Sacramento, California - The California Energy Commission  approved loans, grants and actions to move forward with energy-saving initiatives, including reducing energy use through LED lighting projects and battery storage technologies.

The Energy Commission approved $9.6 million in funding from the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program, which develops, demonstrates, and brings to market technologies and best practices that support California’s energy policy goals. Grants approved today focused on two areas:

• Energy Storage – Four grants totaling $6.2 million will develop, demonstrate and test energy storage systems. Battery systems can help increase performance, lower cost and help when energy demand is variable. The research done by the recipients will fill knowledge gaps in various battery technologies and establish readiness within the market. The four recipients are Fuel Cell Energy, Inc., EOS Energy Storage, LLC., Lightsail Energy, and Amber Kinetics, Inc.
• Electric Vehicles – A nearly $700,000 grant was awarded to Andromeda Power, LLC to develop a smart, fast-charging system for electric vehicles. The system would use real-time controls to efficiently enable automated demand response.

The Energy Commission also took the following actions:

• To help develop and implement regulations and guidelines that support California’s energy efficiency, renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals, the Energy Commission opened a rulemaking process relating to regulatory responsibilities in Senate Bill 350 (Senator Kevin de Leon) and Assembly Bill 802 (Assemblymember Das Williams). The Energy Commission approved the proceeding to amend existing Commission regulations and guidelines associated with the Renewables Portfolio Standard, and adopt new integrated resource planning guidelines.
• The Energy Commission approved two $3 million low-interest loans to the City of Huntington Beach and Sacramento County to fund street LED lighting retrofit projects. Huntington Beach is projecting a savings of nearly $300,000 annually in utility costs by replacing more than 11,000 high pressure sodium fixtures with LED technology. Sacramento is projecting to save about $225,000 in annual utility costs by replacing more than 8,000 high pressure sodium fixtures with LED technology. Both projects are part of the Energy Conservation Assistance Act and will reduce electricity consumption and utility expenses, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.