The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Energy costs are frequently the second largest discretionary expense in a local government’s budget. According to the commission, most public institutions could reduce their energy costs by 20 to 30 percent.

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(b) A variety of energy conservation measures are available to local governments. These measures are highly cost-effective, often providing a payback on the initial investment in three years or less.

(c) Many local governments lack energy management expertise and are often unaware of their high energy costs or the opportunities to reduce those costs.

(d) Local governments that desire to reduce their energy costs through energy conservation and efficiency measures often lack available funding.

(e) Since 1980, the Energy Conservation Assistance Account has provided $110 million in loans, through a revolving loan account, to 600 schools, hospitals, and local governments. The energy conservation projects funded by the account save approximately $35 million annually in energy costs.

(f) Local governments and public institutions need assistance in all aspects of energy efficiency improvements, including, but not limited to, project identification, project development and implementation, evaluation of project proposals and options, operations and maintenance, and troubleshooting of problem projects.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 601, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, pursuant to Section 25421.)