PECI to Create More Than 200 New Jobs in California, Boost Economy Through California Energy Commission Contract Award

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Job creation, economic stimulus, and energy efficiency will all get a boost in California under an $18.8 million contract awarded by the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) to PECI, a leading provider of energy efficiency solutions in California and throughout the Western United States. PECI's innovative new program, "EnergySmart Jobs," is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The EnergySmart Jobs Program will develop new jobs and employ Californians throughout the state by delivering refrigeration and associated retrofit measures that save energy in commercial facilities of all sizes. The program, beginning in August, will encompass broad geographic areas throughout California, focusing on areas of high unemployment density and energy-efficiency savings opportunities.

The EnergySmart Jobs Program will create more than 200 new jobs in California, provide energy efficiency job skills training for 400 people, and help retain more than 200 contractor and energy surveyor positions throughout the state. Each of the Californians trained and employed through the EnergySmart Jobs Program will have the necessary skill set to become an integral and sustainable part of the expanding green workforce in California.

The 18-month program will save an estimated 88.1 million kilowatt hours of energy consumption, resulting in a reduction of more than 122.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. The EnergySmart Jobs Program will initially deliver $13.9 million of energy savings for electric rate payers during the program term and result in more than $41 million in sustainable energy savings over the first five years. It will also provide direct economic incentives for participating electric rate payers and building owners.

"The EnergySmart Jobs Program will create long-term jobs and make a significant impact in generating energy savings within commercial refrigeration industries, helping to spur statewide sustainable change," said PECI Executive Director Phil Welker.

In addition to working with the Energy Commission on the EnergySmart Jobs Program, PECI is partnering with private contractors, utilities, manufacturers, and the California Conservation Corps (Conservation Corps), which has committed to supply trainees as new direct employees to meet the energy survey needs of the program. These new partnerships deepen the longstanding relationship between PECI and the state of California, and will further assist the state in its evolving leadership position of developing innovative energy efficiency programs that can serve as models nationwide.

"The EnergySmart Jobs Program is an exciting model for leveraging private funding with public funds to create partnerships that are designed to bring new jobs into the market, boosting our statewide economy," said Karen Douglas, California Energy Commission Chairman. "By upgrading commercial buildings to be more energy efficient, we're showing building owners, operators and occupants that energy efficiency can provide cost savings and other valuable non-energy paybacks while at the same time benefiting the state with lower greenhouse gas emissions."

The Conservation Corps "Corpsmembers" are comprised of unemployed or otherwise economically disadvantaged people between the ages of 18 and 25, with the intention of helping those in greatest need get a "head start" in the employment market. Cities among the initial Energy Smart Jobs Program deployment areas include greater Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, expanding thereafter across California. Community colleges in these areas have committed faculty and support, along with dedicated classroom space, and will benefit economically as well as by obtaining valuable knowledge of the energy efficiency market.

Sacramento-based Gilbert Associates, a Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE), will perform accounting and federal reporting services for the program. EnergySmart Jobs is further supported by partnerships with product manufacturers, software development companies and communications providers.

PECI has delivered energy efficiency programs throughout California for 20 years and currently employs 28 in the state. Regional Director Bill McNamara leads the company's San Francisco office and expects to fill five additional PECI Energy Smart Jobs positions locally in 2010. PECI currently works with energy efficiency programs for all of California's electric investor-owned utilities in addition to public-owned utilities.

About PECI

PECI designs and implements energy efficiency programs for utility companies and governmental agencies in the western United States. Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the company has a longstanding tradition of pairing innovation with practicality to deliver customized solutions in building commissioning, energy efficiency retrofits and new construction. As an industry leader, PECI works with the commercial and residential markets offering services including technical consultation, research, analysis, program management and implementation. PECI is committed to gaining widespread efficiency practices that embrace careful resource and energy management. To learn more, visit www.peci.org.

SOURCE PECI