Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1124. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Energy Conservation Assistance Act of 1979.
Chapter 5.2 - Energy Conservation Assistance
California Public Resources Code — §§ 25410-25422
Sections (17)
Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 601, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Energy costs are frequently the second largest discretionary expense in a local government’s budget. According to the commission, most public institutions could reduce their energy costs by 20 to 30 percent.
(b)A variety of energy conservation measures are available to local governments. These measures are highly cost-effective, often providing a payback on the initial investment in three years or less.
(c)Many local governments lack energy management expertise and are often unaware of their high energy costs or the opportunities to reduce those costs.
(d)Local governments that desire to reduce their energy costs through energy conservation and efficiency measures often lack available funding.
(e)Since 1980, the Energy Conservation Assistance Account has provided $110 million in loans, through a revolving loan account, to 600 schools, hospitals, and local governments. The energy conservation projects funded by the account save approximately $35 million annually in energy costs.
(f)Local governments and public institutions need assistance in all aspects of energy efficiency improvements, including, but not limited to, project identification, project development and implementation, evaluation of project proposals and options, operations and maintenance, and troubleshooting of problem projects.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 226, Sec. 1. (AB 33) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
(a)The commission shall administer the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account to provide grants and loans to local governments and public institutions to maximize energy use savings, expand installation of energy storage systems, and expand the availability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including, but not limited to, technical assistance, demonstrations, and identification and implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure measures and programs in existing and planned buildings or facilities. An eligible institution may propose a group of multiple projects where the determination of whether the projects are cost effective shall be determined by the cost-effectiveness of those multiple projects bundled
together.
(b)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the commission seek the assistance of utility companies in providing energy audits for local governments and public institutions and in publicizing the availability of State Energy Conservation Assistance Account funds to qualified entities.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 226, Sec. 2. (AB 33) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
As used in this chapter:
(a)“Allocation” means a loan of funds by the commission pursuant to the procedures specified in this chapter.
(b)“Building” means any existing or planned structure that includes a heating or cooling system, or both. Additions to an original building shall be considered part of that building rather than a separate building. “Building” includes a tribal building.
(c)“Eligible institution” means a school, hospital, public care institution, unit of local government, or tribe.
(d)“Energy audit” means a determination of the energy consumption characteristics of a building
or facility that does all of the following:
(1)Identifies the type, size, and energy use level of the building or facility and the major energy using systems of the building or facility.
(2)Determines appropriate eligible energy maintenance and operating procedures.
(3)Indicates the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of eligible energy measures.
(e)“Eligible energy maintenance and operating procedure” means a modification or modifications in the maintenance and operations of a building or facility, and any installations therein (based on the use time schedule of the building or facility), that are designed to reduce energy consumption in the building or facility and that require no significant expenditure of funds.
(f)“Eligible energy measure” means an installation or modification of an installation in a building or facility that is primarily intended to reduce energy consumption or peak electricity demand, or that allows the use of an eligible renewable energy resource, an energy storage system, or electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
(g)“Eligible energy project” means an undertaking to acquire and to install one or more eligible energy measures in a building or facility, and technical assistance in connection with that undertaking.
(h)“Facility” means any major energy using system of an eligible institution whether or not housed in a building.
(i)“Hospital” means a public or nonprofit institution that is both of the following:
(1)A general hospital, tuberculosis hospital, or any other type of hospital, other than a hospital furnishing primarily domiciliary care.
(2)Duly authorized to provide hospital services under the laws of this state.
(j)“Hospital building” means a building housing a hospital and related operations, including laboratories, laundries, outpatient departments, nurses’ home and training activities, and central service operations in connection with a hospital, and also includes a building housing education or training activities for health professions personnel operated as an integral part of a hospital.
(k)“Local government building” means a building that is primarily occupied by offices or agencies of a unit of local government or by a public care
institution.
(l)“Project” means a purpose for which an allocation may be requested and made under this chapter. Those purposes shall include energy audits, eligible energy maintenance and operating procedures, and eligible energy measures in existing and planned buildings and facilities, eligible energy projects, and technical assistance programs.
(m)“Public care institution” means a public or nonprofit institution that owns:
(1)A long-term care institution.
(2)A rehabilitation institution.
(3)An institution for the provision of public health services, including related publicly owned services such as laboratories, clinics, and administrative offices operated in connection with
the institution.
