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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: December 2, 2009 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Crystal Morrow DIRECTOR: Barbara Powell
Administrative Analyst II Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Letter of Commitment for Association of Bay Area Governments Residential Energy
Efficiency Audit and Retrofit Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept report and authorize the City Manager to sign the Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG) residential energy efficiency audit and retrofit program letter of commitment.
BACKGROUND:
State Energy Program – Residential Building Energy Audit and Retrofit Programs
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the State of California has received
$226 million for the State Energy Program (SEP). Of this money, $95 million will be used to fund
an Energy Efficiency Program that will provide grants to qualified organizations for municipal
financing programs (SEP1) like CaliforniaFIRST, residential building energy audit and retrofit
programs (SEP2), and municipal and commercial energy retrofit programs (SEP3). The State’s
SEP funds are being administered by the California Energy Commission. SEP applications are due
to the State by December 21, 2009.
SEP2 – ABAG Home Energy Efficiency Audit and Retrofit Program
ABAG is leading a regional effort to apply for $10-$12 million in SEP2 funds to create a regional
home energy audit and retrofit program that will benefit all of the Bay Area counties. Although
the exact programs and functions of the ABAG program have not been defined at this time, the
program will be focused on establishing home energy audit and retrofit standards in the Bay Area,
workforce development, marketing and outreach, and quality assurance. Ultimately, the program
is intended to create green jobs, increase use and development of clean energy technologies,
promote the local economy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Letter of Commitment
The California Energy Commission is requiring that all of the cities that intend to participate in the
ABAG program submit a letter of commitment. The letter of commitment is due to ABAG in
December 2009, so that it may be included in ABAG’s application for SEP funds.
The letter of commitment:
- Indicates that the City is in support of ABAG’s application for SEP2 funds
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- Authorizes ABAG as the lead agency in submitting the application
- Supports the County of Santa Clara as the lead agency in implementing ABAG’s home
energy efficiency audit and retrofit program in Santa Clara County
- States the City will participate in program development and implementation in Saratoga
and throughout the region
- Indicates the City will provide a resolution authorizing ABAG to act as the lead agency in
applying for and receiving SEP2 funds on behalf of Saratoga, contingent upon the
selection of ABAG’s proposal for funding
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with approving the letter of commitment. However, staff
time may need to be dedicated to the development and implementation of the ABAG home energy
efficiency audit and retrofit program if SEP2 money is awarded to the program.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
The City will not submit a letter of commitment for the ABAG home energy audit and retrofit
program and may not be eligible for services proved through the program if it receives SEP2
funds.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION(S):
Implement Council direction.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Nothing additional.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Letter of Commitment to the ABAG home energy efficiency audit and retrofit program
Attachment B: State Energy Program Chart