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                       NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

                    CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISISON

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For Immediate Release


                  FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ENERGY FIRMS 
                      SEEKING MARKETS OVERSEAS


Applications are being accepted from California-based energy 
companies wishing to compete for cash awards under the stateÕs 
International Energy Fund.

The California Energy Commission awards funds to assist the 
stateÕs energy firms gain a foothold in overseas markets. The 
monetary assistance has resulted in business opportunities for 
a number of California companies and jobs and tax revenues for 
the state.  

Up to  $200,000 has been allocated for funding, with awards of up 
to $50,000 per proposal.  This fiscal year $75,000 will be 
available with the remaining balance of $125,000 disbursed in 
fiscal year 1996-97 upon state budget approval.

Now in its seventh year, the International Energy Fund improves 
the opportunities for energy firms by providing seed money for 
pre-construction activities in a foreign country, offsetting some 
of the advantage enjoyed by Japanese and European competitors 
heavily backed by their governments.  Last year, the International
Energy Fund awarded $25,000 each to 10 companies. Previously, 
awards have gone to small- and medium-scale power generation 
projects, energy effeciency and clean combustion technologies 
in Latin America, Asia, Central Europe and the Middle East.

Administered by the CommissionÕs Energy Technology Export Program,
the fund requires applicants to provide at least half of the 
total cost of preconstruction activity.  Eligible ventures such 
as feasibility studies, market and site assessment and analysis 
and technology transfer agreements are the crucial early stages 
of project planning that often dictate selection for longer term 
project development and construction stages.

The Commission requires regular reports on the projects 
undertaken. Awards plus interest are reimbursed to the 
Commission when the recipient companies earn revenue and 
positive cash flow from a specific project.

Deadline for final proposals and forms from interested companies 
is 5 p.m. February 29, 1996. Awards will be announced in June 
1996.

Informational workshops about the fund will be conducted November 
28 in Los Angeles and November 29 in San Francisco. For workshop 
details and fund forms, write to the California Energy Commission,
Technology Evaluation Office, 1516 Ninth Street, MS-45, 
Sacramento, California, 95814, or contact Tambu Kisoki at 
(916) 654-4719.


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FILE NAME:
95-11-20_Applications_Sought_for_International Energy_Fund