State Adopts 'Blueprint' for Actions, Policies to Meet Future Energy Challenges SACRAMENTO - Competition and economic development will be the watchwords for California's energy industry in the coming years, says a new eight-point policy report adopted Wednesday by the State Energy Commission. In a national and international climate dominated by increased competition and free trade, the 1994 Energy Policy recommends that California: ¥ Support energy programs to create new high-tech/high wage jobs ¥ Work closely with both private and regulated industries to reduce regulatory roadblocks and streamline bureaucratic processes ¥ Promote competitive markets and energy efficient technologies ¥ Expand energy export opportunities ¥ Balance energy, economic and environmental goals ¥ Collaborate with the electricity and natural gas industries to redefine government's energy regulatory role ¥ Aggressively pursue transportation alternatives: fuels, vehicle efficiency, technologies and modes ¥ Implement existing policies to achieve cost-effective building and appliance efficiency Energy plays a key role in revitalizing the state's economy. California's pursuit of a robust, cost effective energy future is vital to the state's continued leadership in the development of high-tech generation, transportation, and environmental technologies. The Energy Commission's Energy Technology Export Program has already resulted in more than $200 million in export sales with an additional $2 billion in potential sales. Partnerships with energy companies have fueled the advancement of clean, alternative fuel vehicle technologies into the marketplace. Utilities and energy service companies, complementing California's cutting edge building and appliance efficiency programs, are expected to help save Californians $43 billion in energy costs by the year 2011. In a message to Californians, which accompanies the new Energy Policy, Governor Pete Wilson wrote, "This report reaffirms my ongoing commitment to fostering market competition as a means of achieving beneficial public policy results." The Governor's letter, presented at the hearing by California Resources Secretary Douglas P. Wheeler, also stated, "In moving forward with a market-based regulatory structure it is important that we selectively maintain those elements of our existing energy policy that have positively contributed to the economic development of our state and have established California as a preeminent international leader in a variety of energy fields." Energy Commission Vice Chair and Presiding Member of the Energy Plan Policy Committee Sally Rakow said, "California market forces are already beginning to reshape the state's energy industry. This document provides a blueprint for state policies and actions that were identified as priority issues by industry, consumer and environmental advocates who shared their valuable viewpoints with us at public forums in both Northern and Southern California. "Simply put," said Vice Chair Rakow, "this Energy Policy spells out a commitment to actions that can make it easier for companies to grow and prosper in California." According to Charles R. Imbrecht, chairman of the Energy Commission, the Energy Policy is a significant milestone in efforts to compete successfully in today's global, non- defense, information age. "For nearly 20 years, California's energy sector has maintained a world class reputation in terms of economic and environmental accomplishments," said Chairman Imbrecht. Robert E. Raymer, technical director and legislative advocate for the California Building Industry Association, addressed Wednesday's meeting to encourage Commission adoption of the Policy. "The Building Industry is strongly supportive of this document as a significant step toward bolstering California's economic climate. This report also demonstrates that the best public policy is that which results from a close working relationship between the public and private sectors." said Raymer. Jill Lawrence Koplin, a representative of Solar Turbines Incorporated, also addressed the Commission Wednesday regarding its action on the State Energy Policy. Koplin said that for the San Diego-based gas turbine manufacturing company, state energy policy nurtured a public/private partnership which enabled the firm to put together a proposal for an gas turbine combustor that will operate with ultra-low NOx emissions firing either gaseous or distillate fuels, without add-on pollution control equipment. "For Solar Turbines, this particular policy document is a case where the theoretical has played out to a very real support system for a private company trying to improve energy technology in California," said Koplin. According to the Commission's Energy Policy, such public/private partnerships to advance energy technology research, development and demonstration are viable mechanisms to spark the state's economy. The state's 1994 Energy Policy, the ninth Biennial Report, is California's principal energy planning and policy document. Upon approval by the Governor, the Policy identifies trends in energy supply and demand and forms the basis for action by the Legislature, the Governor, other government agencies, utilities and the private sector to meet California's energy needs. The Policy is supported by five statutorily-required California Energy Commission technical reports. These are the Energy Efficiency Report, the Fuels Report, Energy Emergency Contingency Plan, the Energy Development Report and the Electricity Report. Copies of the 1994 California Energy Policy are available free of charge from the Commission's Publications Unit at (916) 654-5200. Media inquiries regarding the 1994 Energy Policy should be directed to Assistant Executive Director Claudia Chandler at (916) 654-4989. # # #