California Clean Energy Fund to Grant $1 Million for the Creation of the World's Leading Center on Energy Efficiency at a Northern California University.SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden -- Center to Position California as the Driving Force in Developing and Commercializing Clean Energy Technologies The California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF), a $30 million public benefit investment fund created as part of the Pacific Gas and Electric bankruptcy settlement, today announced that it intends to award a one million dollar grant to establish and maintain the world's leading university center on energy efficiency. The grant will be awarded to a Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern university which aspires to international leadership in the development of energy efficiency technologies and the removal of barriers to their rapid commercialization. "Increasing energy efficiency is the single most important step California can take to minimize the long-term cost of reliable energy services," said Michael R. Peevey, chairman of CalCEF and president of the California Public Utilities Commission The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC; also often commonly referred to as simply the PUC) [1] is a state Public Utilities Commission which regulates privately-owned utilities in the state of California, including electric power, . "Establishing a university center on energy efficiency is a natural way to meet the state's goals by tapping into a wealth of academic expertise in developing and bringing innovative technologies to market." By creating a university-based center for energy efficiency, CalCEF will bring together its diverse Board of Directors, partnerships with leading venture capital firms Name Location Founding date Managing Partners/Directors Specialty Capital managed 5AM Ventures Menlo Park, CA; Waltham, MA 2002 John Diekman, PhD (managing partner), Scott Rocklage, PhD (managing partner), Andrew Schwab (managing partner) life sciences $200M [1] , and academic leaders from multiple disciplines to advance innovation and accelerate the commercialization of energy efficient products, services and practices. The center will also reinforce California's standing as a national and international leader in energy efficiency, while seeding the state's marketplace with promising new products and services that provide its citizens with a clean environment and economic benefits. Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency -- getting more services out of less energy -- helps protect California's environment and deliver economic benefits to the state's businesses and citizens. Reducing energy use decreases the amount of energy generated at power plants, which minimizes greenhouse gas greenhouse gas n. Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. greenhouse gas emissions and improves the quality of California's air. In addition, energy efficiency helps the economy by saving consumers and businesses millions of dollars in energy costs -- both directly, by reducing the amount of energy purchased, and indirectly, by reducing the demand for (and hence the price of) scarce fossil fuels fossil fuel: see energy, sources of; fuel. fossil fuel Any of a class of materials of biologic origin occurring within the Earth's crust that can be used as a source of energy. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. . According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the California Energy Action Plan, energy efficiency is the state's highest priority resource. "Given the clear relationship between energy use and climate change, it is imperative for California's policy makers, academics and business leaders to make energy efficiency a top priority," said Arthur Rosenfeld, PhD, a member of the California Energy Commission The California Energy Commission is California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. Created in 1974 and headquartered in Sacramento, the Commission has responsibility for activities that include forecasting future energy needs, promoting energy efficiency through and a CalCEF Board member. "Dollar for dollar, conservation is the most cost efficient energy investment we can make," said Lisa Bicker bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. , President of CalCEF. "The creation of this center is an important step in moving us toward a clean energy economy." Grant Guidelines CalCEF will award the one million dollar grant to a Northern California university that demonstrates the vision, resources and leadership to be the world's leader in developing and bringing to market energy efficient technologies, including a multi-year plan for prioritizing results, launching and staffing the center, and further fund-raising. The grant will be awarded in two installments: $500,000 initially upon the creation of the center and $500,000 twelve months later upon achievement of agreed-upon milestones. Requests for proposal must be received no later than December 15, 2005. For more information about the request for proposal process, please visit www.calcef.org/about/index.asp. About CalCEF The California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) is a new nonprofit public benefit corporation formed to make equity investments in clean energy companies. Established via the PG&E bankruptcy settlement with $30 million from PG&E shareholders, the Fund expects to deliver market based financial returns to its investors and positive environmental and economic returns to California, with a focus on PG&E's service territory. CalCEF targets companies focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. , energy storage, and other products and services that are designed to enhance the clean energy sector. Financial returns will be reinvested in the Fund, enabling CalCEF to become a growing 'evergreen fund.' The CalCEF Board of Directors blends public policy makers, investment professionals, entrepreneurs, and science and technology experts. Chaired by Michael R. Peevey, President of the California PUC (Public Utility Commission) A regulatory body in every state in the U.S. that governs public utilities within its jurisdiction such as electricity, gas, oil, sewer, water, transportation and telephone service. Some states call it the Public Service Commission (PSC). , the Board also includes California Energy Commissioner Arthur Rosenfeld; Cal-ISO Board Member Mason Willrich; Mark Levine Mark Levine is the name of:
NRDC National Research and Development Centre (Institute of Education, London) NRDC National Realty & Development Corp. ); JPMorgan managing director Nancy Pfund; and former White House policy official Jonathan Foster. |
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