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The California Energy Commission June 20 formally adopted 2008 peak demand forecasts for Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Pacific Gas & Electric service areas for use in the California Public Utilities Commission 2008 Resource Adequacy year-ahead forecast review and adjustment process. Despite Edison’s projections of an area peak of 24,328 MW, the CEC instead adopted a 23,091 MW forecast for the utility. That’s a difference of 1,237 MW, or 5.4 percent—a discrepancy that would take two large fossil-fueled power plants to fill. With only three of the commission’s five members present—Jeffrey Byron and John Geesman were absent—the commission accepted the staff projections, which are based on historic consumption and peak demand. Also during the meeting, the commissioners approved an order to initiate a public proceeding no later than July 1 to study and find whether, and under what conditions, solar energy systems should be required on new residential and nonresidential buildings and to periodically update the study. The order, which is required under SB 1 enacted in 2006, initiates the public proceeding and delegates authority to the Efficiency Policy Committee to conduct the study and bring its findings to the Energy Commission. Also approved by the three commissioners who were present: -A contract for $500,000 with Kern County Planning Department to measure wind resources in the expanded Tehachapi-Mojave wind area. Under the contract, the Planning Department is to conduct a region-wide energy forecasting and pre-sensing effort to assess wind resources and conduct on-site data monitoring. -A contract for $450,000 with the California Department of Corrections for collaborative research to demonstrate in the San Joaquin air basin heat recovery technology that improves turbine efficiency. -A contract for $275,000 with the U. S. Department of Energy-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to measure energy performance and water efficiency in California’s dairy industry. -A contract for $100,000 with Sacramento Municipal Utility District to demonstrate the end-user and grid benefits of new distributed energy storage technology. Culver City, in western Los Angeles County, received the go-ahead to adopt and enforce a local energy efficiency ordinance that establishes standards for commercial buildings more stringent than 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Culver City’s ordinance is “sound, though unique” in that it focuses strictly on commercial buildings, not residences, said Rob Hudler of the energy commission’s building standards office. The Energy Commission approved an amendment to a contract with the Regents of the University of California-Office of the President/CIEE, adding 27 months and $15 million for technical support. In addition to technical support, research, development and demonstration activities will be carried out, as well as support to the Public Interest Energy Research program, through 2010. The Commission also backed spending $8 million on continued technical support for the Energy Commission’s Energy Research and Development Division. The money will go to four companies. ICF Resources and KEMA Consulting will both receive $2.5 million for their services. Navigant Consulting and Science Application International will receive $1.5 million each.

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