(4)A residential child care center.
(n)“Public or nonprofit institution” means an institution owned and operated by:
(1)The state, a political subdivision of the state, or an agency or instrumentality of either.
(2)An organization exempt from income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
(3)In the case of public care institutions, an organization also exempt from income tax under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
(o)“School” means a public or nonprofit institution, including a local educational agency, which:
(1)Provides, and is legally authorized to provide, elementary education or secondary education, or both, on a day or residential basis.
(2)Provides, and is legally authorized to provide, a program of education beyond secondary education, on a day or residential basis and meets all of the following requirements:
(A)Admits as students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of that certificate.
(B)Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.
(C)Provides an education program for which it awards a bachelor’s degree or higher degree or provides not less than a two-year program that is
acceptable for full credit toward a degree at any institution that meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) and provides that program.
(3)Provides not less than a one-year program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation and that meets the provisions of paragraph (2).
(p)“School building” means a building housing classrooms, laboratories, dormitories, athletic facilities, or related facilities operated in connection with a school.
(q)“Technical assistance costs” means costs incurred for the use of existing personnel or the temporary employment of other qualified personnel, or both, necessary for providing technical assistance.
(r)“Technical assistance program” means assistance to schools,
hospitals, local government, and public care institutions and includes, but is not limited to:
(1)Conducting specialized studies identifying and specifying energy savings and related cost savings that are likely to be realized as a result of:
(A)Modification of maintenance and operating procedures in a building or facility, in addition to those modifications implemented after the preliminary energy audit, or
(B)Acquisition and installation of one or more specified eligible energy measures in the building or facility, or as a result of both.
(C)New construction activities.
(2)Planning of specific remodeling, renovation, repair, replacement, or insulation projects related to the
installation of eligible energy measures in the building or facility.
(3)Developing and evaluating alternative project implementation methods and proposals.
(s)“Tribe” means a California Native American tribe located in California that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission for purposes of Chapter 905 of the Statutes of 2004.
(t)“Tribal building” means a building that is owned, or primarily used, by a tribe located within or outside of Indian country, located in California, and primarily occupied by any of the following:
(1)Offices or agencies of a tribe.
(2)A health facility operated by a tribe in accordance with applicable federal operating
requirements.
(3)Other facilities operated by a tribe that provide or promote tribal services for tribal members and the surrounding communities. Facilities may include a gaming facility or a portion of a gaming facility, to the extent the facility is used as a community emergency response center or a resource center for deenergization events, or other centralized areas for nongaming community services in designated situations.
(u)“Unit of local government” means a unit of general purpose government below the state, a special district, or any combination of that unit and special district formed for the joint exercise of power.
Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1124. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
Any eligible institution may submit an application to the commission for an allocation for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs incurred in implementing a project. The application shall be in such form and contain such information as the commission shall prescribe.
An application may be for the purpose of financing the eligible institution’s share of such costs which are to be jointly funded through a state, local, or federal-local program.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 226, Sec. 3. (AB 33) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
The commission shall take steps to solicit loan applications to do all of the following:
(a)Encourage an equitable distribution of loans statewide.
(b)Award loans for eligible energy projects or measures in regions with high summer peak loads, with high heating costs, or that have electrical or natural gas system distribution constraints.
(c)Place an emphasis on offering these loans in disadvantaged communities.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 226, Sec. 4. (AB 33) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
(a)Applications for eligible energy projects or measures may be approved by the commission only in those instances where the eligible institution has furnished information satisfactory to the commission that the costs of the project, plus interest on state funds loaned, calculated in accordance with Section 25415, will be recovered through savings in the cost of energy to the institution during the repayment period of the allocation.
(b)An eligible institution may propose to bundle multiple projects where the determination of whether the costs of the projects, plus interest on state funds loaned, will be recovered through savings during the repayment period of the allocation and shall be determined by the savings of those
multiple projects bundled together.
(c)The savings shall be calculated in a manner prescribed by the commission.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 226, Sec. 5. (AB 33) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
Annually at the conclusion of each fiscal year, but not later than October 31, each eligible institution that has received an allocation for an eligible energy project or measures pursuant to this chapter shall compute the cost of energy saved as a result of implementing an eligible energy project or measures, or bundled projects or measures, funded by the allocation. The cost shall be calculated in a manner prescribed by the commission.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 226, Sec. 6. (AB 33) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
(a)Each eligible institution to which an allocation has been made under this chapter shall repay the principal amount of the allocation, plus interest, in not more than 40 equal semiannual payments, as determined by the commission. Loan repayments shall be made in accordance with a schedule established by the commission. The repayment period shall not exceed the life of the equipment, as determined by the commission or the lease term of the building in which the eligible energy, energy storage, or electric vehicle charging infrastructure project or measures will be installed.
