Welcome to the Great Valley Center’s Energy Program website. This Great Valley Center energy program informs and educates the leaders of valley communities about the potentials of energy independence. Staff includes Tim Fisher, Energy Programs Coordinator, and pictured, Lindsay Buckley, Sacramento Valley Representative & Daniel Costa, Energy Program Manager & Policy Analyst.

The region could easily become the state’s leading region in deploying and developing renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. The Great Central Valley has vast quantities of biomass as a by-product of our thriving agriculture production. We have the sunshine with more clear days per year than any other region of the state. We are the fastest growing region in the state. Since 1970 the population has doubled to 5.7 million and it is projected to be home to 15.7 million by 2050. By making the right choices now, the Great Valley can sustainably meet its future growth in a manner that improves the region’s economy, environment, and energy independence.

We support Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley-Energy Work Group by

• Assisting CalStart and the Air Quality Work Group’s efforts to raise awareness in the transportation industry about clean vehicles in the Valley.
• Assisting the Water Quality Work Group to develop solutions to our dwindling water supply issues.
• Developing and implementing a program to encourage construction of new buildings to standards which exceed California Title 24 requirements. Especially as they relate to the Valley’s summer cooling loads.
• Supporting adoption of ‘green building ordinances’ by all local jurisdictions in the San Joaquin Valley.
• Encouraging and supporting public and private agencies to use and showcase clean energy technologies.

The Energy Program will implement Energy Efficiency & Green Communities programs for the entire Great Valley through it’s affiliation with Pacific Gas & Electric, Inc. by:

• Providing a menu of readily available energy efficiency measures with fixed rebate levels, and clear energy savings to residential users.
• Examining existing commercial/institutional facilities for energy savings.
• Encouraging training for HVAC trade in energy efficient installations.
• Developing and implementing a program to encourage construction of new buildings to standards which exceed California Title 24 requirements.
• Distributing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) as a public awareness tool.
• Authoring & publishing an ‘energy primer’ as a ready reference to inform local officials on energy issues.
• Supporting adoption of homogenous ‘green building ordinances’ by all local jurisdictions in the Valley.
• Encouraging and supporting public and private agencies to use and showcase clean energy technologies.
• Educating local jurisdictions on AB 32 issues.
• Working with the broad agriculture production & processing community to reduce energy use through sustainable activities.
• Maintaining data about current State & federal Energy legislation issues.

As a part of UC-Merced, the Energy Program is involved in extending knowledge about new technologies to the broader Valley in an appropriate format.