Resource Library

The Energy Careers Experience Program is offered through a partnership between Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the Great Valley Center (GVC). The program places interns in PG&E offices throughout the Valley, providing the interns with career training in the energy sector. The goal of the program is to utilize the interns to educate and provide technical assistance to local farmers on energy efficient solutions that may help to reduce energy costs, improve sustainable practices, and build capacity within Central Valley communities. The files for download include information on how to apply to the internship and what the program is looking for in applicants.

The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) is a "first-stop shop" providing environmental management, planning, funding, and regulatory information for local government elected and appointed officials, managers and staff. LGEAN enables local officials to interact with their peers and others online. In an effort to reach all local governments, LGEAN also manages a toll-free telephone service that can be reached at 877-865-4326.

The Nye County Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2011 contains a section devoted to renewable energy resource development, specifically solar, geothermal, wind, and biomass. In addition to identifying suitable areas for development and incorporating wind resource estimate maps, the plan contains recommendations to increase responsible renewable energy development through policy, market leadership, and resource planning.

The Sonoma County Water Agency’s Water Education Program reaches thousands of students every year with lessons and materials on water conservation and stewardship of our local watersheds. Outreach is done in partnership with local municipalities and school districts.

This article provides information on a developing partnership between West Valley College, nonprofit partners, and public agencies to provide water and wastewater career training. The grant, which was awarded by the California Department of Education, aims to offer "curriculum, internships, staff development, career planning and certificate programs" for a career pathway toward "high-wage jobs in the water supply and wastewater management industries."

In December 2010, the City of San Francisco announced its goal to meet 100% of its electricity demand with renewable power. The Mayor’s Renewable Energy Task Force was established in January 2011 to develop recommendations to help meet this goal within 10 years. This report outlines the major findings and recommendations of the Task Force, including a "reduce then produce" approach that places energy reduction goals before generation, and concludes that this goal is technically and economically feasible.

The City of San Jose's Green Vision Plan is organized into ten broad sustainability goals whose progress is tracked in a yearly report, and incorporates a renewable energy generation target in its third goal, "Receive 100% of Our Electrical Power from Clean, Renewable Sources". In addition to intensifying solar development, the City plans to support the development of innovative technologies and evaluate the use of other clean energy sources, such as wind, water, geothermal, hydrogen, biomass, electrochemical and fuel cell technologies.

One Block Off the Grid negotiates great deals on solar energy on behalf of homeowners and provides them with education and information on all their available options. After registering online, 1BOG calls to look at your electricity usage and check out your roof using satellite imagery. With this information 1BOG determines if the home is a good candidate for solar, works to get detailed quotes, and then walks you through the quote and answers your solar questions. Membership in the 1BOG program is free for homeowners.

This document contains the new text from the 2012 IBC and IRC that affect photovoltaic installations. It is an excerpt from a 9 page report from SolarABCs - see the full document for a more detailed description of what these new provisions mean for PV installations. The focus is on installation requirements, materials requirements for modules, wind resistance, and fire classification.

Section 11.12 of the 2012 National Fire Code relates to the installation of photovoltaic systems. This code section, about 2 pages in length, provides guidelines for marking and labeling as well as access and pathways. The National Fire Code guidelines are very similar to the California State Fire Marshall guidelines, with a few minor additions. The text is not reproduced here due to copyright restrictions, but is available at the URL in the source section below.

A step-by-step guide for governments to implement energy performance contracting to reducing operating costs through guaranteed outcomes. EPC is when the capital cost of an EE retrofit project is paid off through the energy savings over time.

As renewable energy becomes more widely adopted, many states have become concerned with ensuring that households with low and moderate incomes can benefit from solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies. These technologies can offer communities both economic savings and health benefits, as well as serve as a driver for local job creation. This document surveys current and planned state activities that seek to bring the benefits of clean energy to low-income residents and communities. It focuses primarily on clean energy generation, but also covers some energy-efficiency initiatives. It does not include low-income weatherization programs.

