Energy Commission Adopts Integrated Energy Policy Report Update

At its January 12 th Business Meeting, the California Energy Commission adopted the 2010 Update to the Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR). The IEPR process is biennial, and produces a new IEPR every other year. In between, as in 2010, the process updates the report. The process is extensive and time-consuming, as regular workshops and hearings cover a broad array of topics. Commission Chair Karen Douglas and Commissioner Jeff Byron formed the Committee that conducted this process throughout 2010. Since the process was revamped in 2002, it has been far more effective in integrating the efforts of a number of state agencies and promoting consistent policies. The previous incarnation, the “Biennial Report,” while not ignored by other state agencies, was regarded as “what the Energy Commission thinks” and not necessarily applicable to them. The enabling legislation, SB 1389, Bowen and Sher, Chapter 568, Statutes of 2002, “finds and declares that one of the objectives of this act is to encourage cooperation among the various state agencies with energy responsibilities.” The statute goes on to name eight state agencies with energy-related duties, requires them to collaborate, and importantly, requires that they carry out their duties in conformance with the report. The final report , “2010 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update” focuses on the $5 billion in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) received by California and describes the Energy Commission’s economic stimulus funding programs and the goals behind their design, summarizes the various projects that have been awarded funding, and discusses expected results in terms of jobs, energy savings, and greenhouse gas emission reductions as well as the contribution to California’s energy and environmental policy goals. The report also briefly describes the Energy Commission’s efforts to bring additional stimulus funding to California and how those projects will advance the state’s research, development, demonstration, and deployment of clean energy technologies and shape the state’s energy sector in the future. Finally, the report describes unique issues associated with renewable power plants under the Energy Commission’s power plant siting jurisdiction that must meet specific permitting deadlines to apply for and receive federal stimulus funding. The update concludes that ARRA-funded projects will provide jobs in regions of the state with the highest unemployment rates and will also provide the skilled training for the workers who will fill those jobs. Lasting energy and economic benefits will be provided through revolving loans, pilot programs to lay the foundation for more comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit programs, and major improvements to the state’s transmission and alternative fuel and vehicle infrastructures. ARRA will also help transform California’s energy sectors by accelerating achievement of the state’s ambitious energy goals including achieving average energy savings of 40 percent per home, generating 33 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable resources, and reducing dependence on petroleum by investing in a diverse portfolio of alternative and renewable fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. ARRA funding is also allowing California to use its financial resources to bring billions of dollars to the state from private investors, and to bring together diverse partners to ensure the success of the state’s clean energy development efforts. Finally, California’s robust measurement, verification, and evaluation effort for ARRA-funded projects will ensure that these efforts are on track and deliver expected job, energy, and greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits. This effort will also provide important lessons about which programs are more successful and why, which will help in the design of more effective energy programs and standards in the future.

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Energy Commission Adopts Integrated Energy Policy Report Update

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