(b)Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall, unless it determines that the purposes of this chapter would be better served by establishing an alternative interest rate schedule,
periodically set interest rates on the loans based on surveys of existing financial markets and may authorize no-interest loans.
(c)The governing body of each eligible institution shall annually budget an amount at least sufficient to make the semiannual payments required in this section. For an eligible energy project or measures, the amount shall not be raised by the levy of additional taxes but shall instead be obtained by a savings in energy costs or other sources.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 226, Sec. 7. (AB 33) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
(a)The State Energy Conservation Assistance Account is hereby created in the General Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the account is continuously appropriated to the commission without regard to fiscal year.
(b)The moneys in the account shall consist of all moneys authorized or required to be deposited in the account by the Legislature and all moneys received by the commission pursuant to Sections 25414 and 25415.
(c)The moneys in the account shall be disbursed by the Controller for the purposes of this chapter as authorized by the commission.
(d)The commission may contract and provide grants for services to
be performed for eligible institutions. Services may include, but are not limited to, feasibility analysis, project design, field assistance, and operation and training. The amount expended for those services shall not exceed 10 percent of the unencumbered balance of the account as determined by the commission on July 1 of each year.
(e)The commission may make grants to eligible institutions for innovative projects and programs. Except as provided in subdivision (d), the amount expended for grants shall not exceed 5 percent of the annual unencumbered balance in the account as determined by the commission on July 1 of each fiscal year.
(f)The commission may charge a fee for the services provided under subdivision (d).
(g)Notwithstanding any other law, the Controller may use the State Energy Conservation Assistance
Account for loans to the General Fund as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381 of the Government Code.
(h)(1) A subaccount is hereby created within the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account to track the award and repayment of loans, including principal, interest, and interest earnings on or accruing to the subaccount, made with moneys transferred to the account from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the moneys in the subaccount are hereby continuously appropriated to the commission without regard to fiscal year.
(2)Moneys deposited in the subaccount may be used for loans only for projects in buildings owned and operated by a state agency or entity, including, without limitation, the University of California and California State
University.
(3)Notwithstanding Section 39718 of the Health and Safety Code, a repayment of a loan made pursuant to this chapter with moneys transferred from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund shall be deposited in the subaccount and shall be available for a loan made to an entity eligible for these moneys pursuant to this subdivision.
(i)(1) A subaccount is hereby created in the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account to track the award and repayment of loans to tribes, including principal, interest, and interest earnings on or accruing to the subaccount. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the moneys in the subaccount are continuously appropriated to the commission without regard to fiscal year.
(2)Moneys deposited in the subaccount shall be used for loans only to
tribes.
(3)The commission may transfer moneys from the account to provide funding for the subaccount or transfer moneys from the subaccount to the account.
Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1124. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
(a)An allocation made pursuant to this chapter shall be used for the purposes specified in an approved application.
(b)In the event that the commission determines that an allocation has been expended for purposes other than those specified in an approved application, it shall immediately request the return of the full amount of the allocation. The eligible institution shall immediately comply with such request.
Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 675, Sec. 1. (SB 1207) Effective January 1, 2017. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
(a)In furtherance of the purposes of the commission as set forth in this chapter, the commission has the power and authority to do all of the following:
(1)Borrow money, for the purpose of obtaining funds to make loans pursuant to this chapter, from the California Economic Development Financing Authority, the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, and the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority from the proceeds of revenue bonds issued by any of those agencies.
(2)Pledge collateral to secure the repayment of moneys borrowed pursuant to paragraph (1) or of bonds or other borrowings by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. The commission may pledge, as collateral for these purposes, the loans made pursuant to this chapter or former Chapter 5.4 (commencing with Section 25440) or the principal and interest payments on loans made pursuant to this chapter or former Chapter 5.4 (commencing with Section 25440). These pledges shall be subject to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 5450) of Division 6 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(3)Sell loans made pursuant to this chapter or former Chapter 5.4 (commencing with Section 25440), at prices determined in the sole discretion of the commission, to the California Economic
Development Financing Authority, the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, and the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority to raise funds to enable the commission to make loans to eligible institutions.
