The following terms, whenever used in this chapter, have the meanings given in this section, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “Alternate energy equipment” means equipment for the production or conversion of energy from alternate sources as its primary fuel source, such as solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity under 30 megawatts, remote natural gas of less than one billion cubic feet estimated reserves per mile from an existing gas gathering line, natural gas containing 850 or fewer British Thermal Units per standard cubic foot, or any other source of energy, the efficient use of which will reduce the use of fossil or nuclear fuels.

(b) “Cogeneration equipment” means equipment for cogeneration, as defined in § 216.6 of the Public Utilities Code.

(c) “Conservation measures” means equipment, maintenance, load management techniques and equipment, or other measures to reduce energy use or make for a more efficient use of energy.

(d) “Conservation services” means the electrical, thermal, or other energy savings resulting from conservation measures, which shall be treated as a supply of such energy.

(e) “Energy conservation facility” means alternate energy equipment, cogeneration equipment, or conservation measures located in public buildings or on land owned by public agencies.

(f) “Energy service contract” means a contract entered into by a public agency with any person, pursuant to which the person will provide electrical or thermal energy or conservation services to a public agency from an energy conservation facility.

(g) “Facility financing contract” means a contract entered into by a public agency with any person whereby the person provides financing for an energy conservation facility in exchange for repayment of the financing and all costs and expenses related thereto by the public agency. A facility financing contract may provide for the person with whom the public agency contracts to provide any combination of feasibility studies for, and design and construction of, all or part of the energy conservation facility in addition to the financing and other related services, and may provide for an installment sale purchase, another form of purchase, or amortized lease of the energy conservation facility by the public agency.

(h) “Facility ground lease” means a lease of all, or any portion of, land or a public building owned by, or under lease to, a public agency to a person in conjunction with an energy service contract or a facility financing contract. A facility ground lease may include, in addition to the land on which energy conservation facilities will be located, easements, rights-of-way, licenses, and rights of access, for the construction, use, or ownership by the person of the facility and all related utility lines not owned or controlled by the interconnecting utility, and offsite improvements related thereto. A facility ground lease may also include the addition or improvement of utility lines and equipment owned by the interconnecting utility which are necessary to permit interconnection between that utility and an energy conservation facility.

(i) “Person” means, but is not limited to, any individual, company, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, public agency, association, proprietorship, trust, joint venture, or other entity or group of entities.

(j) “Public agency” means the state, a county, city and county, city, district, community college district, school district, joint powers authority or other entity designated or created by a political subdivision relating to energy development projects, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state.

(k) “Public building” includes any structure, building, facility, or work which a public agency is authorized to construct or use, and automobile parking lots, landscaping, and other facilities, including furnishings and equipment, incidental to the use of any structure, building, facility, or work, and also includes the site thereof, and any easements, rights-of-way appurtenant thereto, or necessary for its full use.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 198, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007.)