Clean Energy Job Creation Program.

The California Clean Energy Jobs Act, an initiative approved by the voters as Proposition 39 at the November 6, 2012, statewide general election, made changes to corporate income taxes and, except as specified, provided for the transfer of $550,000,000 annually from the General Fund to the Clean Energy Job Creation Fund for 5 fiscal years beginning with the 2013–14 fiscal year. Moneys in the fund are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of funding eligible projects that create jobs in California improving energy efficiency and expanding clean energy generation. Existing law provides for the allocation of moneys remaining in the fund after the 2017–18 fiscal year, and, commencing with the 2018–19 fiscal year, establishes the Clean Energy Job Creation Program to fund projects that create jobs in California improving energy efficiency and expanding clean energy generation, if those projects meet specified criteria, including, among others, that the projects are cost effective with the total benefits being greater than the costs of the project over time. Under existing law, the project selection may, in addition to energy benefits, include consideration of nonenergy benefits, such as health and safety. This bill would explicitly authorize consideration of job quality in project selection as a nonenergy benefit.