Public Utilities Commission Approves Low Emission Vehicle Funding; Important Vote for Environment and Advanced Transportation Industry.Energy Editors/News Editors/Environment Writers SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2003 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, (CPUC CPUC California Public Utilities Commission CPUC Current Procurement Unit Cost ) voted Thursday to provide continued funding for the Low Emission Vehicle California's Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program defines automotive emission standards which are stricter than the United States' national "Tier" regulations. There have been two major phases. (LEV) programs managed by the states' investor owned utilities: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), SoCalGas, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and Southern California Edison Southern California Edison (or SCE Corp), the largest subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX), is the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California. It provides 11 million people with electricity. . The decision approves nearly $11 million in LEV program funding and provides a mechanism for continued funding of these programs going forward. The programs were seriously threatened by an earlier proposed decision being considered by the CPUC. That proposed decision would have effectively ended the utilities' programs to provide education and perform research and development activity related to low emission vehicles. However, CALSTART, key state agencies, and environmental groups submitted testimony and comments in support of an alternate decision by Commissioner Susan Kennedy that supported continued funding of the LEV programs. "The utilities have a critical role to play as we transition from a transportation system completely dependent on oil to a more diverse, secure, and environmentally friendly fuel base," said CALSTART President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. John Boesel. "The CPUC vote today will ensure that the utilities can continue to provide important education and research functions related to LEV that will be of benefit to all of their ratepayers." Commissioner Kennedy's alternate proposed decision won on a 3-2 vote. Her plan was supported by Commissioners Michael Peevey and Carl Wood. Boesel noted that utilities have already begun providing some fuel to the transportation sector. Though the number of alternative fuel vehicles on the road today is small, it's expected to grow substantially over time. 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 (CEC (Central Electronic Complex) The set of hardware that defines a mainframe, which includes the CPU(s), memory, channels, controllers and power supplies included in the box. Some CECs, such as IBM's Multiprise 2000 and 3000, include data storage devices as well. ) and the California Air Resources Board California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the "clean air agency" of the state of California in the United States. Established originally in 1967, it is a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, an organization which reports directly to the California (CARB) approved plans in August to reduce petroleum consumption in California by 2020 to levels 15% below today's consumption rate. The same plan calls for 20 percent use of alternative fuels in 2020 and 30 percent in 2030. "Commissioner Kennedy's approved decision today recognizes that the CPUC has a role in supporting the goals and objectives of sister state agencies in terms of creating a better transportation future," Boesel said. "If the commission had approved the original proposed decision, it would have been a huge blow to the state's efforts to improve air quality and develop a more secure transportation fuel base." Among other elements, the CPUC decision provided funding for the involvement of PG&E and SoCalGas in a program to use pipeline pressure changes to develop a small-scale gas liquefier liq·ue·fy also liq·ui·fy v. liq·ue·fied, liq·ue·fy·ing, liq·ue·fies v.tr. To cause to become liquid, especially: a. To melt (a solid) by heating. b. . The availability of low-cost, locally supplied liquefied natural gas liquefied natural gas: see under natural gas. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) A product of natural gas which consists primarily of methane. Its properties are those of liquid methane, slightly modified by minor constituents. (LNG) is viewed as a critical enabling technology for the medium- and heavy-duty natural gas vehicle industry. WestStart-CALSTART is North America's leading advanced transportation technologies consortium. Its California division is known as CALSTART. It is a fuel neutral, participant-supported organization of more than 120 companies and agencies. It is dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs and improves energy efficiency by spurring advanced transportation technologies, systems and the companies that make them. Visit www.calstart.org for more information. |
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