Regional energy planning is a core service of CCSE. The California Center for Sustainable Energy is an active participant in state, regional, local, and binational policy and planning arenas. Central to this activity is providing technical support to our local council of governments, SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments).
LOCAL | STATE | BINATIONAL | RENEWABLE | HISTORY SANDAG formed the Energy Working Group (EWG) to coordinate the implementation of the 2003 Regional Energy Strategy (RES). SANDAG comprises 18 cities and county governments and serves as the forum for regional decision-making. First convening in March 2004, the Energy Working Group advises the SANDAG Regional Planning Committee (RPC), which is responsible for comprehensive regional planning. SANDAG identified four focus areas for the EWG: (i) energy planning, policy, consensus building and implementation, (ii) unified legislative and regulatory advocacy with the state and federal governments, (iii) coordination with adjacent areas in the state and in Baja California, Mexico, and (iv) evaluation of the Regional Energy Strategy implementation efforts in the region. The EWG meets monthly at SANDAG. View EWG Meeting Agendas and Minutes. At its June 2004 meeting, the EWG adopted the following goal:
“Develop and execute a stakeholder-based energy resource planning process that ensures sufficient participation, influence, and regional consensus to guide SDG&E’s submittal of the regional long-term resource plan (LTRP).” State Energy Planning The California Energy Commission ( CEC) is required to prepare a biennial integrated energy policy report (IEPR) for the Governor and Legislature, with an update due in even years.
- This Energy Report becomes the energy policy blueprint for state.
- Report recommendations become vehicles for legislation and governor’s actions.
- New for 2005, this report will be the only opportunity for input into the load forecast component of SDG&E 2006 long-term resource plan.
- The 2003 Energy Report contained many recommendations on energy-efficiency, renewable energy targets, and electricity resource planning that are today being implemented by the state.
Binational Energy Planning San Diego, California and neighboring Baja California, Mexico share many policy and infrastructure issues that must be addressed in a binational way. What happens on one side of the border impacts the other with regard to infrastructure, transportation, air and water pollution, among other issues. For its 2005 Energy Policy Report, the California Energy Commission is addressing Border Energy Issues and the SANDAG Energy Working Group has participated in that assessment.
In 2003, CCSE won a nationwide competition for our vision of a sustainable San Diego. The follow-on entry in the Sustainable Urban Systems Design competition in Tokyo, Japan, earned second place for showing a bi-national energy future in the year 2103. A DVD of the binational vision can be viewed at CCSE or borrowed from our Lending Library. Renewable Energy Planning
In August 2005, a scientific study was released that found a large potential to develop renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal in the San Diego region by 2020. The study did not consider cost or policy issues, which will ultimately determine how much of these resources are developed, but offers the technical background to aid decision-makers in their discussions of renewable energy for the region. The study was conducted by a group of local energy experts including San Diego State University, SDG&E, CCSE, the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, and Tanaka Research and Consulting. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory also participated in the study. History of Regional Energy Planning in San Diego SANDAG Energy Working Group ( EWG) (March 2004 - present)
The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) formed the Energy Working Group (EWG) to coordinate the implementation of the 2003 Regional Energy Strategy (RES). The EWG advises the SANDAG Regional Planning Committee (RPC), which is responsible for comprehensive regional planning.
SANDAG identified four focus areas for the EWG: (i) energy planning, policy, consensus building and implementation, (ii) unified legislative and regulatory advocacy with the state and federal governments, (iii) coordination with adjacent areas in the state and in Baja California, Mexico, and (iv) evaluation of the Regional Energy Strategy implementation efforts in the region. The EWG convened in March 2004 and meets monthly.
Regional Energy Strategy (RES)
The goal of the 2003 Regional Energy Strategy was to provide measurable targets and develop strategies and policies to achieve the region’s sustainable energy vision. It is a policy document that establishes goals for San Diego County based on REIS data. It was developed through a consensus process in REPAC.
The Regional Energy Policy Advisory Council (REPAC)
REPAC was a diverse group of regional stakeholders that provided regional oversight for the development of the 2003 Regional Energy Strategy and formulated energy policy recommendations for adoption by SANDAG.
Regional Energy Infrastructure Study (December 2002) Goals of the REIS were 1) to develop a fact-based foundation for assessing San Diego region’s electricity and natural gas needs through 2030, and 2) to provide the public and decision makers with the necessary information to evaluate options and make choices for meeting the future supply and demand of the region.
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