Bill Text: CA SB755 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 755

Bill Title: Energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-09-01 - September 1 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. [SB755 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB755-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly July 12, 2023

Amended IN Assembly July 03, 2023

Amended IN Senate May 02, 2023

Amended IN Senate March 21, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 755

Introduced by Senator Becker

February 17, 2023

An act to add Section 25237 to the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 755, as amended, Becker. Energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs.

Existing law vests the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) with various responsibilities for developing and implementing the state’s energy policies. Existing law requires certain state agencies, including the Energy Commission, to develop and implement various energy efficiency programs.

This bill, the California’s Layered Energy Applications for Residents (CLEAR) Act of 2023, would require the Energy Commission to develop and make publicly available an internet website for energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs administered by the Energy Commission, a federal or local governmental ~~agency, or a nonprofit organization~~ agencies, and nonprofit organizations that are available in the state for residential buildings and residential electricity customers, as specified. The bill would require the Energy Commission to enable customer application for the included programs through the internet website. The bill would prohibit including energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs established or administered by the Public Utilities Commission on the internet website, but would authorize the Energy Commission to provide a link to programs that cannot be included.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the California’s Layered Energy Applications for Residents (CLEAR) Act of 2023.

SEC. 2.

It is the intent of the Legislature to improve the distribution and access to state and federal programs for energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs by streamlining current and future investments, opportunities, and financing into a one-stop shop application for programs administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, a federal or local governmental ~~agency, or a nonprofit organization.~~ agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

SEC. 3.

Section 25237 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

25237.

(a) The commission shall develop and make publicly available an internet website for energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs administered by the commission, a federal or local governmental ~~agency, or a nonprofit organization~~ agencies, and nonprofit organizations that are available in the state for residential buildings and residential electricity customers. The internet website shall be capable of gathering information, including, but not limited to, the name, address, and income, from a user and autopopulating the inputted information in applications to participate in those programs ~~administered by the commission, a federal or local governmental agency, or a nonprofit organization~~ for which the user is qualified. The commission shall ensure the internet website requires the applicant’s consent before the applicant inputs the information.

(b) (1) For purposes of subdivision (a), the commission shall consider including all energy efficiency and building decarbonization ~~programs administered by the commission, a federal or local governmental agency, or a nonprofit organization,~~ programs, including all of the following:

(A) The direct install program established pursuant to Section 25665.3 as part of the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program.

(B) The statewide incentive program for low-carbon building technologies established pursuant to Section 25665.5.

(C) Any other energy efficiency and building decarbonization programs administered by a federal or local governmental ~~agency or a nonprofit organization.~~ agencies and nonprofit organizations.

(2) Customers shall be able to apply for the programs included pursuant to paragraph (1) through the internet website. The internet website shall complement rather than replace other application methods for those programs.

(3) The commission shall partner with any relevant entities that administer the programs included pursuant to paragraph (1).

(4) The commission shall annually review the programs included pursuant to paragraph (1) and invite stakeholder suggestions for new programs to be included in the internet website and to provide feedback on potential improvements.

(c) (1) For a program the commission determines cannot be included pursuant to subdivision (b), including any other state program that is either not administered by the commission or funded by the customers of an electrical corporation, the commission may provide a link to the program.

(2) The commission shall not include on the internet website any energy efficiency or building decarbonization program established or administered by the Public Utilities Commission.

(d) The commission shall communicate with local organizations in disadvantaged communities about the internet website, including annual changes or updates.

(e) Funding for implementation of this section shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, in the annual Budget Act.