Chapter 7.1 - Public Interest Energy Research, Demonstration,and Development Program

California Public Resources Code — §§ 25620-25620.15

Sections (4)

Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 537, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:

(a)It is in the best interests of the people of this state that the quality of life of its citizens be improved by providing environmentally sound, safe, reliable, and affordable energy services and products.

(b)To improve the quality of life of this state’s citizens, it is proper and appropriate for the state to undertake public interest energy research, development, and demonstration projects that are not adequately provided for by competitive and regulated energy markets.

(c)Public interest energy research, demonstration, and development projects should advance energy science or technologies of value to California citizens and should be consistent with the policies of this chapter.

(d)It is in the best interest of the people of California for the commission to positively contribute to the overall economic climate of the state within the roles and responsibilities of the commission as defined by statute, regulation, and other official government authority, including, but not limited to, providing economic benefits to California-based entities.

§ 25620.1

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 512, Sec. 2. Effective September 27, 2006.

(a)The commission shall develop, implement, and administer the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Program that is hereby created. The program shall include a full range of research, development, and demonstration activities that, as determined by the commission, are not adequately provided for by competitive and regulated markets. The commission shall administer the program consistent with the policies of this chapter.

(b)The general goal of the program is to develop, and help bring to market, energy technologies that provide increased environmental benefits, greater system reliability, and lower system costs, and that provide tangible benefits to electric utility customers through the following investments:

(1)Advanced transportation technologies that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions beyond applicable standards, and that benefit electricity and natural gas ratepayers.

(2)Increased energy efficiency in buildings, appliances, lighting, and other applications beyond applicable standards, and that benefit electric utility customers.

(3)Advanced electricity generation technologies that exceed applicable standards to increase reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation, and that benefit electric utility customers.

(4)Advanced electricity technologies that reduce or eliminate consumption of water or other finite resources, increase use of renewable energy resources, or improve transmission or distribution of electricity generated from renewable energy resources.

(c)To achieve the goals established in subdivision (b), the commission shall adopt a portfolio approach for the program that does all of the following:

(1)Effectively balances the risks, benefits, and time horizons for various activities and investments that will provide tangible energy or environmental benefits for California electricity customers.

(2)Emphasizes innovative energy supply and end use technologies, focusing on their reliability, affordability, and environmental attributes.

(3)Includes projects that have the potential to enhance transmission and distribution capabilities.

(4)Includes projects that have the potential to enhance the reliability, peaking power, and storage capabilities of renewable energy.

(5)Demonstrates a balance of benefits to all sectors that contribute to the funding under Section 399.8 of the Public Utilities Code.

(6)Addresses key technical and scientific barriers.

(7)Demonstrates a balance between short-term, mid-term, and long-term potential.

(8)Ensures that prior, current, and future research not be unnecessarily duplicated.

(9)Provides for the future market utilization of projects funded through the program.

(10)Ensures an open project selection process and encourages the awarding of research funding for a diverse type of research as well as a diverse award recipient base and equally considers research proposals from the public and private sectors.

(11)Coordinates with other related research programs.

(d)The term “award,” as used in this chapter, may include, but is not limited to, contracts, grants, interagency agreements, loans, and other financial agreements designed to fund public interest research, demonstration, and development projects or programs.

§ 25620.11

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 512, Sec. 7. Effective September 27, 2006.

(a)The commission shall regularly convene an advisory board that shall make recommendations to guide the commission’s selection of programs and projects to be funded under this chapter. The advisory board shall include as appropriate, but not be limited to, representatives from the Public Utilities Commission, consumer organizations, environmental organizations, and electrical corporations subject to the funding requirements of Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code.

(b)Three members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, and three members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, may meet with the advisory board and participate in its activities to the extent that such participation is not incompatible with their respective positions as Members of the Legislature.

§ 25620.15

Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 512, Sec. 8. Effective September 27, 2006.

(a)In order to ensure that prudent investments in research, development, and demonstration of energy efficient technologies continue to produce substantial economic, environmental, public health, and reliability benefits, it is the policy of the state and the intent of the Legislature that funds made available, upon appropriation, for energy related public interest research, development, and demonstration programs shall be used to advance science or technology that is not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.

(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, money collected for public interest research, development, and demonstration pursuant to Section 399.8 of the Public Utilities Code shall be transferred to the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund. Money collected between January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2012, shall be used for the purposes specified in this chapter.

(c)In lieu of the Public Utilities Commission retaining funds authorized pursuant to Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code for investments made by electrical corporations in public interest research, development, and demonstration projects for transmission and distribution functions, up to 10 percent of the funds transferred to the commission pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be awarded to electrical corporations for public interest research, development, and demonstration projects for transmission and distribution functions consistent with the policies and subject to the requirements of this chapter.