California had at least 218 policies or incentives that support energy renewables and efficiency, according to data made available in August 2019 in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE).
DSIRE is maintained by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center at North Carolina State University.
The center provides summaries of state and federal incentives, as well as those offered by U.S. territories, local governments, and electric and gas utilities.
Incentives can include tax incentives, grants, loans, rebates, industry recruitment/support, performance-based incentives, technical resources, feed-in tariffs, renewable energy credits, solar renewable energy credits and green building incentives.
DSIRE also contains information on rules, regulations and policies related to the incentives, including public benefit funds, building energy codes, appliance/equipment efficiency standards and energy standards for public buildings.
The database is limited to incentives and policies from only investor-owned utilities in the U.S., and electric cooperatives and municipal utilities with more than 30,000 customers.
California Renewable Energy Incentives
| Program | Incentive Type |
|---|---|
| Alameda Municipal Power – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Alameda Municipal Power – Commercial New Construction | Energy Analysis |
| Alameda Municipal Power – Commercial New Construction Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Alameda Municipal Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Anaheim Public Utilities – Commercial & Industrial New Construction Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Anaheim Public Utilities – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs | Rebate Program |
| Anaheim Public Utilities – Comprehensive Energy Audit | Energy Analysis |
| Anaheim Public Utilities – Efficient Exit Sign Program | Energy Analysis |
| Anaheim Public Utilities – Residential Home Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Anaheim Public Utilities – Small Business Energy Management Assistance | Energy Analysis |
| Anaheim Public Utilities – Small Business Energy Management Assistance Program | Rebate Program |
| Anza Electric Cooperative – Free Energy Audit | Energy Analysis |
| Appliance Efficiency Regulations | Appliance/Equipment Efficiency Standards |
| Berkeley Office of Energy and Sustainable Development – Commericial Solar Photovoltaic Permit Guide | Training and Information |
| Berkeley Office of Energy and Sustainable Development – SmartSolar Program | Energy Analysis |
| Berkeley Office of Energy and Sustainable Development – Solar Thermal Hot Water Installations | Training and Information |
| Building Energy Code and Solar Requirement | Building Energy Code |
| Burbank Water & Power – Business Bucks Energy Efficiency Grant Program | Grant Program |
| Burbank Water & Power – Business Bucks Program | Energy Analysis |
| Burbank Water & Power – Energy Solutions Business Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Burbank Water & Power – Green Building Incentive Program | Green Building Incentive |
| Burbank Water & Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Burbank Water and Power – LEED Certification Incentive Program | Rebate Program |
| CABEC Education and Training | Training and Information |
| California Center for Sustainable Energy – Energy Efficiency Programs | Energy Analysis |
| California Energy Commission – Energy Efficiency Programs | Energy Analysis |
| California Enterprise Development Authority (Figtree PACE) – Statewide PACE Program | PACE Financing |
| California Public Utilities Commission – Net Metering | Other |
| California Public Utilities Commission – Savings by Design | Energy Analysis |
| California Solar Initiative – Low-Income Solar Water Heating Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| California Solar Initiative – Single-Family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH) Program | Rebate Program |
| California Solar Initiative – Solar Thermal Program | Rebate Program |
| CaliforniaFIRST | PACE Financing |
| City of Berkeley – Green Building Standards for City Owned and Operated Projects | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| City of Fresno – Installation of Solar Energy Systems in Construction of New City-owned Buildings | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| City of Lancaster – Mandatory Solar Requirement for New Homes | Building Energy Code |
| City of Lompoc Utilities – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| City of Lompoc Utilities – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| City of Long Beach – Green Building Policy for Municipal Buildings | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| City of Los Angeles – Green Building Retrofit Requirement | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| City of Los Angeles – Zoning Code | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| City of Oakland – Green Building Policies and Requirements | Building Energy Code |
| City of Palo Alto Utilities – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| City of Palo Alto Utilities – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| City of Palo Alto Utilities – Right Lights+ | Energy Analysis |
| City of Palo Alto Utilities – Solar Water Heating Program | Rebate Program |
| City of Palo Alto Utilities – Solar Water Heating Program | Other |
| City of San Diego – Sustainable Building Expedited Permit Program | Green Building Incentive |
| City of San Diego – Sustainable Building Policy | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| City of San Francisco – Commercial Efficiency Rebates | Rebate Program |
| City of San Francisco – Green Building Code | Building Energy Code |
| City of San Francisco – Green Building Requirements for City Buildings | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| City of San Francisco – GreenFinanceSF | PACE Financing |
| City of San Francisco – Solar Energy Incentive Program | Rebate Program |
| City of San Jose – Green Certification | Training and Information |
| City of San Jose – Private Sector Green Building Policy | Building Energy Code |
| City of Santa Cruz – Solar Access Ordinance | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| City of Santa Monica – Green Power Purchasing | Green Power Purchasing |
| City of Sebastopol – Mandatory Solar Requirement for Residential and Commercial Buildings | Building Energy Code |
