program and balance of moneys remaining to be spent, including geographic distribution of those moneys.

(b) The amount of moneys expended on administrative, technical, or scientific services for the program.

(c) Quantitative estimates and qualitative information on how moneys expended by the program are achieving the specific purposes of that program.

(d) Estimates of additional electrical generation or storage capacity at net peak hours or during critical grid conditions created, expanded, or otherwise made available as a direct result of the program.

(e) Estimated onsite reductions of the emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria air pollutants that occurred as a direct result of the program.

(f) A description of how the appropriated moneys were used for the program and industries receiving program funding.

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Section § 25660.4

This law section states that the chapter applies to specific programs aimed at improving energy use and reducing carbon emissions. These include efforts related to industrial support, food production, hydrogen energy, equitable building decarbonization, and offshore wind infrastructure improvements.

This chapter only applies to the following programs or activities:

(a) The Industrial Grid Support and Decarbonization Program established pursuant to Section 25662.

(b) The Food Production Investment Program established pursuant to Section 25663.

(c) The Hydrogen Program established pursuant to Section 25664.2.

(d) The Equitable Building Decarbonization Program established pursuant to Section 25665.1.

(e) The program to support offshore wind infrastructure improvements established pursuant to Section 25666.

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Section § 25661

This section allows the commission to manage clean energy programs by contracting or making interagency agreements for services that help with outreach, identifying technologies, assessing market conditions, and benefiting the electrical grid. However, no more than 15% of the funds for each program can be used for these administrative activities.

Additionally, the commission has the flexibility to advance up to 25% of the program funds to recipients of financial incentives, despite any other laws.

In implementing the clean energy programs, the commission may do both of the following:

(a) Contract for or use an interagency agreement to obtain technical, scientific, outreach, and administrative services. Administrative services may include, but are not limited to, providing outreach to eligible industries, identifying promising technologies, assessing market conditions needed to accelerate commercial traction of the technology, assisting with technical review of proposals and deliverables, identifying opportunities that provide significant benefits to the electrical grid, and performing benefits analysis. No more than 15 percent of the moneys appropriated for each program may be used for technical, scientific, outreach, or administrative services.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, in its discretion, advance up to 25 percent of the clean energy program moneys allocated pursuant to this chapter to recipients of a financial incentive.

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Section § 25661.5

This law section allows the commission to allocate up to $25 million from funds meant for clean energy programs. These programs include the Climate Innovation Program, Carbon Removal Innovation Program, and Long-Duration Energy Storage Program. The commission has the authority to decide how the funds are distributed and can move money to the Climate Catalyst Revolving Fund if needed to support these initiatives.

Of the moneys appropriated for the clean energy programs, the Climate Innovation Program established pursuant to Section 25625.2, the Carbon Removal Innovation Program established pursuant to Section 25688, and the Long-Duration Energy Storage Program established pursuant to Section 25641, the commission may use up to a total of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for projects consistent with subdivision (f) of Section 63048.93 of the Government Code. The commission, in its sole discretion, shall determine how to allocate those moneys for those programs. The commission may transfer moneys, if necessary, from the source fund of the appropriation to the Climate Catalyst Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 63048.95 of the Government Code.

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