California Clean Energy Funding Approved for 2012
Media Contacts
Public Utilities Commission Extends Immediate Financing for Energy Efficiency & Renewables
Environment California Research & Policy Center
San Francisco, CA – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) decided yesterday to extend funding to critical energy efficiency, renewable energy, and research & development programs through 2012. This decision follows Governor Brown’s request in September that the CPUC determine a means of financing the programs funded to date under the Public Goods Charge – one of the country’s largest and most successful clean energy initiatives, which the California legislature failed to renew beyond 2011.
“Californians overwhelmingly want the state to continue to be a clean energy leader,” said Michelle Kinman, clean energy advocate for Environment California Research & Policy Center. “We applaud the CPUC for its commitment to support innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy programs over the next year, and we hope that this decision will set the stage for a long-term commitment to our clean energy future.”
The CPUC will consider further decisions about the structure and governance of the programs in a second phase of decision-making, planned for early 2012. CPUC President Michael Peevey indicated that the agency would work with the legislature to address the long-term prospects for funding these programs.
The Public Goods Charge began in 1997 in order to collect funds for energy efficiency programs, innovative clean energy projects like solar homes, and research and development for clean energy solutions. In September of this year, state lawmakers failed to pass an extension of the highly successful program, which was housed in two companion bills (AB 723 and SB 870). The extension would have authorized the investment of $4 billion in additional funding over ten years—funding to support clean energy programs and create green jobs.
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Environment California Research & Policy Center is a statewide nonprofit environmental advocacy organization working to protect California’s air, water and open spaces. More information can be found at: www.environmentcalifornia.org/center.
