California with its abundant natural resources has had a long history of support for renewable energy. In 2004, 10.2 percent of all electricity came from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and small hydroelectric facilities. Large hydro plants generated another 14.9 percent of our electricity.
Around the turn of the 20th century, tens-of-thousands of homes in Southern California took advantage of the "California sunshine" to heat water for their homes. The oil crises of the 1970's gave rise to a concerns over dependency on fossil fuels. At that time, federal and state tax credits helped establish a new solar and wind industry. Wind turbine farms cropped up on the slopes of hills in three primary locations.
Following deregulation of the electric utilities in 1998, the California Energy Commission's was placed in charge of a new Renewable Energy Program. It was began to help increase total renewable electricity production statewide. This followed decades of bi-partisan legislative and gubernatorial support for renewable energy helping to make California a recognized leader in the field.
In 2002, California established its Renewable Portfolio Standard Program, with the goal of increasing the percentage of renewable energy in the state's electricity mix to 20 percent by 2017. The Energy Commission's 2003 Integrated Energy Policy Report recommended accelerating that goal to 2010, and the 2004 Energy Report Update further recommended increasing the target to 33 percent by 2020. The state's Energy Action Plan supported this goal.
In January 2006, the California Public Utilities Commission created the California Solar Initiative (CPUC ruling - R.04-03-017) which moves the consumer renewable energy rebate program for existing homes from the Energy Commission to the utility companies under the direction of the CPUC. This new incentive program, for renewable systems of less than one megawatt, begins in January 2007 and provides a total of $2.9 billion over ten years.
Beginning in 2007, the California Energy Commission will manage $350 million targeted for new residential building construction. It will use funds already allocated to the Energy Commission to foster renewable projects between 2007 and 2011. Called the New Solar Homes Partnership, it will focus on new residential construction.
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For rebates on wind & fuel cell systems go to:
AFTER JANUARY 1st, 2007
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History of Energy Commission's Renewable Energy Program
The Energy Commission's program provides market-based incentives for new and existing utility-scale facilities powered by renewable energy. It offers consumer rebates for those installing new renewable energy systems. The program also helps educate the public regarding renewable energy. MORE...
Links to the different program categories and general information about renewable energy and current Renewable Energy Program rebates and incentives are listed on the left.
For assistance regarding the Renewable Energy Program areas, please contact:
Toll Free - 800-555-7794
Outside Calif. - 916-654-4058
E-mail: renewable@energy.state.ca.us