(4)Enter into loan agreements or other contracts necessary or appropriate in connection with the pledge or sale of loans pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3), or the borrowing of money as provided in paragraph (1), containing any provisions that may be required by the California Economic Development Financing Authority, the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, or the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority as conditions of issuing bonds to fund loans to, or the purchase of loans from, the commission.
(b)In connection with the pledging of loans, or of the principal and interest payment on loans,
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the commission may enter into pledge agreements setting forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the commission is pledging loans or the principal and interest payment on loans, including the pledging of loans or the principal and interest payment on loans as collateral to secure the repayment of bonds or other borrowings by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, and may also agree to have the loans held by bond trustees or by independent collateral or escrow agents and to direct that payments received on those loans be paid to those trustee, collateral, or escrow agents.
(c)The commission may employ financial consultants, legal advisers, accountants, and
other service providers, as may be necessary in its judgment, in connection with activities pursuant to this chapter.
(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this chapter provides a complete, separate, additional, and alternative method for implementing the measures authorized by this chapter, including the authority of the eligible institutions or local jurisdictions to have borrowed and to borrow in the future pursuant to loans made pursuant to this chapter or former Chapter 5.4 (commencing with Section 25440), and is supplemental and additional to powers conferred by other laws.
Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1124. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
The Department of Finance, at its discretion, may audit the expenditure of any allocation made pursuant to this chapter or the computation of any payment made pursuant to Section 25415.
Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1124. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
In addition to the powers specifically granted to the commission by the other provisions of this chapter, the commission shall have the following powers:
(a)To establish qualifications and priorities, consistent with the objectives of this chapter, for making allocations.
(b)To establish such procedures and policies as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter.
Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 11, Sec. 14. Effective July 28, 2009. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
The commission may expend from the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account an amount to pay for the actual administrative costs incurred by the commission pursuant to this chapter. The amount shall not exceed 5 percent of the annual unencumbered balance in the account as determined by the commission on July 1 of each fiscal year, to be used to defray costs incurred by the commission for allocations made by the commission pursuant to this chapter.
Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 675, Sec. 2. (SB 1207) Effective January 1, 2017. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, by its own provisions. Note: Repeal affects Chapter 5.2, comprising Sections 25410 to 25422.
(a)Except as provided in subdivision (b), this chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which is enacted before January 1, 2028, deletes or extends that date.
(b)Except as specified in subdivisions (c) and (d), all loans outstanding as of January 1, 2028, shall continue to be repaid on a semiannual basis, as specified in Section 25415, until paid in full. All unexpended funds in the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account on January 1, 2028, and after that date, shall revert to the General Fund.
(c)To the extent required under applicable
bond obligations, unexpended funds from the proceeds of bonds sold pursuant to Section 25417.5 that remain in the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account on January 1, 2028, shall remain in the account. These funds shall be expended pursuant to the applicable requirements for bond proceeds. Once all applicable bond obligations have been satisfied, unexpended funds shall revert to the General Fund.
(d)Unexpended funds from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) remaining in the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account on January 1, 2028, shall revert to the Federal Trust Fund.
Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 24, Sec. 34. (SB 83) Effective June 24, 2015. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.
(a)Federal funds available to the commission pursuant to Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 25460) may be used by the commission to augment funding for grants and loans pursuant to this chapter. Any federal funds used for loans shall, when repaid, be deposited into the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account and used to make additional loans pursuant to this chapter.
(b)A separate subaccount shall be established within the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account to track the award and repayment of loans from federal funds, including any interest earnings, in accordance with the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
(c)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the commission may use loan repayments and all interest earnings on or accruing in the subaccount established pursuant to subdivision (b) for energy efficiency, energy conservation, renewable energy, and other energy-related projects and activities authorized by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or subsequent federal acts related to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Unless prohibited by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the commission may augment funding for any programs and measures authorized by this division.
(d)The commission shall transfer to the Energy Efficient State Property Revolving Fund, established pursuant to Section 25471, the moneys remaining in the subaccount established pursuant to subdivision (b), including loan repayments and interest earnings that are
deposited in the subaccount. The commission shall transfer the moneys not more frequently than annually and in an amount based on the balance in the subaccount at the time of transfer.