UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center (EEC) receives a $1 million award from California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF)

Energy Efficiency Center to Facilitate Technology Transfer

Susan Kennedy, chief of staff to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with
Mike Peevey, chairman, California Clean Energy Fund and president,
California Public Utilities Commission.

The UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center (EEC) is off to a great start with a $1 million award from California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF). California’s primary utility companies—Edison International, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Sempra Energy—provided additional leadership support by each granting $500,000 over five years. The utilities are also significant funding partners in specific EEC research projects. The EEC was founded to spur the development of energy efficiency technologies and bring them to market through the creation of viable businesses within established companies and via start-ups.

The EEC held its inaugural Board of Advisors meeting in early June on campus. Comprised of experts in energy efficiency and market development from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, the board heard presentations about the Center’s first year progress, venture innovation, business development education and market facilitation. Among the highlights was a talk by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Chief of Staff, Susan Kennedy.

In 2006-2007, ITS-Davis and the new UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center (EEC) attracted a record-setting $3.5 million in gift support from individuals, foundations and corporations to support education and research. With those funds and a number of large grants, the following new programs were launched in the past few months.