| County Wind Ordinance Standards | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| Energy Efficiency Financing for Public Sector Projects | Loan Program |
| Energy Efficiency Resource Standard | Energy Efficiency Resource Standard |
| Energy Upgrade California | Rebate Program |
| Fuel Mix Disclosure | Generation Disclosure |
| Glendale Water & Power – Business Energy Solutions (BES) | Energy Analysis |
| Glendale Water & Power – Smart Business AC Tune-up | Other |
| Glendale Water and Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Glendale Water and Power – Small Business Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Green Building Action Plan for State Facilities | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| Healdsburg Electric Department – Audits | Energy Analysis |
| Homebuyer Solar Option and Solar Offset Program | Building Energy Code |
| IID Energy – Commercial Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| IID Energy – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Imperial Irrigation District – Energy Rewards Rebate Program | Energy Analysis |
| Imperial Irrigation District – On Demand Energy Management | Energy Analysis |
| Imperial Irrigation District – Onsite Energy Audit | Energy Analysis |
| Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) – IMT Energy-Efficiency Publications | Training and Information |
| Interconnection Standards | Interconnection |
| LADWP – Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Program | Feed-in Tariff |
| LADWP – Net Metering | Net Metering |
| LADWP – Non-Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Program | Rebate Program |
| LADWP – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Lassen Municipal Utility District – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Local Option – Municipal Energy Districts | PACE Financing |
| Lodi Electric Utility – Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Loan Program | Loan Program |
| Lodi Electric Utility – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Lodi Electric Utility – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Los Angeles County – Commercial PACE | PACE Financing |
| Los Angeles County – Green Building Program | Building Energy Code |
| Los Angeles County – LEED for County Buildings | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| Los Angeles County – WECS-N and Temp Met Towers | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power – RCx Express program | Energy Analysis |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power – Recycling Market Development Zone | Other |
| Marin Clean Energy – Feed-In Tariff | Performance-Based Incentive |
| Marin County – Solar Access Code | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| Marin County Residential Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Merced Irrigation District – eMeter Manager | Energy Analysis |
| Modesto Irrigation District – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Modesto Irrigation District – Commercial New Construction Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Modesto Irrigation District – Energy Survey | Energy Analysis |
| Modesto Irrigation District – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Net Metering | Net Metering |
| Orange County – Development Standards for Small Wind Energy Systems | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) – Savings by Industry | Training and Information |
| Pacific Power – Blue Sky Community Project Funds | Grant Program |
| Pacific Power – Business Energy Data | Energy Analysis |
| Pacific Power – Home Energy Savings Program For Builders | Rebate Program |
| Pacific Power – Net Metering | Other |
| Pacific Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs | Rebate Program |
| Pacific Power – Tools & Resources | Energy Analysis |
| Pacific Power – wattsmart Business | Rebate Program |
| Pacific Power – Wattsmarts Services and Incentives | Energy Analysis |
| Palo Alto Utilities Dept. – Right Lights+ Program | Energy Analysis |
| Partial Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Agricultural Solar Power Facilities | Sales Tax Incentive |
| Pasadena Water and Power – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Pasadena Water and Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| PG&E – Energy Training Center | Training and Information |
| PG&E – Multi-Family Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| PG&E – Non-Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Program | Loan Program |
| PG&E – Non-Residential Energy Efficiency Rebates | Rebate Program |
| PG&E – Pacific Energy Center | Energy Analysis |
| PG&E – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs | Rebate Program |
| Plumas-Sierra REC – Audits | Energy Analysis |
| Plumas-Sierra REC – Commercial and Irrigation Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Plumas-Sierra REC – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems | Property Tax Incentive |
| Public Benefits Funds for Renewables and Efficiency | Public Benefits Fund |
| Redding Electric – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Redding Electric – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) | Other Incentive |
| Renewable Market Adjusting Tariff (ReMAT) | Feed-in Tariff |
| Renewables Portfolio Standard | Renewables Portfolio Standard |
| Riverside County – Sustainable Building Policy | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| Riverside Public Utilities – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Riverside Public Utilities – Energy Efficiency Program | Energy Analysis |
| Riverside Public Utilities – Energy Load Profiler | Energy Analysis |
| Riverside Public Utilities – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Roseville Electric – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Roseville Electric – Facility Assessment Wizard | Energy Analysis |
| Roseville Electric – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Sacramento Municipal Utility District – Learn Energy Efficiency | Training and Information |
| Sacramento Municipal Utility District – Online Energy Audit for Businesses | Energy Analysis |
| Sacramento Municipal Utility District – Savings by Design: New Construction and Major Remodel Projects | Energy Analysis |
| Sales and Use Tax Exclusion for Advanced Transportation and Alternative Energy Manufacturing Program | Industry Recruitment/Support |
| Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Electric Power Generation and Storage Equipment | Sales Tax Incentive |
| San Bernardino County – Solar Energy Development Standards | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| San Bernardino County – Accessory Wind Energy System Permit | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| San Diego County – Design Standards for County Facilities | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| San Diego County – Green Building Program | Green Building Incentive |
| San Diego County – Solar Zoning Regulations | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| San Diego County – Wind Regulations | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Business Energy Solutions Program | Energy Analysis |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Comprehensive Industrial Energy Efficiency Program | Energy Analysis |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Energy Assessment & Solutions | Energy Analysis |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Energy Efficiency Business Seminars | Training and Information |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Energy Saving Solutions | Energy Analysis |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Lodging Energy Efficiency Program | Other |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Premium Efficiency Cooling | Training and Information |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – RCx Retrocommissioning Program | Energy Analysis |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Savings By Design | Energy Analysis |
| San Diego Gas & Electric – Small Business Energy Efficiency Workshops | Training and Information |
| San Diego Retrocommissioning Program – Retrocommissioning Program | Energy Analysis |
| San Francisco Department of the Environment – Energy Watch Commercial Program | Energy Analysis |
| Santa Clara County – County Green Building Standards Code | Building Energy Code |
| Santa Clara County – Green Building Policy for County Government Buildings | Energy Standards for Public Buildings |
| Santa Clara County – Solar Access Easements | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| Santa Clara County – Solar Access for Subdivision Development | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| Santa Clara County – Solar and Wind Energy Conversion Systems | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| Santa Clara County – Zoning Ordinance | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| Santa Clara Water & Sewer – Solar Water Heating Program | Leasing Program |
| Santa Cruz County – Solar Access Protection | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| Savings by Design (Offered by six Utilities) | Rebate Program |
| SCE – Multi-Family Residential Energy Efficiency Programs | Rebate Program |
| SCE – Non-Residential Energy Efficiency Programs | Rebate Program |
| SCE – Non-Residential On-Bill Financing Program | Loan Program |
| SCE – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| School Facility Program – Modernization Grants | Grant Program |
| SDG&E – Energy Efficiency Business Rebates | Rebate Program |
| SDG&E – Residential Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Self-Generation Incentive Program | Rebate Program |
| Silicon Valley Power – Bright Start for New Business | Energy Analysis |
| Silicon Valley Power – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Silicon Valley Power – Emerging Technologies Grant Program | Grant Program |
| Silicon Valley Power – Energy Design Assistance | Energy Analysis |
| Silicon Valley Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| SMUD – Commercial Energy Efficiency Loan Program | Loan Program |
| SMUD – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| SMUD – PV Residential Retrofit Buy-Down | Rebate Program |
| SMUD – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| SoCalGas – California Advanced Homes Incentives | Rebate Program |
| SoCalGas – Custom Non-Residential Energy Efficiency Program | Rebate Program |
| SoCalGas – Energy-Efficiency Assessments for Industrial Customers | Energy Analysis |
| SoCalGas – Multi-Family Residential Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| SoCalGas – Non-Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs | Rebate Program |
| SoCalGas – Non-Residential On-Bill Financing Program | Loan Program |
| SoCalGas – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs | Rebate Program |
| Solar Contractor Licensing | Solar/Wind Contractor Licensing |
| Solar Easement and the Solar Shade Control Act | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| Solar Rights Act | Solar/Wind Access Policy |
| Sonoma County – Energy Independence Program | PACE Financing |
| Southern California Edison – Continuous Energy Improvement (CEI) | Other |
| Southern California Edison – Energy Education Centers | Training and Information |
| Southern California Edison – Retrocommissioning Program | Energy Analysis |
| Southern California Edison – Saving Solutions for Business | Energy Analysis |
| Southern California Edison – SCE EnergyManager | Energy Analysis |
| Southwest Gas Corporation – Industrial Energy Assessments | Energy Analysis |
| Southwest Gas Corporation – Industrial Services | Energy Analysis |
| Statewide Solar Permitting Standards | Solar/Wind Permitting Standards |
| Truckee Donner Public Utility District – Energy Conservation Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Turlock Irrigation District – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| Turlock Irrigation District – Dairy Design Assistance Program | Training and Information |
| Turlock Irrigation District – Meter Manager | Energy Analysis |
| Turlock Irrigation District – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Rebate Program |
| U.S. Department of Energy – Industrial Assessment Center (IAC): San Diego State University | Energy Analysis |
| U.S. Department of Energy – Industrial Assessment Center (IAC): San Francisco State University | Energy Analysis |
| Ukiah Utilities – PV Buydown Program | Rebate Program |
| Western Riverside Council of Governments – Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) Financing Program | PACE Financing |
| Western Riverside Council of Governments – Large Commercial PACE | PACE Financing |
Source: North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
