Energy Commission Adopts Renewable Energy Reports Showing Substantial Progress Toward Goals

For Immediate Release: March 12, 2019

En Español (Links to a PDF file)

SACRAMENTO - With another sign that California is reaching its ambitious clean energy goals, the California Energy Commission today approved renewable energy reports covering 40 of the state’s 44 publicly owned electric utilities (POUs).

The Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) establishes intermediate targets for each multi-year compliance period. By the end of the 2014-2016 period, POUs had to procure at least 25 percent of their retail sales from renewable sources. Collectively, 34 of the 40 POUs met or exceeded the requirement. Those 34 represent more than 98 percent of all retail sales by POUs. The remaining six POUs applied for optional compliance measures.

The reports show progress in meeting renewable energy targets since the 2011-2013 compliance period, which required POUs to procure 20 percent of their retail sales from renewable sources. For that period, only 26 POUs met or exceeded the requirement.

The Energy Commission approved two grants totaling more than $4.5 million expected to produce energy savings at different food processing facilities. The grants to Porifera, Inc. through the Bringing Rapid Innovation Development to Green Energy (BRIDGE) program will support an energy savings process for extracting juice concentrate and a water system for treating high-starch wastewater. The facilities are located in the Central Valley and Southern California.

The City of Placerville will save more than $60,000 in annual utility costs by replacing old, inefficient interior and exterior lighting and a heating ventilation and air conditioning system. The 1 percent interest rate loan of nearly $800,000 comes from the Energy Commission's Energy Conservation Assistance Act program, which is a revolving loan program to help local governments, public hospitals and university adopt energy efficiency measures.

Additionally, the Energy Commission approved Los Angeles County's request to adopt enhanced building efficiency standards. Local authorities are required to apply to the Energy Commission to demonstrate their proposed standards are more stringent than state energy standards. The county’s ordinance requires cool roofs for new buildings and alterations to existing buildings. Local standards must be cost effective. Cool roofs reflect the sun rays, reducing the heat that is absorbed into a building.

More details are available in the business meeting agenda.

 

# # # 

About the California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. It has seven core responsibilities: advancing state energy policy, encouraging energy efficiency, certifying thermal power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies.