(a) The commission shall develop, implement, and administer the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Program that is hereby created. The program shall include a full range of research, development, and demonstration activities that, as determined by the commission, are not adequately provided for by competitive and regulated markets. The commission shall administer the program consistent with the policies of this chapter.

(b) The general goal of the program is to develop, and help bring to market, energy technologies that provide increased environmental benefits, greater system reliability, and lower system costs, and that provide tangible benefits to electric utility customers through the following investments:

(1) Advanced transportation technologies that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions beyond applicable standards, and that benefit electricity and natural gas ratepayers.

(2) Increased energy efficiency in buildings, appliances, lighting, and other applications beyond applicable standards, and that benefit electric utility customers.

(3) Advanced electricity generation technologies that exceed applicable standards to increase reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation, and that benefit electric utility customers.

(4) Advanced electricity technologies that reduce or eliminate consumption of water or other finite resources, increase use of renewable energy resources, or improve transmission or distribution of electricity generated from renewable energy resources.

(c) To achieve the goals established in subdivision (b), the commission shall adopt a portfolio approach for the program that does all of the following:

(1) Effectively balances the risks, benefits, and time horizons for various activities and investments that will provide tangible energy or environmental benefits for California electricity customers.

(2) Emphasizes innovative energy supply and end use technologies, focusing on their reliability, affordability, and environmental attributes.

(3) Includes projects that have the potential to enhance transmission and distribution capabilities.

(4) Includes projects that have the potential to enhance the reliability, peaking power, and storage capabilities of renewable energy.

(5) Demonstrates a balance of benefits to all sectors that contribute to the funding under § 399.8 of the Public Utilities Code.

(6) Addresses key technical and scientific barriers.

(7) Demonstrates a balance between short-term, mid-term, and long-term potential.

(8) Ensures that prior, current, and future research not be unnecessarily duplicated.

(9) Provides for the future market utilization of projects funded through the program.

(10) Ensures an open project selection process and encourages the awarding of research funding for a diverse type of research as well as a diverse award recipient base and equally considers research proposals from the public and private sectors.

(11) Coordinates with other related research programs.

(d) The term “award,” as used in this chapter, may include, but is not limited to, contracts, grants, interagency agreements, loans, and other financial agreements designed to fund public interest research, demonstration, and development projects or programs.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 512, Sec. 2. Effective September 27, 2006.)