SECTION 1.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California is experiencing a shortage of electricity supplies during peak demand periods due in large part to energy consumption related to air-conditioning and industrial process cooling.
(2) Thermal energy storage technologies reduce electrical demand during peak air-conditioning periods by shifting electrical usage to nighttime, off-peak periods.
(3) Numerous California businesses and public institutions have successfully used thermal energy storage systems in a variety of applications, including schools and universities, office buildings, wine making, and agricultural cooling applications.
(4) Establishing public policy measures to increase the use of thermal energy storage technology will lead to a reduction in peak electricity demand, a reduction in the need for adding additional peaking electrical generating capacity in the state, and will decrease the likelihood of electricity shortages in the future.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to evaluate the use of thermal energy storage technologies in commercial, educational, agricultural, and industrial facilities.