10. Workforce Education and Training (WE&T)

Sierra and Southwest state they are having trouble finding qualified LIEE measure installation contractors in the Lake Tahoe area. Sierra states that it contacted 24 contractors within the Lake Tahoe region, provided descriptions of the program, and asked them to provide services under the LIEE program. None of the contractors were willing to participate, most citing the busy season, lack of familiarity with Title 24 requirements,²⁰ and prohibitive cost caps on installation charges as the reasons that they declined to participate. Thus, Sierra uses a CBO in Roseville, approximately 100 miles from Sierra's service territory.²¹

Southwest Gas' experience is similar, and extends to its territory in both northern and southern California. In southern California, the CBO it uses is located in San Bernardino, over 200 miles to the Needles area.²²

We cannot resolve this situation immediately, but will, as part of the Plan, be embarking on a workforce education and training (WE&T) program aimed at training the next generation of LIEE installation contractors. This effort will be part of a larger "green jobs" effort being carried out by a large array of business, labor, and government actors, with funding from a number of sources. While it may not be cost-effective to target an effort specifically to the Lake Tahoe or Needles regions, the SMJUs should make sure they are in contact with the Commission's Energy Division if they are interested in WE&T efforts in their communities. We do not mandate any action at this time, but will try to remedy this situation, with the affected SMJUs' involvement, as the WE&T program gets up and running. If they desire it, DRA and the affected SMJUs should advocate for WE&T in the Lake Tahoe and Needles regions when our WE&T program begins to roll out.

²⁰ Title 24 provides an array of energy efficiency building code requirements.

²¹ Sierra Application, pp. 14-15.

²² Southwest Gas Application, pp. 21-22.