Energy Efficiency - ARRA Update from the California Energy Commission (October 14, 2009)

State Unwraps Energy Stimulus Funds

Energy Investments Equal Big Energy Savings for
Local Governments and Non-Profits

 

Many Programs – Many Funding Options

The California Energy Commission has opened the stimulus funding door, making more than $156 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds available for energy efficiency and solar projects. A package of options under the State Energy Program (SEP) and the Energy Efficient and Conservation Block Grants Program (EECBG) offer local jurisdictions, non-profits or private organizations the opportunity to invest in energy efficiency and photovoltaic energy projects.

“By participating in these programs, local city and county governments and public entities can lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and infuse new jobs into their communities,” commented Energy Commission Chairman Karen Douglas. “Leveraging federal funds with state monies is a smart move for local governments, benefiting themselves and their residents.”

California is expecting to receive a total of almost $275 million in ARRA funding for the SEP and EECBG energy-related programs. The California Energy Commission, the agency responsible for administering the program, is now making more than $156 million available - $36 million for EECBG and up to $95 million in SEP funds – to local jurisdictions, non-profits or private organizations for energy efficiency measures and photovoltaic systems. In addition, to help maximize the funds, another $25 million in SEP stimulus funds is being infused into a statewide program offering ultra-low interest loans for public energy efficient or renewable projects. These loans can be coupled with grants and other awards so ARRA dollars can be fully leveraged.

Local Governments Can Bring It All Home with Block Grants

The EECBG Program focuses on the most bang a public entity can get for its buck – energy efficiency. The Energy Commission estimates that energy efficiency investments from this program can save 61.2 million kWh of electricity; reduce CO2 emissions by 22,541 tons, save local jurisdictions in excess of $9 million per year and create over 500 new jobs for communities.

The EECBG Program is providing over $36 million in direct allocations to small cities and counties. The local government can use these funds to concentrate on cost-effective energy efficient projects and the options are almost limitless when considering the various types of lighting retrofits, building upgrades, mechanical equipment, clean energy systems and various energy management controls available. The EECBG funding applications are now available on-line and the eligible 265 small cities and 44 small counties can begin applying for funding immediately [http://energy.ca.gov/recovery/blockgrant.html]. Applicants have until the first week of January 2010, to apply for their ARRA funds and will have until approximately September 2012 to complete their projects.

To help cities understand and prepare their application, the Energy Commission is hosting a workshop and several regional clinics. The workshop is October 22 at the Energy Commission, Sacramento and the clinics are held October 26 through November 5 in various statewide locations. Applicants can schedule an hour appointment for a one-on-one help session with staff. For more information, check out www.energy.ca.gov/recovery/blockgrant.html.

Creating Jobs with Energy Efficiency Retrofits

Aimed at promoting economic vitality and building a clean energy workforce, the SEP is providing up to $95 million for energy projects focused on residential and commercial building retrofits for energy efficiency measures and installing on-site photovoltaic systems. This program is offered to a larger audience. Local jurisdictions, non-profits or private organizations can create partnerships and apply for program funding under a competitive solicitation process for three different areas: the California Comprehensive Residential Building Retrofit Program and the Municipal and Commercial Building Targeted Measure Retrofit Program, and the Municipal Financing Program (“AB 811‐type programs”).

The SEP Residential Building Retrofit Program allows a range of home and multifamily residential retrofits from simple improvements using straightforward checklists and trained contractors to install insulation or duct sealing to more complex whole house retrofits employing home energy raters and building performance contractors who are trained to accomplish deeper, comprehensive retrofits. The Commercial Building Retrofit Program focuses on specific, highly efficient technologies that are easy to install such as lighting for parking structures, lots or walkways, ventilation and heating and air conditioning. The Municipal Financing Program is aimed at assisting cities, counties and groups of cities and counties in developing or to continue implementing their own financing program (often referred to as AB 811 style programs). This program allows building owners to finance permanent energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy improvements through an assessment paid with their property tax.

The Energy Commission estimates that retrofitting California’s aged and inefficient residential and non-residential structures could save the state’s consumers about 164.6 million kWh and 10.5 million therms annually and create over 2,100 jobs. The SEP Guidelines and three solicitations are now available on-line and local governments and partnerships can immediately apply for the competitive solicitation. Proposals are due to the Energy Commission by November 19, 2009. For the Solicitations go to http://energy.ca.gov/recovery/sep.html.

There is also a pre-bid workshop scheduled for October 20, 2009, at the Energy Commission starting at 9 am. Folks can participate through the Internet by WebEx. Information available at http://energy.ca.gov/contracts/2009-10-20_ARRA_notice.html.

Leverage Dollars to the Max with a One Percent Loan

It’s important for California’s local governments and public entities to get the most from any federal funding and combining an EECBG grant or SEP funding award with a low interest loan is a smart choice. Adding utility rebates to the mix and a community’s project just got better and even more cost-effective. Loans are available with a first-time ever low interest rate of 1 percent interest that can help local jurisdictions invest in energy efficiency, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build new jobs and industries for their communities.

The SEP Loan Program will offer two interest rates – the new one percent loan SEP/ECAA (funded using ARRA monies) and the current three percent ECAA program (funded from the existing state-funded loan program). Cities, counties, special districts, public schools, colleges and universities, public care institutions, and public hospitals are eligible to apply for the SEP/ECAA 1 percent loans. Cities and counties are encouraged to maximize their EECBG funds with a low interest loan. The simple application is available on line now.

Four local governments, County of Marin, City of Los Angeles, City of Carlsbad and the Town of Hillsborough have already taken advantage of the 1 percent loan for more than $5.8 million to help leverage their block grants.

California has been allocated $35.3 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to participate in the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP).

Green Jobs Can Fuel Communities Workforce

What do an auto mechanic, a college student, and a construction worker have in common? Green jobs. Millions of federal stimulus and state dollars are being invested to develop a clean energy workforce for California. Demand is growing for employees who have skills in the clean technology arenas including energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation.

The nation’s largest clean energy workforce training program, launched by Governor Schwarzenegger in August is focused on providing training for hands-on green collar jobs such as installing solar panels, maintenancing alternative fueled cars and becoming a water/energy auditor.

The Energy Commission, the Employment Development Department, the Employment Training Panel and the California Workforce Investment Board collaborated with the Green Collar Jobs Council and other organizations awarded 34 partnerships a total of $27 million in grants to community colleges, training and employment partnerships, cities and counties to help the unemployed, underemployed and new workforce move into the renewable energy field.

A list of the awardees in your community is available at www.energy.ca.gov/greenjobs/index.html.

More Information and Resources

For more information about EECBG and SEP program, the Low Interest Loan Program or other energy-related federal stimulus funding and programs go to the California Energy Commission’s Recovery page http://energy.ca.gov/recovery/index.html.

Those interested in receiving the latest update for all the Energy Commission ARRA funded programs, are encourage to sign up on the ListServe at http://energy.ca.gov/recovery/index.html.


Media contact:
Susanne Garfield
Media and Communications Office
916.654.4989
sgarfiel@energy.state.ca.us