| 154th | Top energy abbreviations |
The California Energy Commission is California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. Created in 1974 and headquartered in Sacramento,[1] the Commission has responsibility for activities that include forecasting future energy needs, promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building standards, and supporting renewable energy technologies.
Contents |
Al Alquist, a California politician, co-authored the 1974 Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act that created the Commission.[2] The Act required that, prior to constructing or modifying an electric generating plant, the Commission was to certify the need for the plant and the suitability of the site of the plant.
In 1976, the California legislature amended the Warren-Alquist Act to require the Commission, prior to any new nuclear generating plants being built, to certify that there is sufficient capacity to store spent fuel rods, and to establish a moratorium on the certification of any new nuclear generating plants until the federal government has approved and established a means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste. A legal challenge to this amendment by two electric utilities resulted in the United States Supreme Court case Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, which upheld the amended Act.[3]
Dr. Arthur H Rosenfeld has been a Commissioner of the energy agency since 2000.
On 17 January 2001 a state of emergency declared during the California electricity crisis allowed the state to buy electricity for the financially strapped utility companies. The emergency authority allowed Davis to order the California Energy Commission to streamline the application process for new power plants.
On 21 August 2006, the Governor signed Senate Bill (SB 1) which directs the California Public Utilities Commission and the CEC to implement the California Solar Initiative program consistent with specific requirements and budget limits set forth in the legislation.
In 2007 the Commission set up relatively strict laws which forbid the signing of new energy supply contracts between utilities and coal-fired power plants. This was a major initiative to stem greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.[4]
   | Official website - California Energy Commission Home Page |
| | State acts to limit use of coal power - State acts to limit use of coal power - Los Angeles Times |
|
|
Wikis
Map
Search
