Higher Education Energy Efficiency Act: financial assistance.

The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, also known as the Energy Commission. Under existing law, the commission may apply for and accept grants, contributions, and appropriations, and award grants consistent with the goals and objectives of a program or activity the commission is authorized to implement or administer. This bill would enact the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Act. The bill would create the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Fund in the State Treasury and would make moneys in the fund available to the commission, upon appropriation, to provide financial assistance, including no-interest or low-interest loans and loan loss reserves, to University of California and California State University campuses for building retrofits to reduce the demand for energy. The bill would require the Energy Commission to consult with the Public Utilities Commission, the President of the University of California, and the Chancellor of the California State University to expand existing partnerships in order to prioritize projects based on greenhouse gas reductions and allow specified facilities to receive funds under this act. The bill would require the Energy Commission, in consultation with the President of the University of California and the Chancellor of the California State University, to establish a system to prioritize eligible campuses for this financial assistance, as specified. The bill would require the recipients of this financial assistance to report to the Energy Commission the annual energy savings achieved from projects supported by the financial assistance, as specified.