Justin Cochran

The business meeting agenda includes the consideration of the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative's community shared solar program and a local energy ordinance for the City of Menlo Park. Other topics include an update on the California Tribal Gap Analysis report, the adoption of Demand Side Grid Support Program guidelines, and the certification of the Soda Mountain Solar Project. The meeting will also include various agency reports and a closed session to discuss pending litigation and specific geothermal project proceedings.

The California Energy Commission conducted a business meeting covering various approvals, orders, and resolutions. Key discussion topics included: approval of amendments for the Magnolia Power Project and the Roseville Energy Park, both involving license mergers or modifications to facilitate stormwater use and streamline operations. Several grant resolutions were adopted for battery manufacturing, electric vehicle infrastructure, and energy research projects, including funding for projects with Sepion Technologies, BYD Energy, EvGateway, and others. Additionally, the Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with Sandia National Laboratories for research collaboration, a membership agreement with the International Council on Clean Transportation, and co-sponsorship agreements for innovation events. The Commission also initiated a rulemaking proceeding to amend Load Management Standards to improve demand flexibility and stakeholder participation.

The Business Meeting covered several informational items and one consent calendar approval. Key discussions included an update on the 2025 California Energy Security Plan, detailing its structure, coordination efforts, and future tracking of legislative efforts. A significant portion of the meeting involved a presentation by AVA Community Energy on their electrification, resilience, and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs, including the upcoming SmartHome Battery and Resilience Hub Program and the AVA SmartHome Charging Program. Discussions also touched upon the growth and operational challenges for AVA, such as securing private sector interest for charging infrastructure deployment, managing load growth from potential data centers, and the differing adoption rates for various customer incentive programs. Further technical discussions involved the NRC's safety assessment for Diablo Canyon license renewal and the embrittlement study.

The business meeting included several key agenda items involving updates, presentations, and resolutions. Discussions covered the approval of the consent calendar, which included expressions of gratitude for proposed funding for the Sonoma-Lake-Mendocino Proactive Regional Geothermal Planning Project. The Department of Water Resources provided an update on the Electricity Supply Strategic Reliability Reserve Program, detailing investment categories and portfolio status. Commissioners also reviewed and took action on the proposed guidelines for the Equitable Building Decarbonization Tribal Direct Install Program, which is allocated $30 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, emphasizing provisions for tribal sovereignty and flexibility. Furthermore, the Commission heard a presentation regarding the adoption of the California Energy Demand Forecast for 2025-2045, which is foundational for state energy planning, and noted efforts to incorporate known load growth data into the forecast.

The meeting addressed multiple agenda items involving resolutions and orders, primarily focused on energy code compliance, project funding, and grant agreements. Key actions included the approval of Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment (IES VE) Title 24 2025 Version 1.0 as an Alternative Calculation Method (ACM) for demonstrating compliance with the 2025 Energy Code, with findings that the action is exempt from CEQA. Resolutions were passed concerning finding the Town of Corte Madera's energy efficiency standards statutory compliant, approving the PowerForward grant to Joby Aviation, Inc., and approving a novation amendment for a charging infrastructure grant previously awarded to the Barona Group of the Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians. Further resolutions approved funding agreements with the National Wind Technology Consortium, Inc. (NOWRDC), The Clara Fund, EvGateway, HP Hood LLC, SVC Manufacturing Inc, and Fiscalini Cheese Company, L.P., predominantly related to zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades, and manufacturing enhancements. An existing grant agreement with the Regents of the University of California, San Diego campus, was amended to relocate and reconfigure a battery energy storage system. Finally, a grant agreement was approved with the County of Monterey for EV charging port installations and solar photovoltaic systems.