The California Energy Commission is working on a draft document that could have big implications for transforming energy use in the state’s transportation sector.
The commission held a workshop on Monday to review its 2014 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update and take public comment. A final draft is due Jan. 28 and the CEC could adopt the report as soon as Feb. 11, program manager Heather Raitt said.
Officials decided to focus on transportation for the biennial update given the sector’s potential impact on climate change and air quality.
The report states that "the transportation sector currently emits 36 percent of the total greenhouse gases in the state" and that California goal is to have 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in use by 2025.
According to the report, California will need about 100 strategically placed stations to ensure that hydrogen fuel is available for the first wave of fuel cell electric vehicles, as well as substantial incentives and investments for electric charging stations to accommodate plug-in vehicles (PEVs). As of September, more than 100,000 PEVs were sold in California.
The state also will need to plan ahead to ensure the electric grid can service the growing number of these vehicles.
"Market transformation toward a low-carbon, low-emission transportation system in California is measurably underway, as evidenced by the substantial increases in electric vehicles and chargers, electric trucks, natural gas trucks, and hydrogen fueling infrastructure," the report said.
The report details various local, state and federal funding mechanisms that can help California. Two are the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP), a competitive grant program that provides as much as $100 million annually towards innovative transportation and fuel technologies; and the Air Resources Board’s Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP).
The update also covers a range of other topics, such as biofuels, which the report says have made "tremendous gains," along with Southern California’s energy outlook with the closure of San Onofre nuclear power plant, and a statewide electricity demand forecast.
Much of the public testimony about the Integrated Energy Policy Report Update submitted verbally at Monday’s workshop centered on the document’s eighth chapter: "Integrating Environmental Information in Renewable Energy Planning Processes." Representatives from major environmental groups and the energy industry weighed in with comments and indicated they will respond formally in writing next month. Written comments are due Dec. 8.
Download the draft of the 2014 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update here
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