This resource guide lists the various federal financing programs for which energy efficiency and clean energy qualify, to make it easier for state, local and tribal leaders, along with their partners in the private sector to find capital for energy efficiency and clean energy projects. This first-edition guide is a product of a cooperative effort among seven federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Treasury, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and Small Business Administration. For every facility listed, the guide identifies a single point of contact who can answer your questions and provide additional support.

This guide, published by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, provides step-by-step instructions to acquiring and sustaining green jobs for local governments and their communities. ICLEI chooses to define green jobs as career-wage employment opportunities that produce products and services that directly improve environmental quality. Specific information on "energy efficiency best practices" as well as "policies and initiatives," begins at the bottom of page 14. This Guide was developed based on the interest in this issue garnered from local government officials through the Green Jobs Pledge, sponsored by Mayor Martin Chavez of Albuquerque, NM, and former King County, WA, Executive Ron Sims.

This well organized 26 page guide is designed to help you make informed decisions and select the best option for your needs and finances. It describes three popular residential solar financing choices—leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and loans—and explains the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as how they compare to a direct cash purchase. It attempts to clarify key solar financing terms and provides a list of questions you might consider before deciding if and how to proceed with installing a solar system. Finally, it provides a list of other resources to help you learn more about financing a solar PV system.

This case study of the Alameda County Regional Renewable Procurement Project provides an overview of the process through which Alameda County facilitated a collaborative solar purchasing effort across four counties, with an emphasis on best practices that could be used as a model by other public agencies and local government.

This is a 2-page fact sheet published by California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) which explains what AB 2188 is doing to streamline residential solar permitting in the state of California.

In Sept. 2014, the California legislature passed AB 2188, mandating public agencies to adopt a local ordinance that standardizes and streamlines the solar permitting process. In doing so, agencies must substantially conform to the California Solar Permitting Guidebook. The first document is intended to provide guidance for policy implementation, which includes the statutory requirements of AB 2188, recommendations from the California Solar Permitting Guidebook, and a stand-alone model ordinance that complies with the requirements of the Solar Rights Act, as amended. The second document is an editable version of the model ordinance that is the template for a local ordinance.

In October 2013, the CPUC adopted an energy storage procurement framework and established an energy storage target of 1,325 megawatts for PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E by 2020, with installations required no later than the end of 2024.

This webpage summarizes the requirements of AB2188.

This model ordinance developed by the Energy Policy Initiatives Center, University of San Diego School of Law can be customized and implemented in your jurisdiction.

This document is intended to provide guidance for implementing AB2188 in substantial conformance with the California Solar Permitting Guidebook.

The City of Santa Cruz's zoning code regulates the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are allowed only on residentially zoned lots of 5,000 sq.ft. or greater, and must meet setback, height and parking requirements. The City's ADU Development Program is designed to encourage development of small-scale neighborhood compatible housing and to discourage the proliferation of poorly-constructed illegal ADUs. At the same time, construction of ADUs promotes infill development and sustainable land use patterns, resulting in transportation patterns which in turn reduce pollution.

This brief guide highlights the benefits of accessory dwelling units, which are a particularly desirable housing option for many communities considering the current economic climate, changes in household size, increasing numbers of aging baby boomers, and the shortage of affordable housing choices. It also describes the issues and decision points that local governments must address in order to successfully navigate public resistance and concerns regarding their impact on communities.

In March 2015, the Berkeley City Council approved changes to the city’s zoning rules to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as-of-right on lots of any size, up to 75% the square footage of the lot's primary dwelling, and eliminating the $2,000 administrative use permit for most secondary units. The updated zoning rules waive parking space requirments for secondary units within a quarter miles of Bay Area Rapid Transit stations. ADUs that do not meet the requirements outlined in the council agenda item may apply for administrative use permits.