Mary Hung

The California Energy Commission approved an alternative procedure for demonstrating compliance with the 2025 Energy Code for relocatable public school buildings. The meeting included the appointment and reappointment of members to the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group. Several contract and grant agreements were approved, including technical support from Guidehouse Inc., a novation for the Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians, and a grant for Pacific Gas and Electric Company for smart electricity meter demonstrations. The Commission also adopted the Final 2025 Integrated Energy Policy Report and approved grants for The Regents of the University of California, Irvine Campus, as well as multiple workforce development initiatives involving the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, and the Western States Council of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers.

The California Energy Security Plan is a comprehensive document designed to reduce critical energy infrastructure risk and vulnerability for the state. It outlines strategies to enhance the resiliency of electric, natural gas, and transportation fuels sectors by detailing their profiles, risks, and vulnerabilities through an all-hazards approach. The plan defines the roles and responsibilities of state agencies, particularly the California Energy Commission, in planning, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, integrating with the State Emergency Plan. Key objectives include identifying and mitigating energy disruptions, promoting energy technology, elevating public awareness, improving energy systems, and ensuring reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy delivery.

The California Energy Commission approved several agreements and grants for energy-related projects. These include technical support for solar demand models with Verdant Associates, climate data processing with Eagle Rock Analytics, and revenue pathway studies for long-duration energy storage with Aspen Environmental Group. Other approvals included a grant for community-led clean energy alternatives with Lawrence Livermore National Security, public EV charging infrastructure in Soda Springs with EV-SEG, and passive cooling roof coatings with SkyCool Systems. The commission also adopted the Renewables Portfolio Standard 2021-2024 Retail Sellers Procurement Verification Staff Draft Report. Additionally, grants were approved for decentralized low-carbon cement manufacturing, advanced microgrid control technologies, composite grid wire wrap research, smart meter-based distribution network capacity tools, data center solid-state transformer demonstrations, industrial decarbonization at a dairy manufacturer, and a long-duration energy storage system for the Hoopa Valley Tribe.

The agenda includes consideration of a local ordinance for the City of Santa Cruz, adoption of amendments to definitions of related and appurtenant facilities, and the implementation of Publicly Owned Utility capacity payment regulations. Further agenda items cover a petition to amend the Mojave Solar Project, opt-in certification for the Potentia-Viridi Battery Energy Storage System, and status reports from various departments. Additionally, the commission will hold a closed session to discuss pending litigation and personnel matters.

The discussion focused on the proposed mandrel, data, and logic for displaying rate data using a Kanban-based information system. The presentation outlined the structure of rate identification numbers and provided data samples for various sectors, including agricultural and commercial rate classifications.