Air resources: Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.

Existing law establishes the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , to provide to specified entities, upon appropriation by the Legislature, grants, loans, loan guarantees, revolving loans, or other appropriate measures, for the development and deployment of innovative technologies that would transform California's fuel and vehicle types to help attain the state's climate change goals. Existing law specifies that only certain projects or programs are eligible for funding, including block grants administered by public entities or not-for-profit technology entities for multiple projects, education and program promotion within California, and development of alternative and renewable fuel and vehicle technology centers. The Energy Commission is required to develop and adopt an investment plan to determine priorities and opportunities for the program. Existing law authorizes the commission to contract with the Treasurer and small business financial development corporations established by the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to expend funds, as specified, if the expenditure is consistent with certain existing law relating to the program. This bill would authorize the commission to delegate to the executive director, or his or her designee, the authority to approve a contract, grant, loan, or other agreement or award that receives $75,000 or less in funds from the commission, or to approve amendments to a contract, grant, loan, or other agreement or award, as long as the amendments do not increase the amount of the award, change the scope of the project, or modify the purpose of the agreement. The bill would authorize costs incurred from the date a proposed award is noticed to be counted as nonstate matching funds. The bill would expand eligibility for funding to include block grants or incentive programs administered by public entities or not-for-profit technology entities, and would authorize the commission to adopt guidelines for implementing those programs. The bill would also authorize the commission to advance funds to certain entities. The bill would revise provisions relating to the investment plan for the program by making these provisions applicable only to investment plan updates.