CHAPTER 5.5. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants [25450 - 25450.5]
( Chapter 5.5 added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 229, Sec. 1. )
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) The cost of energy in California is increasing and creating greater demands on local governments’ operating budgets.
(2) The 110th Congress enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17001 et seq.) that provides energy efficiency and conservation block grants to eligible entities, including states, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reduce overall energy use.
(3) Section 545(c)(1)(A) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17155(c)(1)(A)) mandates
that states receiving block grants under the act use not less than 60 percent of the grant amount to provide subgrants to local governments that are not eligible entities for the purposes of the act.
(4) The 111th Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) that appropriates funds for energy efficiency and conservation, water conservation, home weatherization, green workforce development, and renewable energy.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to fully implement the requirements for, and achieve the purposes of, the energy and
conservation block grants provided pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), in the most expedient manner possible, and that the funds allocated to the state pursuant to those acts be administered by the commission.
Moreover, to the extent possible without causing undue delay, the commission shall look to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 programs and make policy decisions that leverage and maximize the use of these dollars, including, but not limited to, the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency, weatherization, and green workforce development.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to strive to maximize the opportunity to allocate funds toward the most cost-effective energy efficiency projects, and when allocating funds toward administration, the commission should use the allowable administrative expenses specified in Section 545(c)(4) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17155(c)(4)) as a ceiling and improve efficiencies to allocate less than the allowable
amount.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 227, Sec. 2. (AB 262) Effective January 1, 2010.)
The commission shall administer the funds allocated to and received by the state pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17001 et seq.) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program established pursuant to Section 542 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17152), and may use the federal funds to award contracts, grants, and loans as expeditiously as possible consistent with those acts.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 11, Sec. 17. Effective July 28, 2009.)
(a) Not less than 60 percent of the funds received pursuant to Section 25450.1 shall be used to provide cost-effective energy efficiency, climate change planning, and conservation grants to cities with a population of less than 35,000 and counties with a population of less than 200,000, and be prioritized based on cost-effective energy efficiency. However, this population requirement does not apply to funds received pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
(b) The remaining funds received pursuant to Section 25450.1 shall be used to provide cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation contracts, grants, and loans to eligible entities consistent with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17001 et seq.) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) that govern or fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program and be prioritized based on cost-effective energy efficiency.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 11, Sec. 18. Effective July 28, 2009.)
The commission shall not exceed the amount specified in Section 545(c)(4) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17155(c)(4)) for administrative expenses, which include, but are not limited to, reporting, recordkeeping, and evaluation activities required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Section 17001 et seq.), the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), and implementing regulations and guidelines, that govern or fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, and the combined administration program costs, indirect costs, overhead, and costs associated with the Statewide Cost Allocation Plan.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 11, Sec. 19. Effective July 28, 2009.)
The commission may award contracts, grants, and loans pursuant to this chapter, unless otherwise prohibited by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17001 et seq.), the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), implementing regulations and guidelines.
(Added by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 11, Sec. 20. Effective July 28, 2009.)
(a) The commission may adopt guidelines governing the award, eligibility, and administration of funding pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) at a publicly noticed meeting offering all interested parties an opportunity to comment. The commission shall provide written public notice of not less than 30 days for the initial adoption of guidelines. Substantive changes to the guidelines shall not be adopted without 15-day written notice to the public. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any guidelines adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) Grants and loans made pursuant to this chapter are subject to appeal to the commission upon a showing that factors other than those described in the guidelines adopted by the commission were applied in making the awards and payments.
(Added by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 11, Sec. 21. Effective July 28, 2009.)