SECTIONS 25433-25434.5 - California Statutes

PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE

SECTION 25433-25434.5

25433. It is the intent of the Legislature to establish incentives
in the form of grants and loans to low-income residents, small
businesses, and residential property owners for constructing and
retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient by using design
elements, including, but not limited to, energy-efficient siding,
insulation, products certified as energy efficient zone heating
products by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission, and double-paned windows.

25433.5. (a) In consultation with the Public Utilities Commission,
the commission shall do both of the following for the purpose of full
or partial funding of an eligible construction or retrofit project:
(1) Establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to
eligible low-income individuals.
(2) Establish a 2-percent interest per annum loan program to
provide financial assistance to a small business owner, residential
property owner, or individual who is not eligible for a grant
pursuant to paragraph (1). The loans shall be available to a small
business owner who has a gross annual income that does not exceed one
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or to an individual or
residential property owner who has a gross annual household income
that does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
(b) (1) The commission shall use the design guidelines adopted
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 14 of the act
that added this section as standards to determine eligible
energy-efficiency projects.
(2) The award of a grant pursuant to this section is subject to
appeal to the commission upon a showing that the commission applied
factors, other than those adopted by the commission, in making the
award.
(3) The grant or loan recipient shall commit to using the grant or
loan for the purpose for which the grant or loan was awarded.
(4) Any action taken by an applicant to apply for, or to become or
remain eligible to receive, a grant award, including satisfying
conditions specified by the commission, does not constitute the
rendering of goods, services, or a direct benefit to the commission.
(5) The amount of any grant awarded pursuant to this article to a
low-income individual does not constitute income for purposes of
calculating the recipient's gross income for the tax year during
which the grant is received.

25434. The commission may contract with one or more business
entities capable of supplying or providing goods or services
necessary for the commission to carry out the responsibilities for
the programs conducted pursuant to this article, and shall contract
with one or more business entities to evaluate the effectiveness of
the programs implemented pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section
25433.5. The commission may select an entity on a sole source basis
for one or both of those purposes if the cost to the state will be
reasonable and the commission determines that it is in the best
interest of the state.

25434.5. As used in this article, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) "Eligible construction or retrofit project" means a project
for making improvements to a home or building in existence on the
effective date of the act adding this section, through an addition,
alteration, or repair, which effectively increases the energy
efficiency or reduces the energy consumption of the home or building
as specified by the commission's guidelines under paragraph (2) of
subdivision (f) of Section 14 of the act that added this section. The
improvements shall be deemed to be cost-effective.
(b) "Low income" means an individual with a gross annual income
equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
(c) "Small business" means any small business as defined in
paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 14837 of the Government
Code.